The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-07-13

u 49,: ;:;;:; ;:; 3; !, *: Il; s;
-@-l49G5- ceived q summons
EYZES by telegram TO go
%<N@ and take temporary
charge of practice
in the suburbs OF Bradford. The ad-
dress was that Of DIR. Wolford, who
had died suddenly two days before.
but beyond this 1 had no information.
[ was met at the Bradford Midland
station by surly looking individual,
who, saying that his name was Sug-
den, and that he was the late DIR.
Wolford's dispenser, at once suggest
cd that we should go and have drink.
looked sharply at the man, and
what saw prompted me to decline,
on the plea that must look after my
luggage. l have formed the habit "a
dangerous one, by the wayl OF judg.
ing by first impressions, and already 1
knew that 1 should dislike this man.
concealed this feeling, however, and
during the drive from the station en-
deavored to learn something about the
manner of DIR. Wolford's death; but
as received only monosyllabic replies
from my companion, soon gave up
the attempt at conversation.
On our arrival at the house was at
once shown into the dining room,
where Mrs. Wolford was waiting to
receive me.
"Oh, DIR. Meldrumr" she cried, as
she came forward to greet me; "you
can't think how glad am TO see you.
I've been counting the hours till you
could be here"
The warmth of this welcome rather
surprised me, but 1 murmured some
suitable reply, and expressed my re-
greet for the sad occurrence which had
made my presence necessary. At the
mention of her husbands name Mrs.
Wolford's eyes flled with tears.
"Yes," she said, simply; ''it was
very sudden, and very, very cruel. Z"
And then, with sudden keen glance
up into my face, she added: "Are you
clever, DIR. Meldrum?-clever in your
profession, mean; because there is
problem in this house to be solved
that will need clever man. Oh, DR..
Medium, wonder whether you know
what it is to be without friend whom
you can trustp'
At this point she showed signs of
breaking down altogether, but with q
strong effort restrained herself. "You
wonder why ask you these ques-
tions?" she went on. "You think me
hysterical-but I'm not, doctor"
"No," said /, though in point of
fact did think 80. recognize that
you are anxious that your husbands
practice should be in competent hands,
and from what have seen of the dis.
penser-"
She interrupted me with a gesture.
''It's not that" she said, impatiently;
and then, after a slight pause: CDR.
Meldrum, I'm afraid"
"Afraid?" said l. "Of what?"
afraid for my boys life-and my
own."
The terror in her voice as she said
these words was very real.
''Is your son ill?" ] asked.
Eyes. Will you come and see him
now? There is just time before din
ner."
l expressed my readiness, and we
went upstairs to the boys bedroom.
On the way Mrs. Wolford explained
that this was her only child, ten years
old; and added, tearfully that il she
we're to lose him too, as we'll as her
husband, she would die. We found
the boy sleeping quietly; without
waking him 1 took his temperature,
but found no indication of feverish-
ness, and this, pointed ont to his
mother, was, in child, fairly con-
elusive proof that at present there was
not much the matter.
THANK heaven for that" she said,
earnestly.
"What do you fear?" 1 asked.
There was sound of some one
opening aud shutting the door Of the
room next to the one in which we
were. The footsteps came along the
passage and paused at our door. In
stead of answering me, Mrs. Wolford,
who seemed to be listening intently,
wrote with her finger on the counter
pane the one word ''Poisonp'
Then we heard The footsteps pass
on, and go downstairs.
Come" said Mrs. Wolford, after O
slight pause; when you have washed
we will go down TO dinner. You must
be hungry, and / just now heard Mr..
Sugden leave his room, so he'll be
waiting for us.
After my experience in the cab 1
quite expected that the conversation
at dinner would be mostly between
Mrs. Wolford and myself; but in this
was wrong, for Sugden who in the
presence of the lady seemed quite to
have thrown off the eccentric morose-
ness of manner which 1 had put down
to semi-intoxication, talked continu-
ously aud well, and proved himself an
exceedingly interesting aud well-in-
formed companion-so long, that is,
as Mrs. Wolford remained with us.
As s6o-. however, as she had left the