The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-01

living helpless on a heap of skins, the other
unweariedly rubbing his companions swol-
len elbow joint
About a month previous a sleigh acct
dent had cost the young man a fractured
leg aud had necessitated his being left with
the ships surgeon on this wild Siberian
coast. while the rest of the shipwrecked
exploring party continued TO press south
wards in search Of some settlement, where
they could replenish their failing stores.
They had left a generous share with the two
men. but it was not of a nature to ward off
that dread disease of the Arctic, scurvy, to
which, owing to his inability to take any
form Of exercise. the injured man had fallen
an easy prey.
unfortunately. the ammunition that had
heen saved from the wreck was soon ex-
hausted. and Morrison. the surgeon. was
far from expert with the lance. After
hours given to lying in wait for the seals,
the only result of his perseverance was
stifened joints and aching limbs. On the
rare occasions when he had succeeded in
framing a ptarmigan or wild duck he had
scrupulously devoted the delicacy to the
sufferer. knowing that fresh meat was the
hest remedy he could give him. But he had
s1pk from bad to worse, and now, TO all
snDearance, lay at deaths door. Evident
~ he was fully aware Of his danger, for a
r.o~+al dread filled the haggard eyes ne
turned on the surgeon.
.It's no good, Morrison, I am a doomed
man. he groaned, breaking the long ST.
lence.
You mustn't lose pluck. man, shall pull
Won through, never fear!' said the otner,
but with a huskiness that belied his would
he sanguine tone; and his honest-looklng
ewes avoided meeting Anthony Tuke's hope
less gaze.
..You can't do it. / shall be a dead man
soon-not that I should mind that, II 1t
ended there. But my soul-this cursed
weight is dragging it down to hen.'
mis- remorsefuI outburst startled Morri-
SON into dismayed remembrance OF the
strange words uttered by the other during
SMELLS of mental alteration, words that he
had then attributed TO an unhinged imagl-
nation. Before he could frame any question
the MISREPRESENTATION man exclaimed:
II will make a clean breast of 1t, ana
cheat the devil if I can" And he struggled
into a sitting position, the fierce light Oh a
sudden resolution firing his sunken eyes.
Morrison" he began. you remember the
Heekford murder trial about eighteen
months ago.?
No I was on a voyage TO Brazil at that
time. and seldom saw an English neWspa-
per-but stay. i do remember hearing some
thing about it. A man murdered by his step
brother. wasn't it,"
'Yes-at least so the case went, ana THIS
stepbrother. Gerald Fairfield. was sentenced
10 seven years penal servitude. But she Is
waiting for m-sh and her fortune III
spite of it all. And I thought to thrust him
ont If her life forever. But for him she
-. - foxora6 mo 0DoOlV
Then he came between US, and the game
seemed all up with me-until the devil
played into my hands. 1t was all so sudden.
We-Tom Hardy and I-were going to spend
4he evening with Cyril Rockford. and as we
were making a short cut through the park
we heard groans. After beating about a Bit
We discovered Rockford lying on the ground
in an exhausted state. In answer 10 our
questions, he moaned that 1t was Gerald S
doings,' and with that he swooned OIL
Hardy said he would hurry on to the house
for help while 1 remained there"
luke paused and stretched out a tremb-
ling hand towards a cup containing snow
diluted brandy. Morrison fastened to STEADY
il TO his parched lips. and was glad to see
how it revived him, for he felt that a man S
honor and a woman's happiness depenoeo
on the other being able to finish his dis
closure.
When 1 saw him lying insenslole before
me the wish rose in my mind that ne mlght
never recover, which would make Falrnelo
a murderer in the eyes of the law ana
remove the one great obstacle between
HiIda Thornley, and myself. But even as
this thought quickened my pulses, ne
snoved signs of coming round. Quick as the
temptation that flashed across my orain'
I picked I'D the heavy riding whip that lay
close beside him. and with the butt end
dealt the fatal blow"
Again he paused. obviously quaihng IN
flesh and spirit before the tragic remem-
hrance confronting him. SURPRISING MS
r-enugnance. Morrison again held the Drandy
IN the sinking mans lips His eyes still star
ing into vacancy, he once more resumed MS
confession.
Ten minutes ~later-they seemed hours
10 me-Hardy returned with " men anu
an improvised stretcher. And theh' as we
were all bending over him. Harry ieehns
his puIse with a scared face. Fairfield nim-
self appeared on the scene.
".Oh. YOU here, but don't alarm yum
selves over him. 1 have given the houhu
q horse-whipplng-no man could nave uohe
Iessr he said, coming forward "llhou' q
shade of fear in his eyes
You have gwen Him HS
said Hardy, springing up. and stahoins on
one side. so that Fairfield could see the
other. one glance sent him staggering oach
with a face almost as white. He swore ina
he had only given him a souno th'ashins
And then he went on TO explain tnat "hlit
driving home along the road skiruns the
park he had heard a girl cry out, ana Vi
looking over the hedge he saw Heckloro
holding fast a girl. whom he was kisslhs
against her will Telling the groom TO drive
on. he-FairheId-sprang from the oos car
and. breaking through the hedge' Gun
fronted Rockford. Hot WORDS passeu De
tween them and ended in his seizing tn'
other by the collar and laying the "hii
about him. This done. he fiung MIN IRON
him. Rockford quickly recovered hlhsei
and was dashing forward TO close win MN
when ne caught his foot in the root OF .
tree and fell heavily 10 the ground "hers
ne lay declaring his ankle was wrencneo
from its socket. Paying no neeo 10 MN
he had turned his attention to the girl
who had tainted. Her home, the fafh
Dairy. was close by, so he had LOST no time
in carrying her there. And as soon as hei