Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-07-16
-THE--
Professors Secret.

dangers that don't exist. The fact il
that there is no person in Fairview TO
whom evil is less likely to come thar
to me. Go home now, and If / need
you will send for you
DO, Mason" she pleaded. 81 shall
feel so much better to be near you
The doctor was almost tempted to re-
treat. There was no doubt that his
mother should worry, and that she
would be more distressed at her w
home than if she remained with him,
but the thought of her staying longer
in the professors house was intolera-
bic. SO he conducted her down stairs
and said: Il have told my mother to
return home.'
He could not possibly frame any POI
lite phrases to convey this %nou
ment. Mrs. Williams tried to express
her sympathy for the household in
view of the new distress that had come
to afflict 1t, but her words were falter
ing and incoherent.
Don't apologize, Mrs. Williams" in
terrupted the professor blandly, 1--WE
are already under the greatest obliga-
tons to you, and we could not, OF
Course, urge you longer TO neglect your
own home. l have left the horse har-
messed and will drive you rs soon as
you are ready"
Mrs. Williams turned to her son,
alarm showing in her eyes.
There is no need" began the doc
tor.
"Oh, / insist upon it" exclaimed the
professor. Il know that Belmont
women are accustomed to walking, but
we can't permit it under the circum-
stances; can We, Lou? Get your things,
dear, and go with u.s.
1T will be better to comply, mother"
whispered the doctor, who knew that
nc harm could come TO his mother,
even If she went with the professor
alone. For herself she felt perfectly
ut ease with Louise along. and the de-
parture was, therefore, speedily eff
fected.
The doctor returned to the sick room.
He found Mrs. Appleton sitting near
Amelia's bed as calmly as il she had
been installed there as nurse by his or
ders. He was surprised and disturbed.
The very slight contact he had had
with her had not been sufficient to give
him an insight into the character that
underlay her reticent demeanor, and it
had not been enough to dissipate a
sense of distrust that her presence had
aroused. Why was she here now? The
serving m had naturally been
cognizant of Amelia's disappearance,
and they had lowered about at the
first, ready to assist Mrs. Williams, or
carry out any instructions of his own
After the professor had gone with the
prescription they had returned to he
basement, as il was evident that there
was nothing more required of them up
"She probably means WELL" thought
the doctor, trying to alsabuse his mine
of prejudice. His reason told him that
it was unfair to distrust everybody be
cause of his or her association with
Fairview and the professor.
Il shall remain with the patient
from now on, Mrs. Appleton" he said,
aloud.
He did not care to have her in the
room, and yet he hesitated TO ask her
to leave, having nc ground for such a
request other than his aversion for
her, and he hoped she would volunta-
rily leave. Mrs. Appleton, however,
took up her sock from a basket at her
side and began to darn without a
word. as if she had settled down for
an all-night session.
The doctor went 10 the bedside n
stood there for n long time looking at
Amelia. Her condition aroused his
professional anxiety TO an unusual de-
gree. He saw plenty of danger in the
case from natural causes, wholly aside
from any foul acts that might have
been contemplated by Prof. Drum
mond. He had done all that a physi-
clan could do for the time being, and
when he found his thoughts wander
ing from her case in its technical as
poets to her strange situation in the
professors household, he withdrew to
the further side of the chamber and
sat down. What was to be done? was
the query that rose imperatively, and
he recognized that the necessity of his
staying with the patient was FORUM
ate In that 1t gave him time to think.
To his discomfort 1t proved that he
could not think ahead. His mind per-
sistently reverted to what had been,
and not to the study of what was to
be. DIR. Williams was well-nigh ex-
hausted. The apprehension With
which he had awaited the inquest, the