The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-07-05

too i'll at the moment TO make his re-
grets in person.
:. But, my dear fellow said Robin
son. If you really think Us guilty OF
this letter will you kindly explain how
it happens to be written on your own
paper|
whiting grabbed up the note and
seemed frightened for the moment,
for at the head OF the letter was his
crest and the envelope bore the impress
sion of his private seal. which he Al
ways wore on his watch chain. He
looked at it Scarchingly. and then left
the club without 4 word.
After this occurrence we ceased
bantering him about Davis and passed
the word around to the other fellows
to drop it, for we saw that the matter
worried him greatly and feared the eff
feet of our chaff on his high strung,
nervous temperament. Davis came to
the club less frequently during the
winter, but at every mention Of Whit
ingS name he smiled and said he was
sorry they did not hapen to meet.
"One day, early in the spring. Whit
ing sent note asking me to come up
W LIS tcll tillcL 90 AIS lisiNi '2ciAiN
thing of Importance to tell. and begged
me not to fail him. | had often been
to his office on Madison avenue. but
had never visited him at his rooms on
-th street. 1t was a quiet neighbor-
hood. west Of Ninth avenue. and the
house was one of Z row Of old fashion
ed frame buildings still in good repair,
but backed up against their rear We're
several ramShackel old tenementS,
nearly deserted by tenants.
Il had not seen Whiting for some
months and was shocked by the change
in his appearance. There We're dark
circles under his eyes and a strange
hunted expression in his face. He
grasped my hand eagerly and drew
a chair for me in front of the CRATE
fire. for the evenings were still cool.
Doc. he exclaimed suddenly. after
we had lit our cigars and talked gilt
tering generalitieS for 4 few minutes.
that fellow Davis is killing me by
inches"
Why. old man. l said. so you
have come to believe in him at last
| started TO laugh. but checked my
self when | saw the expression OF his
face
What is it. my dear boy:' asked.
soothingly IT certainly can't be so
serious. What has he been up to
now
'Tis damned queer business said
Whiting excitedly. and l can't imagine
his motive: but these are the facts.
For several weeks this fellow has
dogged my footsteps. and after have
made 4 professional cali and left the
usual prescription he has sent note
to the patient initiating my handwrit-
ing and changing the medicines for
others. which. had they been taken as
directed. would have in some cases
proved fatal Fortunately the drug
gists have telephoned me that there
was some mistake and l have been
able TO correct it, But Of course this
constant changing Of prescriptions
has affected my practice terribly, and
people are beginning to think that my
mind is unbalanced
But. my dear fellow said l, trying
to quiet him, why not give up your
practice for few weeks and take a
decided rest, and meanwhile we will
deal with this fellow Davis rs he
deserves
:. But that is. not ALL continued
Whiting, despairingly. 1t is true l
don't need the income from my
practice, and work more from the love
of it than for the fees. but he has gone
still further and dared to call on Miss
Wiley, my fancee. and tell her many
of the foolish escapades Of my college
days. the secret Of which 1 thought
was buried in my own breast. I have
tried to explain them away, but Of
course cannot deny the tales, and
fear it is all over for me in that quart
er. I can't see how she could listen
to the cad or where she could have met
him
Davis actions seemed to be more
inexplicable than ever, and lonSed to
get hold of the brute and force an ex-
Dlanation from him; but, hiding my
anger, I tried to quiet Whiting, and
finally prevailed upon him to take a
heavy dose of choral. which l pre-
pared. and to try to get 4 nights rest,
promising to see Miss Wiley shortly
and attempt to patch up matters.
81 left him asleep on his lounge, and,
as it was still early, walked over to
Madison avenue, determined to call
on Miss Wiley. whom knew slightly,
and tell her Of Writings condition.
There was a light in the drawing
room, and. ringing the bell, gave my
card to the servant, and he ushered
me in unannounced. Miss Wiley sat
at the piano, her hands on the keys,
while standing at her side and looking
down ardently into her upturned face
was-Davis.
For a moment l could not speak
and seemed glued to The floor, but
Davis quickly advanced and. after a
few polite inquiries about my health
and his dear friend Whiting, pleaded
an engagement and left.
His presence in the house and his
unmistakat's -----lika HA-.Sude made
1t very painful for me to speak, but
remembering the condition Of poor
Whiting and how heartbroken heseem-
ed, l ventured to speak about Davis
and asked where she had met him.
oh, have only known him few
weeks she said. He called with a
letter Of introduction from DR.. Whit
ing and said they were fellow students
in the South. He has been most kind
and attentive to me, and is teaching
me some of his own songs And she
ratified on about his divine voice, while
I sat speechless at the new compiled
ton of affairs.
AT last l blurted out, Would you
kindly let me see the letter of intro
luction:' adding that DR.. Whiting had
promised me letters to some Of his
friends in Europe and wished to see
his methods.
Il felt that this was 4 most feeble
excuse, but could think OF nothing else,
and of course Miss Wiley was too po-
lite to express her surprise at the
strange request. Going to dainty
writing desk in the corner she came
back and handed me the letter
There was no doubt Of the chiro-