The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1897-09-24

aegis against which the slings ard ar
rows of n debauched and INSCRIPTIONS
press rattle in vain.
The professional nurse assured me
that the patient had rested easily and
had taken surprising amount of nour-
ishment. The slight symptoms OF fever
had passed away, and the, .pplication of
| the liniments caused less pain. He lay
upon his back, eyes and mouth closed,
| senseless, apparently, to the outer
world. l received careful instructions
as 10 diet anu massage, ana theh the
nurse ieft me.
Inc room was the one usually oeeu-
Pieu ny Dethetrius' II hod TWO oooFs
anu WINDOW ohe ooor comm uniei.en ..,
Win tne passage' ana the otner WIN
Marh oeuroon,, now vacant here' III.
nurse 'oiu me- shouiu hho coilee anu
hsht refreshments. "A ara"h por',ere
huhg between tue rooms ou, ,he aoor
was open, anu ia.nP burned DIlsnus
upon MARX 'aoie' furnishing suiheleh'
,igh. ior 'he room oeSono' Where Bur
nhgtoa iay' Inc nurse "arheu me 10
iea'e TINS ian'P where !. was 'oo nuc"
heh.' ne saio' WIS oao ior MS patient.
took my seat by the head OF the
red with my back 70 the portere and
facing the window The lower sash was
up, and could see and hear the ocean.
mention these details as briefly as pos
sipie' put they are Important as the
sequei VIII prove.
for an hour at ieast l watched but
hhs ION iniPassNe ie".ures' ain no
Fhysiosnomis.' put unless my eNperf
epce was enureiy a' Iaui.' TINS hihh
haa the head OF neither a crimihai nora
maniac. Inc nrows were narrow but
lofty; the mouth was beautifully mod
eled, but disfigured by deep lines rum
ring from nostril to jawbone. His
hands were the next to attract my at
;ention, and again I marveled at the
curious concentration of circumstances
which had warped n nature unquestion-
sbly designed for good rather than evil
purposes. Perhaps the fact that Nancy's
father was the object of my examina-
ion perverted my judgment; but sit
ing there in the dimiy-lit room, with
he lullaby of the Pacific in my ears,
,nine to the amazing conclusion that
Hurlington was guiltlcss of the murder
Of Perkins, that his wife had been the
victim Of circumstantial evidence, that
Gernrd had fallen prey to his natural
pusillanimity. Then suddenly be-
thought me Of the telegrams. and my
Imagination wilted.
As my eyes still rested upon the
sinewy hands with their strong spat-
ulate fingers, Burlington addressed me
by name. His voice was much stronger,
and the information clear. Indicating nm
unclouded brain.
"Are we alone ~ he asked, not NOV
ing his head.
"Yes," said 4; "but don't talk"
81 must" he replied, impatiently.
I've focused all my strength for that
very purpose. 1 want to sec Mrs. Ger
ard tomorrow"
He was certainly mad. decided. and
must be humored.
"Yes, yes," 1 murmured, soothingly,
"of course you shall see Mrs. Gerard"
81 don't know what the devil YOU
mean by of course - he said, irritably.
There are serious difficulties in the
way. She was once my wife, the very
light of my eyes. And she left me
me-" 1 noted the accent Of pride-"for
that slave Of Plutus, Mark Gerard. I
let her go, d-n her, without word.
But she is not anxious to see me again,
III warrant"
was too astonished to reply.
Il may have to employ you," he con-
tinucd, calmly, "as go-between. Mark
Gerard is welcome to my wife, but the
girl is mine, and want her"
Nancy" 1 gasped.
"Is that her name?" said he. "Yes,
she's mine. / claim the girl"
He spoke so calmly, 30 sanely, that !
forgot my duty as nurse, and spoke out
impulsively:
"You claim that girl, knowing the
reason which drove her mother from
your house?"