Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-09-01
CHAPTER v.
TIE BURNED PAPER.

ply:
They were alone"
The physician was speechless. Maxey
Thought him mortified. On the contrary.
b. was amazed. When ne found his
voice again, there was but a single word
in his vocabulary equal to the situation,
and he uttered it:
"Impos.iblcr
MaNcy did not heed him, but went ON
IN q hopeless tone:
1t was my fault, Of course, entirely
my fault. ] allowed myself to be led by
hrr girlish whim when ought to have
looked the matter squarcly in the face
and asserted my own will. I ought to
have taken your advice, Lamar. You
knew it-you foretold it all. You
varngd'-
DR.. Lamar interrupted him.
Not Of any such occurrence as this,
Maxcy. Never. DO you mean to tell me
that you think the patient frightened that
handkerchief around your sisters
thruat:"
II tell you," said Maxey, II left
them Enthusiastically alone. When /
came back the door was locked"
"On the inside!"
''On the inside"
Lamar swept bewildered glance
ahout the apartment, stared at the pale
face "a the bed i'll the alcove room, Mt
the swollen features behind the torn
dr1pcry, at the professionally anxious
visage Of the nurse. who was moving
about between the two. He looked at
the doorS, ut the windows, ut the Chin
noy place. He stepped from the corner
whore he had been talking with Maxey
90 the center table and began very care
fully to put his surgical Instruments
back into the case from which he had
E-elyramoved them. When he had COM
platnd this task, he closed the box with
sudden snap, and turning to the artist
with the positive energy Of a man who
In, thoroughly made mp his mind said:
"MIxgv. vou are crawl
His emphatic manner roused the
young man from his stupor. From the
moment when he heard the key fall from
IT, place on the inside of the door as he
tried to open it everything had seemed
- him like the illogical, haphazard hap
ruinss of dream. If he had acted
with promptncss and vigor in the emer.
gency, he had done SO mechanically, in
sort of instructive fashion, without re-
Election. After assistance had arrived
and the immediate excitement was oveI
hewcnt about in daze. The physician
sharp tone made him start. He lifted hi.
eyes from the floor, unclasped his hands,
which had been folded behind his back,
and passed his palm over his throbbine
forehead.
Il believe you are more than hall
right, he murmured 1.-THE blow was Sc
sudden and unexpected that it crushed
me. Lamar, you have always been the
hest Of friends. We were boys together
know you wouldn't deceive me about /;
matter Of this kind. Tell me the trutl
at once. You have grave fears for Ell
LEM"
No, haven't" returned LANAI
quickly. 81 have no fears ut all. Sh,
will bc herself again with proper care il
three days. Don't imagine from tina
there has been no danger. It was ter
ribly narrow escape, terribly narrow
escape"
Escape from what, from whom? Yo,
said just now that was crazy, Lamar
because / gave utterance to VIVA: seemed
to me- the only possible suspicion maj
cuytid entertain. / come home, find then
alone, and l infer that the poor, ire
spunsible creature had indeed fultiilc'
your prediction and brought torribl
trouble upon us. And now you say
impossible" the physician intcr
posed positively.
Annette did not do it?''
Annette could not have done it. ~
Massey seemed electrified. He glance'
around the room with an air Of suspicio
aud excitement Then with characters
tic impulsiyeness he seized his hat an
coat.
Lamar, who had been watching hir
with a look of grave concern in his hand
some features, laid his hand gently q
his shoulder.
What are you going to do?"
do? I am going to tho police. ! NJ
going to have this matter investigate
ut once. p
He stopped short, amazed by the g,
preston which he saw in the physician
face.
mo, Julian Maxey, not if can PR
vent it."
The serious, earnest gravity, the ute
solcmnity OF DR.. Lamar's speech an
manner, frightened the artist.
What is it, Lamar? For heaven
sake, what arc you thinking about?"
II cannot tell you here. Let me &C
You i'll private"
A nervous trembling took Maxey a
at once He did not know why. He lie
the way to the front Of the house. Thee
was a dim light in the parlor. Make
did not turn it up He sat down clos
beside the physician ON a sofa Lam;
did not seem to see his way clearly
what he wanted to say, and after m
mcnt's silence Maxcy spoke up excited!
There's something ON your mine
Lamar; know it. There Is somethin
which you know and I don't know.
serious that you hesitate to tell me OF 1t.
No." said Lamar gravely. II kno