Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-08-25
THE DEAD HAND.

From the first day of my temporary So
journ at IA Transome Terrace, Westville-
by-Sea, l became aware that some one
was i'll next door. The weather was so
persistently wet that was compelled to
remain within, and, being alone, natur-
ally spent much of my time ut the win
dow, wondering whether it ever would
be fine enough for outdoor sketching.
Thus it was that the frequent visits to 10
of an unmistakable doctor, in an unmis-
taxable doctors brougham attracted my
attention. Two, and even three times a
day he came, and on his departure l al
ways noticed that look of grave, pro-
fessional anxiety which, on a doctors
face, bodies i'll for the patient.
Sometimes the medical man was ac-
companied to his carriage by gentleman
who appeared to be questioning him with
singular earnestness. Bareheaded, 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 mar
row, STOPPING shoulders, but all that l
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 curiosity born of enforced idle
ness, asked my landlady what was the
matter at No. 13, but all she could tell
me was that the house next door was
also lodging house and that the doc
tors visits were paid to an old gentle
man who had been brought there very
i'll, by his nephew. Ny landlady added
that it was strange choice of apartments
to have made for 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 profess
ional jealousy, especially as the nephew
had been to look at the rooms l myself
was now occupying, and, after making
particular inquiries, had refused them.
1t was not until had been at West
vile week that the weather frightened
and l was able to take my sketch book in
search of subjects. But the eighth day
was fine, and starting Immediately after
breakfast, managed to put in a good
days work at the ruined tower some
miles along the coast. Returning at sun
down 1 dined, and then settled myself
for comfortable pipe over the days
paper. As lit up I could not help won
dering how many visits the doctor had
paid to No. ID. From mere force of
habit had grown into looking out for
him and finally into taking q sort of in
terest in the number of times he came.
The day before, while l was still at my
post at the window, he had been in four
times, from which l argued that the
patient was worse.
l had not 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 gentle
man who lodged next door was below,
| and had asked for her husband, who
happened to be out for the evening. On
| hearing that the gentleman had inquired
| il there was any ane else in the house
who could accompany him back next
door for few minutes on matter of
business. The landlady was unable to
go herself, the servant being out, but
f, as the gentleman seemed disappointed
she had tsken the liberty of suggest
| ing that he should ask me. Would i,
| at any rate. see him and then decides
| l was only too glad to be of use to peo-
| pie who appeared to be in great trouble,
| far from their friends in seaside lodg-
ing house, and / told the landlady to
show the gentleman in.
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," said, rising, " in
what way can be of service to youl
The stranger entered the room. His
ewes. which / saw were weak, blinked in
the bright lamplight. He disregardect
the motion made toward chair, anc
answered me standing. He seemed nerv