The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-06-16
A DIABOLICAL PLOT.

AASA4A'6
IA the nearest drugstore, hoping by this
device to impress the good people with a
dine sense of nv worth ana Importance
Still at the end Of two months, found
myself without a patient, either actual or
Drospectjve. and not q dime in my pocket.
The last. by all odds felt to be the very
worse pil in the whole box" On discov-
ering the actual state Of my finances, dared
not go 10 dinner, for there is nothing under
heaven so hard for moneyless man to lace
as an indignant landlady'
So when the hour for dinner arrived my
door went shut with a bang, and, lifting
down a pOnderous tome on the general
management Of fevers, l endeavOTed to Ill
an empty stomach with printed hash.
Dinner-time rsssed and supper came
swiftly along in its train. and sti.ll no signs
of more prosperous tide turning IN my
favor. In a very unhappy frame Of mind
flung myself on tie bed TO pass the night as
well as possible, considering the state OF
my stomach. 49,,
With sharp clatter Of strokes the little
office clock rang out the hour OF y and the
strokes were rapidly followed by a success
sion Of swift Taps on the door But nall
awake I answered the call, wondering
vaguely II IT really could be patent at last
a man stood on the steps and deep voice
asked:
''Have you any objection to riding about
eight or ten miles this evening? The pa
tent is lady, the fee any sum you choose
TO name"
WaSl Where had l heardt before? Icould
close covered carriage stood in the
middle of the street. and, Obeying motion,
/ spTang into it and we started OF at rat
ling speed.
The drive seemed unusually long, but at
last we entered a dense forest, over the worst
road ever travelled, part OF the way SEEM
ingly almost impossible from the frequency
Of the slOughs and mIry pools.
At last We halted before tall old house,
standing of from the road In the center Of
cluster If aged cypress trees that gave it an
additional air Of gloom and desolauOn.
barely repressed a shudder as we went up
the rotten steps into the house My COM
DaniOn led the way, unlocking door after
door as we passed along. FINALLY We passed
before a heavy door thIckly studded with
nails and scTOsS which TWO great iron bars
were securely fastened.
There is DO use in warning a physician,
! suppose" he said, In his oddly familiar
voice "Of course you must have seen
death iu all its different phaseSP"
l bowed.
BE unlocked the ponderous bars and
pushed aside the panel A faint, sckenng
smell pervaded the air. The whole apart
ment seemed full Of some delicate, sicken-
ing OdOT.
Going to convenient sideboard he poured
ont glass of brandy and handed II TO me,
put determining that my brain should be
clear as possible l declined it with thanks.
lie drained il 10 the dTegs and turned on
me with q cynical smile,
1T almost puts life into a corpse, doc.
You miss good thing when you refuse such
stuff as this
Pouring another glassful Of the sparkling
beverage he pointed TO the opposite side Of
the apartment
since you won't drink, perhaps you
would ike TO occupy your time with your
patient. II so, Just open the curtains in the
alcOve y0udeT and there you viii fad your
work. See here" He held up a heavy
melted purse, through whose meshes 1
caught The Unmislaksble glitter Of its con-
tents. IF that girl never wakes to light
this is all yours; but if she liyes-mind me,
IL she lives 10 see the morning sUn-yOu
never leave this room aliyeW
In speaking he pushed back bis hat and
dropped the muller from around bis throat.
The rays Of the lamp fell fully On his face,
and / knew him in an instant, ItWas Oscar
Mcdonald.
Years before that l had met him occa.
sioDaly 10 the college grounds, sometimes
IA the college, and not speaking, however,
for / was then a freshman, while that was
bis last term. / knew Of him, though, as
being the Teuuted son Of old Judge Melon
aid, wealthy EiTginian. The son, so Tu-
NOR said, mas very Ike the father in temper
and disposition, being fierce, passionate and
subject to sudden bursts u wrath, terrific
10 see.
l knew, toe, from sons source OF other.
that he had been disinherited and expelled
from his fathers house. Beyond that
had lost all trace Of him until this night.
! searched Vainly ia NY pockets for the
revolver l had left at home
q In w 81 ai ~ ma oil 10
Donald from his place by the sideboard.
i will not hurry you. 1t will be but one
death II you consent, two II you refuse for
Will send YOU both into eternity myself"
He leYeled his pistol al my head. IeOald
see the murdeTous purpose IN his steady
eyes, and cold sweat covered my face.
LET ME see the patient" / said, walking
toward the slc9ve, when he followed, still
covering me with the pistol. Sweeping back
the heavy curtains, l looked down upon the
intended victim. She WAS very young and
fair as lily, but cold and mOti0ness as il
she were already dead.
Sitting on the edge of the bed / fell her
pulse 1t beat family.
AS ! looked at her so intently wild and
daring idea came into my brain.
Tell me why you want this thing done"
said |, at last. Surely one villain may
know another villains business"
Surprising tell you?' was the wary re-
%Wenq"
is ii death ?'
Yes, on one condition."
And that?"
drew long breath and shut nv teeth.
through the very excess of emotion.
Oh know" said l at length, "that
medical men have what we call Subjects
1t Is death-DrOvlding you have the BODY
morning"
There was dead silence. Icould hear
the oeatlng OF his heart as it throbbed
heIeely In his breast. l staked eyerv hone
on that one chance II he refused, / could
only make desperate resistance-one in
which l was sure to be overpowered, and
waited 1or his reply with drawn breath
lie laughed like a demon.
Have the bOdy2 Yes, and much good
may 1t do you, Only let me see her dead.
10 YSd know, be continued with a burst
OF wrath, that that girl is nv half-sister-
and that hate her, hate her as the Christian
hates sin ?"
was always fond Of chemistry and was
forever dealing in pOisons and their anti
9otes' having unlimited success in every
snlhg % that Kind chose to attempt. |
remembered 10 have 10 my possession a
white, harmless looking powder, which.
when taken in certain doses, produced \
staie OF coma so closely resembling death rs
to defy even an expert.
see, said, bidding him lay his finger
PN4SNf AOCp 4OuI niger mere and
marx how easily life gives way to death"
Hall an hour later we looked down ON the
rleId body Of the girl, apparently corpse
words" AU'"ii SOui
He tossed the purse of gold into NV 10
and babe me follow him. ny i"p
but the bodyT expostuIated.
he gave fierce oath.
hest easy. | am only too ready 10 gel
ria OF the trouble OF digging hole for fo II
the vehicle" arc s"ieIy ID
ci,MOed in, weak and trembling. The
Excitement and strain on my nerves were
beginning to tell. "9''