The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1892-10-22
THE DEAD HAND.

SOJOUIu Cl IL 4lJ1loOl11O AAc
Westville-by-sea, l became aware
that some one was i'll next door. The
weather was so p~ersistently wet that
I was compelled to remain within,
and, being alone, I naturally spent
much of my time at the window,
| wondering whether it would ever be
fine enough for outdoor %sketching.
Thus it was that the frequent visits
to 13 of an unmistakable doctor in an
unmistakable doctors brougham at
tracted my attention. Two and even
three times a day he came, and on
his departure l always noticed that
look Of grave professional anxiety
which, on a doctors face, bodies i'll
for his patient.
Sometimes the medical man was
accompanied to his carriage by a
gentleman who appeared to be ques-
tioning him with singular earnest
ness. Bare headed and regardless of
the never ceasing rain the latter
would stand at the door of the
brougham seemingly loath to let the
doctor go without some final instruc-
tons, or perchance some ray of hope.
The anxious inquirer was tall, with
narrow, STOPPING shoulders, but all
that ! could see of his features as he
hurried back into the house was that
he was about thirty years Of age,
with no hair on his face. which was
very pale.
With a curiosity born of enforced
idleness, l asked my landlady what
was the matter at Is, but all she
could tell me was that the house next
door was also a lodging house, and
that the doctors visits were paid to
an cid gentleman who had been
brought there. very i'll, by his nephew.
My landlady added that it was a
strange choice of apartments to have
made for a sick person, as the woman
who kept them was little better than
an idiot, who was only assisted by
an equally stupid servant girl. At
the time l put this remark down to
professional jealousy, especially as
the nephew had been to look at the
rooms ] myself was now occupying
and after making particular inquiries
had refused them.
It was not till l had been at West
vile a week that the weather bright
ened and | was able to take my
sketchbook in search of subjects.
But the eighth day was fine, and
starting Immediately after breakfast
| managed to put in a good days
work at a ruined tower some miles
along the coast. Returning at sun
down l dined, and then settled my
self for a comfortable pipe over the
days paper. AS I lit up l could not
help wondering how many visits
the doctor had paid to -. From
mere force of habit l had grown into
looking out for him, and finally to
taking a sort Of interest in the NUM-
Der of times he came. The day be-
fore, while l was still at my post at
the window, he had come four times,
from which ] argued that the patient
was worse.
had not been reading very long
when there was a ring at the street
doorbell. A minute or 50 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 evening. On hearing
this the gentleman had inquired If
there was any one else In the house
who could accompany him back next
door for a few minutes on a matter
of business. The landlady was una
bic to go herself, the servant being
out, but as the gentleman seemed
disappointed she had taken the lib
erty of suggesting that he ask me
Would l, at any rate, see him and
then decide?
l was only too glad to be OF use to
people who appeared to be in great
trouble, far from their friends IN a
seaside lodging house, and | told the
lady to show the gentleman in.
In another moment the tall, loose
framed man whom l had seen SO Oft
en- attending the doctor to his a
rage stood bowling in the doorway.
''Pray come in," l said, rising. I'm
what way can ! be Of service to
you?"
The stranger entered the room.
His eyes, which | saw were weak,
blinked in the bright lamplight. He
disregarded the motion / made to.
ward a chair and answered me
standing. He seemed nervously
anxious to conquer his shortsighted-
ness in order to make out what man
ner of man l was. In other words,
he peered at me somewhat rude]y.
1T is simply the small matter of
witnessing the signature to a will"
he said. IF I might trespass on
your kindness to step in the next
door for that purpose I should be
greatly obliged. My uncle is i'll, and
though | trust he is in nc immediate
danger he is anxious to affix his sig
nature tonight"
Il shall be most happy,"I said,
taking up my hat. Il will come with
you at once"
II must introduce myself" said
the stranger as / led the way down
stairs. MY name is Castor Pierre
pont. My uncle, whom you are about
to see, is General Maitland, of Gold
ney Park, Northamptonshire. |
brought him here in the hope that
he might derive benefit from the sea
air."
with good results, | trust" was
the reply which p~oliteness drew
from me, though the frequent visits
of that ominous brougham led me to
expect a negative answer.
To my surprise Mr.. P%ierrepont re-
| piled in the Affirmative.
EYES," he said, my uncle is bet
ter, though still dangerously ILL.,"
D. L. L.. 1. = IL