The Florence daily tribune., 1898-03-28
CHAPTER XIV.

just about noon, when the hospita'
attendant was away al dinner, the doc
tor at BuSton's and Whitaker getting
nap after his night of vigil, only IEop
Ling was on duty over Randy. "ue'll
probably sleep until late in the after
noon,N the doctor said, when he looked
in at II, and so perhaps he might have
done. Grafton, before starting, had
taken the responsibility OF removing
Florence's ominous looking missive and
placing it with other letters ON the
mantel in the little pnrlor. File could
not feel justified in hiding it entirely
He felt TINT when Merriam woke the
truth would have to be told him, and
perhaps Fiorence's own words might
best explain her fight. Al all events
Dir. Leavitt had promised to be on
hand to see that the news was not too
abruptly broken, and Leavitt counted
on long sleep and upon subsequent
drowsiness and languor as the result of
bis treatment. No one had dreamed of
the possibility of snch rude awakening
Us came. No woman in her right senses
would have ventured on the mad
Drained, desperate measure resorted to
by Mrs. McLane. What she hoped to
learn, what she expected to gain, what
papers or information she still believed
him to possess, who can say? The pow
er of reasoning, driven from her by the
stupefyine drug that of late had over
mastered its weak and willing victim,
seemed TO have utterly gone, leaving in
its place only something of the craft
and cunning that possess the insane.
No sooner was Mrs. Grafton out of the
way, than, rousing suddenly, Fanny
had summoned Annette. had FASTENED
through her toilet, and, barely slipping
The coffee rendered her, had thrown a
Tight wrap over her head and shoulders
and fitted out of the house, out past
the stable at the rear, and to the amaze
Of the sentry on No. 2, had scurried
away along the fence, had easily located
the Merriams' gate, the number on
which eorresponded with that of their
quarters, and in another moment had
let herself through the kitchen and
dining-room and into the little parlor.
There for few moments she seemed
to have paused and reconnoitercd.
OF what followed only Randy and
Hop Ling were witnesses. The latter
was never able to explain it, If indeed
he ever could understand the situation,
and MS for Randy, il was long before he
could be induced to speak of it at ALL
The time came when he had to, how
ever, and ii can beAold now.
He was half asleep, half awake. in
irhat help,essly lethargic state that
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