The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-02-16
CHAPTER XIV.


Just about noon, when the hospital
attendant was away at dinner, the doc
tor at Buxton's and Whitaker getting
nap after his night of vigil, only Hop
Ling was on duty over Randy. He'll
probably sleep until late in the after
noon," the doctor said, when he looked
in at IL, 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 parlor. He could
not feel justified in hiding it entirely.
He felt that when Merriam woke the
truth would have to be told him, and
perhaps Florence's own words might
best explain her fight. At all events
DR.. 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
1rowsiness and languor as the result OF
his treatment. No one had dreamed of
the possibility of such rude awakening
as came. No woman in her right senses
would have ventured on the mad
brnined, 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
Supplying 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
light 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 corresponded 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 reconnoitered.
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 as for Randy, it was long before he
could be induced to speak of it at all.
The time came when he had to, how
ever, and it can be told now.
He was half asleep, half awake. in
That helplessly lethargic state that
seems to possess most temperaments
after subsection to the influence of NOR
phine. He was conscious of no pain, no
soreness, conscious of nothing but that
longing for the coming of Florence and
a wondering as to the time of night or
day. He remembered half opening his
eyes and seeing Hop blinking in an easy
chair by the bedside, and then noticed
that it was in the spare room-the guest
room-he was lying, and he thought it
must be near dawn, for the shutters and
shades were drawn, yet a dim light was
shining through. He thought Florrie
must be in her room, the front room,
and he was just thinking of calling to
the servant and rousing him, when he
heard the swift pit-a-pat of light foot
steps in the hall, swish of skirts, and,
stretching out his arm, he called aloud:
Florence, darling!" and the next min
ute woman's form was at his bedside
and he started up, rubbing his eyes,
amazed, startled, believing perhaps that
he was still dreaming, for there, with
trembling, outstretched hands, stood
Fanny McLane.
"Wlhat--where is my wife?" he
gasped. II thought-why, surely this
cannot>be you'll"
1T is l, Randy" she quavered II was
in torment could not rest nor sleep. |
l knew you were alone, with no one to
care for you"
"Alone!" he interrupted. "What do
you mean? Where is Florence, my
wife?"
You don't mean-they haven't told |
your she answered. "She has gone |
home to her people, it is supposed.
She left two nights ago-that is one
reason am here"
But Merriam burst in upon her wall
ing, half incoherent words. I'm Gods
name what do you mean? You or I
must be mad. Here, Hop, qnickl |
Where are my clothes? Fetch them at
once; then go for Capt. Grafton"
I'm not mad" she answered. Read
this-the letter she left for YOU" and
the wretched woman tossed upon the
ped the note she had taken from among
the others on the mantel. and, shouting
Tor light. Merriam tore open the en-
'elope, while the Chinaman, nerveless
and obedient to the masters will, threw
open the shutters.
In the next minute Randy had read
me page, with staring, throbbing eyes,
then fairly ordered her from the room
and dazed, yet terrified at the effect of