The Columbus journal., 1892-10-19
THE DEAD HAND.

THE DEAD HAND.
From the first day OF my temporary
sojourn at Ii Transome Terrace
Westv.lle by-sea / became aware
that some one was ill next door. The
weather vas so pers:stently wet that
l was compelled to remain within.
and being alone l naturally spent
much OF my time at tho window.
wondering whether it would ever be
fine enough for outdoor sketching.
Thus it was hat the frequent visit to
Ii Of an unmistakablo doctor in an
unmistakable doctors troughan at
tracted my attention. Two. and even
three times a day he came. and on
his departure l alwa S noticed that
look OF grave professional anxiety
which on a doctors face bode; i'll for
his patient.
With a curiosity born of enforced
idieness. l asked my landlady what
was the matter at No. Is. but all she
could tell mo was that the house
next door was also a clearinghouse.
and that the doctors visits were paid
TO an old gentleman who had been
brought there very ill by his nephew.
My landlady aided that it vas d
strange choice d! apartments to have
made for a sick person. as the woman
who kept them was little better
than an idiot. and was only assisted
by an equally stupid servant girl.
At the time | put this remark down
to professional jealousy. especially as
tho nephew had been TO look at the
rooms l myself was now occupying.
and, after making particular in
quiries. had refused them.
From mere force of habit | had
grown into looking out for the doctor
n finally 10 taking a ort of interest
in tho number OF times he came. The
day before, while l was still at my
post At the window. he had been four
times. from which l argued that the
patient was worse.
l had o been reading very long
when there was a ring at the street
door bell. A minute or so later my
landlady came into the room and said
that the gentleman wlo lodged next
door was below. and had asked for
her husband. who happened to be out
Tor the evening. On hearing this the
gentleman had inquired if there was
any II else in the house who could
accompany him hack next door for a
few minutes on a matter of business.
The landiady was unable 10 go her.
sell, the servant being out. but as the
gentleman seemed disappointed she
had taken the liberty of suggesting
that he should ask me. Would !. 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 l told the
landlady 10 show the gentleman in.
In another moment the tall loose
framed man whom 1 had seen so often
attending the doctor TO his carriage
stood bowling in the doorway.
Pray come in. a" l said rising. I'm
what way can l be Of service to you?'
1t is simply tho small matter of
witnessing the signature TO a will.
he said. If | might trespass on your
kindness to step in next door for that
purpose l should be greatly obliged.
Ny uncle is i'll. and though l trust he
is in no immediate danger. he is anx-
ious TO afix his signature tonight
i shall be most happy" l said.
taking up my hat; Il will come with
you at once"
Il must introduce myself. said the
stranger: As l led the way downstairs.
m name is CASTOR p errepont; my
uncle. whom you + about to see. is
Gen. Maitland of Coldney park.
Northamptonshirc. l brought him
here in the hopes that he might de-
rive benefit from sea ar"
BY this time We were out in the
street at the door Of No. ID. lie had
already inserted his latchkey in the
lock. when he paused and looked at
me.
There is one thing l must prepare
you for" he said" blinking his weak
eyes at me IN the gloom; my uncle is
unable to speak. His complaint is
ne vous paralysis. you understand?
Otherwise he is in perfect possession
Of his faculties. The doctor is with
him now. and certifes to his fitness
10 sign"
/ merely bowed and followed him
into the house. No. Is was a fac
smile of No. II. with the exception
of some slight differences in the fur
niture which stamped it as what it
was-a second rate seaside lodging |
house. Mr.. Picrrepont conducted me
upstairs 10 the first floor and stop
ping outside a door on the landing |
knocked three times. There was a
slight pause and a movement inside
the chamber and then a voice said
Come in"
Grasping the door handle Mr..
Plerrepont turned to me hurricdly as |
If he had forgotten something.
Il think. he said. 1t might be as
we'll if l knew who was gong to per-
form this service for us. Might /
ask"
l stopped him by acceding to his
very reasonable request / took out
my pocketbook and gave him n of
my visiting cards with my name
Angus Macdonald and the address !
of my studio in st. Johns wood en- |
graved thereon. He put it close to
his eyes. blinked ut it. and said in a
tone which somehow or other sug- !
gested relief:
.Ah! you live in London-not here
i see."
He opened the door. and l followed
him into the DON There was a dim
light from a shaded lamp which stool
on a small table at tie head Of the
bed but so disposed that the curtains
prevented its rays from falling on the