The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-08-13
IRE DEAD HAND.

From the frst day OF my temporary
sojourn at IA Transome Terrace, West
ville-by-sea, l became aware that some
ono was i'll next door The weather
was SO peraistently wet that was COM
PEELED to remain within, and being
alone naturally spent much. Of my
time at the window, wondering whether
it would ever be fine enough for out
door sketching. Thus it was that the
frequent visits to 10 OF IN unmistakable
doctor in an upmistakable doctors
brouQhan attracted my attention. Two.
and even three times a day he came,
and on his departure always noticed
that look of grave professional anxiety
which on doctors face bodies i'll for
his patient
Sometimes the medical man was &C.
companied to his carriage by egentle-
man who appeared to be questioning
him with singular earnestness. Bare
headed, and regardless Of the never
ceasing rain. tho latter would stand at
the door of tho brougham seemingly
loath to let the doctor go without some
final instructions or, perchance, some
ray OF hope. The anxious inquirer was
tall, with narrow, STOPPING shoulders,
but all that could SEQ OF his features
as he hurried back into the house was
that no was about thirty years of age,
with no hair on his face, which was
very pale.
With a curiosity born OF enforced
:Jlnna., o.I.n1 v,1,, Ia 4 II dxt N, n ma
the matter at No. u, but all che could
tell me was that the house next door
was also a clearinghouse, and the doc
tors visits were paid to an old gentle
man who had been brought there
very i'll by his nephew My landlady
added thatit was strange choice Of
apartments to have made for sick per-
son, MS the woman who kept them was
little better than an idiot, and was only
assisted by an equally stupid servant
girl.
could not help wondering how
many visits the doctor had paid to No.
Is. From mere force OF habit I had
grown to looking out for him and had
finally taken sort OF interests in the
number Of times he came. The day be-
fore, whileI was still at my post at the
window, he had been four times, from
which I argued that the patient was
worse.
/ l had not been reading very long
when there was ring at the street door
bell. Aminute or so later my landlady
came into the room and said that the
gentleman who lodged next door was
below, and had asked for her husband,
who happened to be out for the even.
ing. On hearing this, the gentleman
had inquired il there was any one else
in the house who could accompany him
back next door for few minutes on
matter of business.
In another moment the tall, loose
framed man whom / had seen so often
attending the doctor to his carriage
stood bowling in the doorway.
Pray come in" l said, rising. I'm
what way can l be of service to your"
The stranger entered the roof. His
eyes, which l saw were weak. blinked
in the bright lampIight. He disre-
garded the motion / made towardfa
chair, and answered me standing. He
seemed nervously anxious to conquer
his shortsightedness in order to. make
out what manner of man was. In
other words, he peered at me some
what rudely.
at is simply the small matter of wit
Messing the signature to a will" he
said. "If might trespass on your
kindness to step in next door for that
purpose ! should be greatly Obliged.
My uncle is i'll, and though ] trust he is
in no immediate danger, he is anxious
to afIix his signature tonight.
81 shall be most happy" / said, TAX
ing up my hat; ~ will come with you
at once"
az must introduce myself" said the
stranger, as / led the way downstairs.
"My name is CASTOR Pierrepont; my
uncle, who you are about to see, is Gen.
Maitland, OF Goldncy Park, Northarhp-
tonshire. 1 brought him here in the
hopes that he might derive benefit from
tho sea air."
"With good results, trust" was the
reply which politeness drew from me,
though the frequent visits Of that omi-
nous brou9ham led me to expect neg
ative answer.
To my surprise Mr.. Picrrcpont replied
IN the anlEmALlVe.
ayes" he replied, "my uncle is bet
ter, though still dangerously ILL.,"
By this time We were out in the
street at tho door OF No. Is. He had
already inserted his latchkey in the
lock, when he paused and looked at me.
''Therc is one thing I must prepare
you for" he said, blinking his weak
eyes Mt me in the gloom; "my uncle is
unable to speak. His complaint is ner-
vous paralysis, you understand? Other
wise he is in perfect possession Of his
faculties. The doctor is with him now,
and certities to his fitness to sign"
moSely bowed and followed him in
to the house. No. - was n fac-simile
OF No. ii, with the exception Of some
slight difference in the furniture which
stamped it astt was-a second rate sea-
side lodging house. MI. Pierrepont
conducted me upstairs to the first floor
and stopping outside o door on the
landing knocked three times. There
was slight pause and movement in
side tho chamber and then voice said,
"Come in"
Graspine the door.handle, Mr.. Pierre
pont turned to me hurriedly as If he
had forgotten something.
~ think" he said. sit might be as
well If | knew who was going to per.
form this service for Us. Might ask"
| stopped him by acceding to his
very reasonable request. took out my
L. a. = II z