The San Francisco call., 1897-10-10

/ had drawn near | saw a very young
woman apparently dying. Her face held
a deathly pallor, her breathing was quick
and la bored and her eyes were half closed.
l stopped and looked into her face, and
then she opened her eyes. They were sur
prisingly bright.
'How do you feelr' l inquired, taking
her hand to examine the pulse. Without
replying she threw back the bed-covering
with her free hand, disclosing the sheets
and her nightdress saturated with blood.
"Where are you hurt?" 1 asked-no
doubt awkwardly enough.
She touched her breast and smiled up
into my face, and at the same time pressed
my hand. Wondering at nothing now, 1
found her pulse, and hardly realized the
force of the astonishing discovery that it
was perfectly normal.
"Can you keep secretf 7" she whispered
eagerly, drawing me closer.
"Yes, [ replied vacantly.
"Then-then-I am not wounded at ALL
This is merely my own ruse to have you
here"
The nights mysteries were multiplying
and thlckeuing alarmingly. l had first
been Informed that the young woman had
dentally shot herself, and now that she
had not been hurt at all! She added:
Fetch chair and sit beside me, for I
have strange story to tell you. First,
please moisten the end of a towel in the
dressing room there-I want to take this
pallor off my face"
did as 1 had been hidden, and when
she had rubbed her face | saw how beau
tlful and healthy she was. Her thick
brown hair lay in disorganIzed mass on
the pillow and her large hazel eyes were
lustrous and bewitching.
Don't | look better now?" she asked
roguishy.
You are beautiful" 1 answered.
"Ughl this nasty blood can't talk to
you ill I've got rid of it. L had good
deal OF trouble getting it, too. Every body
in the house thinks that l shot myself"
Madam l cried, nevertheless fasci-
mated by her beauty, her bewitching i'm
pudence and her perfect acting, "will you
please explain this farce2 [ have been
treated most shamefully by your tools to-
night and now with incredible cooIness
you inform me, stranger, that you have
made dupes of all the members of your
householdr'
"Oh!' she laughlngIy answered, un-
abashed, what will not woman do
when she wants to bring to her side"
and she looked at me so archly that
could hardly keep from smiling. Now,
don't look so stern," she added, sit isn't
pretty. You, sir, you are the cole cause of
all this horrible deception and misery"
II? What do you mean?'
''In order to have you here with me l
had to do these dreadful things"
L started in astonishment.
"Dou't say a word,' she comm anded.
"Bustle about little and pretend that
you are doing everything in your power
for me or they'll become suspicious.
Ring the bell and tell John that you want
hot water immedi ately. Call for an old
tablecloth for bandages. Send John flying
for lint ammonia, aconite, tincture of
iron, carbolic acld-anything you can
think of. Of course / knew all along that
you were not a surgeon, but I made all
the others believe you were. Do what 1
say, and be quick about it, or nv hus-
band-the old wretch-will be back before
you have turned finger to save the life
OF his dying wife. Command every one to
keep away. Hurry For goodness sake
don't stand there looking like a ghost.
When everything is quiet I'll tell you
some strange things"