San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-12-19

4
doctor coming down stairs. He looked
much less anxious than for some days
past; indeed. there was an expression al
most of satisfaction on his face.
How is your patient? | asked.
THE crisis is past, or almost past,
he answered cheerfully He owes his
life, if he pulls through, to the nursing
of his daughter and his wife. especially
| the daughter, who is trump! He is
now asleep, and upon that sleeep every
thing depends. If he wakens in three
or four hours of his own accord he will
be safe, in all human probability
Everything depends on his sleep Ihave
| told the landlord TO give strict orders to
every servant to be most careful There
must b, no noise of any sort If he were
Weakened suddenly the shock would kill
him us certainly as if you fired bullet
through his brain. | have just told his
wife of this All that is wanted is
sleep.
The doctor nodded to me as he went
down the steps from the hotel, smiling
as if anticipating triamph for his art
"'Monsieur, said voice at my ell
bow. turned, and saw my friend the
landlord. Monsieur knows. said he.
smiling sOurly, that Austrian count who
was going to be so brave! Who had no
fears for sickness? Well, that so brave
man, he also is now frightened-he has |
gone, monsieur! He went early this |
morning, making excuses but he could |
not deceive me! He was frightened. |
He tried to joke: he said he could not |
sleep: that he had heard all night the |
ticking in the wall which, he said
means death.
THAT isan English superstition, too.
said.
"'Bahr said the innkeeper. with con-
centrated scorn: these are not times for
such foolish superstitions Monsieur
has no such foolish fancies?'
Il laughed. All, monsieur is brave!
Look, The Austrian's room is that very
room monsieur wished to have when he
first came. 1t looks out upon the gla-
cier, and is perhaps my best room.
Monsieur thought he would prefer one
less expensive on the floor above. Mon
sieur remembers? Well, courage de-
serves to be rewarded. Monsieur shall
have the room for the same price as the
one he has now.
81 thanked my friend. the landlord. ;
1t was certainly a room | had coveted. ,
The view was superb. 1t was nearer the
lining and smoking room-in every way
l great improvement on the one was
"'Can have it OnCer asked
"'Oh, certainly! OF course monsieur
knows, the landlord went on slowly
and looking little doubtfully ut me,
that 1t Is the room next to the sick
room where that old man is lying i'll.
Il laughed, and think the expression
IF my face treasured the landlord as to
ny being completely Indifferent to such
matters, for he went on:
Monsieur is a man! The room is
'eady and at your disposal
He was gong away but came back
quickly. Only monsieur will pardon
ne for reminding him that the doctor
las ordered that no noise shall be made
near the sickroom He says the old
mans life depends on his sleeping quiet
y. 1t would be better, perhaps, not to
move mOnsieur's luggage down till the n
vening. c
'Of course asspnted; but feeling de- a
irous of seeing my new and much COW
ted possession, and feeling sure of my
.bility to enter it without making any :
lolse, went up stairs, quietly stole
lown the corridor, and entered the +
DOM without IA possibility of my having
cen heard. 1t was a large, bright,
heerful apartment in the older part of =
he hotel. 1t was wainscoted, with
ak panels. The window was large,
nd, as have mentioned before, COM
handed one Of the most exquisite views
o be found in Switzerland I
II looked around the room with \
ense Of satis faction. have told you | \
IN obserVant Of my fellow creatures; |
IN not less so Of inanimate objects |
lave an eye i'll such matters a detective
night envy. | soon saw Il mark or cut
Il the wainscoting on one side of the r
Dom. 1t was SO small that | believe
many men might have passed days in
he room without noticing it, am an
man, and | at once went to v
t and examined it. 1t was chink in
he wood; stopped and looked through.
The whole of the interior of the sick
DOM was visible. Three silent figures
we're the occupants. On the bed lay the
I'D man sleeping, his gray hairs on the
pillow; at the side knelt in prayer his
blind daughter; behind. the daughter
lose behind-was the wife. She alone 7
eemed living. She was drawing stealth
ly-oh, so stealthily and slowly-a small