The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1895-10-19
CHAPTER xxxIl1.-ruE DEcREE OF FATE.

On his arrival in London Mountioy
went to the Nurses Institute to inquire
for Mrs. Nimpany.
She was again absent. in attendance on
another patient. The address OF the house
Cknown only TO the matron) WAS. on this
occasion. not to be communicated TO any
friend who might make inquiries. 4 n;N
case of scarlet fever had been placed
under the nurses care. and the danger
of contagion was too serious to be tritled
with.
Tie events which had led to Mrs, Nimp
any's present employment had not occur
red in the customary course
\ nurse who hid recently joined the In
stitute had been first engaged TO under
take the case at the express request OF the
suffering person. who was said TO be dis
family related to the young womln. On
the morning when she was abont to pro
coed to the scene of her labors news had
reached her of the dangerous illness OF
her mother. Mrs. Nimpany, who WAS free
at the time, and who felt Il friendly inter
est in her young colleague, volunteered tc
take her place. Upon this Il strange re
buest had been addressed TO the matrop
on behalf of the sick man. He desired to
be Uniformed of it, il the new nurse was
an ~grishwoman." Hearing that she Wi;
an Engltslwoniln lie at once accepted her
services: being himself Gas an additional
element of mystery in the matter) an Irish
man!
The matron's English preiudices at once
assumed that there had been some dis
cretlitable event in the mans life, which
might be made q subject of scandalous
exposure if he was attended by one of hi:
own country people. She advised Mrs
Vimpany to have nothing to do with tho
afflicted stranger. The nurse answered
that she had promised TO attend on him
anal she kept her promise.
Mountjos left the Institute, after vaiulv
attempting to obtain Mrs. Nimpany's adj
dress. The one concession which, The ma.
tron offered to make WAS TO direct his
letter. and send it 10 the post, if he would
be content with that form of ~Communica.
ton.
On reflection, he decided to write the
letter.
Prompt employment of time might be
of Importance, III it was possible to pre-.
vent any further communication with
Lord Harry, on the part of his Irish cor.
respondent. Using the name with which
Iris had provided him, Hugh wrote to in
quire If it was familiar to Mrs. Vimpany,
as the name of Il person with whom she
had been. at any time. acquainted. In
this event, he assured her that an imme-
date consultation between them was alb
solntely necessary in the interests of Iris.
He added, in n postscript, that he was in
perfect health. and that he had no fear of
infection-aud sent his letter 10 the. ma.
iron to be forwarded.
The reply reached him late in the even
ing. 1t was in the handwriting of II stIln.
ger, and was to this effect:
DEAE Mr.. MoUNTJoY-1t is impossible tha,
I can nllow you to rui the risk OF seeing ~,
while ] am iii my present sitiintion. So seri
GUS Is the danger of contlgion, IN . arle,
fever, that ! dare not even write TO you with
my own hand, on note-raper which has ben
of mins: the doctor in Attendance here knows
of II case III which II small picea of infected
flannel communicated the disease after an
interval of 10 loss than q year. ] must trusi
to your own good sense to see the necessity OF
waiting until | can receive yen without ally
fear of consequences to yourself. In tho
menntime, | inny answer your Inquiry relntiup
to tho name communicated i'll your letter.
first knew tile gentleman you m"ation somS
yours since we were introduced to each nthrl
by Lord Harry: ana SAW him Afterwards OK
more than one occasion.
Mountioy read this wise and consider
ate reply 10 his letter with Indignation.
Here was the good fortune for which lt
had not daret to hope declaring itself III
favor of Iris. Here Gf Mrs Nimpans
could be persuaded to write TO her friend
was the opportunity offered Of Keeping
the hot-temparcd Irish husband passive
and harmless by keeping him withon,
further news of the assassin OF Arthur
Mountioy. Under these encouraging cir.
cumstances the proposed consultation
wuIci might lave produced such excel
le!tI results ufth beCH tSJeGtttl, luhtkN u
a contemplate fear of infection. eXcitct
by n story of a trumpery piece of flannel!
Hugh snatched up the unfortunate let
ter (cast away on the tloorl to tear it int
pieces and throw it into the waste pape
basket-and checked himself. His angr
hand had seized on ii witt: The blank lea
of the note-paper npparmost.
On that leaf he discovered two ,itt!t
lines of print, presenting, in the Custom
airy form, the address of the house Il
which the letter had been written! TIL
writer, in taking the sheet of paper frot
the case, must have accidentally turDe
| 1t wrong side u%ppermost ON the desk, an
, had not cared to recopy the letter or ha
not discovered the mistake. Restored t
his best good-humor, Hugh resolved I
surprise Mrs. Vimpany bg IA visit, on til
, next day, which would set the theory q
, contagion at defiance and render vaiuabl
service to Iris ut a crisis IN her life.
Having time before him for reflection
In the course of the evening, he was ut u
loss to discover u formidable obstacle |
the way Of his design.
Whether he gave his name or conceded
his name, when he asked for Mrs. VIM
any ut the house door, she would j
either case refuse 10 see him. The on
accessible person whom he could corsc.
in this difficulty was his faithful old Sc
: want.
: That experienced man-formerly en-
. piOyed ut various times ~ the army. J.
J the police. and in service at II publ
school-obtained leave to make sou
preliminary Investigations Oh the neA
morning.
He achieved two important discoveries
In the first place. Mrs. Vimpany was Ii,
ing in the house In which the letter to b
master had been written. In the secon
u place, there was II page attached TO IL
domestic establishment (already under II,
: tice to leave his situation), who was a
cessible to corruption by means of u brib
The boy would be on the watch for NJ
: Mountjoy ut 2 o'clock on tina day, an
would show him where 10 find Mr.
Yimpany, in the room near the sick room
n which she was accustomed to take hi
meals.
Hugh acted on his Instructions, an
)und the page waiting to admit him s.
rally to the house Iandinn tha wnu ~