The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-08-03


terful way. and. casting n keen. com
prehcnsive glance around and on me.
came and stood in front of Jaques.
You've found II new occupation.
then Mr.. Unwin," said he. Brandy
eh;'
Not altogether ncw," l answered: !:
II is part of my duty to make myself
of use to the old and the intirm."
While saying this l did not look at
him; my attention was taken up with
old jaqueS, whose hand trembled in
mine, and whose eyes scowled omi-
rously on the intruder while his face
flushed and sounds of anger gurgled
from his mouth
You disturb him. Mr.. Stcinhardt,' I
exclaimed. For godnesS' sake: move
away. or he may have fit!'' adding
in thought, "and all have done will
be undone.'
S'cinharut moved out Of the old
mans view, looking disturbed himself
He prled about Il little, even taking i'll
his hand blotting pad which / had
brought 70 the cottage to be ready for
eNcntnalities, and then saying: Il am
glad the old man is Il little better" he
Went away. What had been his DUr-
pose III coming: Did he suspect my
design: Did he know whether Jaqllcs
had anything TO reveal:
The condition of the old man made
me anxious. What with the accumulat-
cd effect of the stimulants admins
tered. and the violent emotion pro-
duccd III him 10y Steinllardts appear
ancc. his nerves seemed strung SO tight.
as it We're, that l feared they might
snap with their own tension. If Biz
ley were only come we might now try
to get some information. In the mean
time | think my presence to which by
now the old man had got used had as
Well 4 calming as a sustaining effect
npon him. Thus | sat waiting while
the afternoon faded toward evening,
and the old man sank into dOze- or
a very SpasmOdic sort: for every now
and then he woke up with Il start,
stared at me and then glanced over his
shoulder | was in an agony OF anX-
iciv. What if the effects of his Stlmu-
latiun were thus passing away? | rose
and took his hand-the hand which
I had labored TO make responsive to
his will and my own. 1t was warm.
hut without any evident intention OF
dttlNt l1lt wv. aA'Si
two let it 20 and returned TO my seat.
When | again looked at the old man
nv heart lcaped to see him with a
quiet, ghostlikc interest take his left
hand in his right. and move 1t!
| scarce knew how | did tiny limbs
trembled so-but in q moment or two
] had the blotting pad with paper IN
JauueS' lap and an easy quill dlpped
in ink in his right hand ! presented
to him the former question. ana suS
gested with a motion of my hand that
he should write an answer dc looked
at the pen. and moved it in his fingers
as il perpleXcd with its purpose. lt
dropped TO the floor. and he laughed Il
strange laugh with little breath. the
spasm of which lasted some moments
II sounded SO uncanny and vacant
that my flesh crept and my heart sank
What if his wits were gone!
restored the pen to his fingers how
ever. which this time grasped it as #
they really meant to use 1t. lie put
the pen to the paper, and moved 1t IN
a wild, uncontrolled stroke; but 1t made
no mark; the ink either would not flow
or had been spilled on to the floor. It
took and dipped it. and again restored
it to his fingers. Again he essayed TO
write. and again he made only ran
dom. wavering stroke-this time in ink.
The result of his effort seemed to sur
prise and disappoint him. He froWned.
shook his head weakly, grunted and
tried again. These attempts he per-
sisted i'm till the sheet Of paper was
covered with meaningless scrawls, the
last of which. however, showed some
sign of being under q little control.
| had given him another sheet of
paper. and he was rcsuming his efforts
with something of grim determination
in his look, when l heard Il footstel
outside Could it be Steinhardt re-
turned? l flew to the door and locked
it. Just as rap sounded on it. What
should | do? l stood by the door ir-
resolute, with my breath coming quick,
while / could hear the quill dashing
and scraping on the paper. AS | thus
stood shadow darkened the window,
and i was exceedingly relieved to see
Birley's bright face looking in. | ad-
mitted him and rclocked the door: tell
ing him hurriedly how Jaques was oc-
cupied l enjoined him to keep silent
and in the background.
l returned to Jaques; he had effected
combination Of strokes which remote
" resembled letter W. with that
his purpose or his energy had failed
him. and he sat regarding it with I'M
steady satisfaction. What was now TO
be done with him? Perhaps the un-
Wonted application had for the time
exhausted both hand and brain. /
gave him some Of his milk with brandy
to drink. He rested a little and then
of his own accord resumed his pen.
That done, he paused and looked ut me
in plaintive perpleXity, and then away
from me with a wandering glance,
which included Birley. who could not
stay longer in the back ground