The Red Cloud chief., 1900-12-28
CHAPTER XT,

was a little figure in cleaning siive,
brocade, stained here and there with
punches of crushed holly berries.
1t was GLADLY, stiffened and immov-
able, but with widely opened, round
blue eyes.
That she was dead was the frs
muttered thought OF both Gervis and
Leila.
mo! 'Tain't DEATH" quickly SAID
old Barnes, glancing at their white
faces. See ye, Mr.. Gervis, there's a
row Of air-holes down each side O. the
chest. I saw EN- made myself in the
old sources time, purpose-!ike, in case
O. this very kind o thing that's hap
pened now"
But Gervis was not listening. He
and others who had rushed to the gal
lery were carefully lifting the small
stifrenod form. A mounted groom had
already been dispatched for a doctor.
But something must be done az
once" said Gcrvis. as they laid the
unconscious girl on an Indian rug on
the polished floor of the gallery.
Somebody was trying to force brandy
through the marble white lips.
mot a drop will go down! What
gre we to do until the doctor comes?"
piteously cried Leila. who, kneeling
down, had slipped her arm under the
little sunny-brown head.
Fetch Mr.. Ansdell." commanded
Gervis, with a sudden inspiration.
Surely the American could give some
help in the pressing emergency, other
wise, what was the value OF his So
called scientific reputation
Mr.. Ansdell! Everybody then re-
membered that, oddly enough, the sci
enlist had not been once seen during
the hours Of anxious search. 1t was
curious. to say the least OF 1t. And
still more curious did it appear that
no Mr.. Ansdell hurried to the gallery
in answer to the summons.
Never mind, here's young Doctor
Goring himself. which is better" ejac-
ulated Lady Jane, who had struggled
upstairs more dead han alive from
sheer fright, and looked on helplessly.
Its a trance." at last pronounced
~ uOStol, a yohht mai w al NV
latest medical and scientific theories
at his fnger-ends. "She has been
hypnotized! Who has done this mis-
chief"
He stood up and glanced round upon
the awe-struck group sternly.
There was no answer, and Doctor
Goring went on wrathfully:
sCA..aL-l,. 1,A, ,-N a. -a,z. Co..
this nights work The poor young
lady has been brought to deaths door,
evidently, by some vile experiment.
Now. then, clear out of this every one
of you. Excuse my biuntness. Lady
Jane, but this is not a moment for po-
lite speech. I've got IL life to win back
If / can, and | cant have a crowd
round me. Your ladyship car remain,
and, yes, / must have Miss Desmond
II I've anybody"
One by one the spectators departed
from the gallery, and the young med
ical enthusiast set to work, with the
result that in n quarter Of an hour
GLADLY feebly opened her lips and
spoke.
81 want Leila was the whisper
And when she saw that it was Leila
herself who was supporting her head
the brides round eyes closed content.
eddy.
"She will sleep now. We must carry
her to her bed" said Doctor Goring
well satisfied.
You are wanted, sir, at once" came
an urgent whisper; while Gervis. lift
ing his wife in his arms, carried hei
away.
what! another case?" The docto,
wheeled around, and he was silently
beckoned to the quarter of the house
known as the bachelors wing.
Lying back in his chair in front o.
a writing table, and grasping a folded
paper, was a dead man.
The room was in perfect order. Their,
had been no assault, no murder. nc
suicide, so far as one could Judge a
the moment.
But that death had entered the half
open stare of the black eyes, tn,
dropped jaw, and the marble hue O
the long, lean fingers gripping thu
sheet of paper spoke all too clearly.
Little wonder that Paul Ansdell haC
failed to join in the search for thu
missing bride, failed to obey the sum
mons for his helpful skill.
He has been dead quite a coupl'
of hours" said Doctor Goring gravely
secretly wondering what would be tn,
outcome OF this double tragedy.
you must keep this business from
the ladies as long as you can he said
turning to Gervis. who had peer hast
lily sent for. There must be an in
quest, OF course; and, meantime.
should take possession of that foldet
paper. See, I've managed not to tea
1t. You'd best lock 1t away until yol
hand 1t to the coroner, Mr.. Temple
ton"
why" gasped Gervis, as he caugh