The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-06-01
A
SHORT
STORY

L ney were swallowed with a convulStVe
gulp. but made no change in the pro-
found inconsistencies in which the
patient lay.
ITS no use," he said at last. "He's
too far gone to awake. And yet his
pulse is very good, and if had him at
home there are one or two other things
that might try. So just tell the driver
to come in and help me carry him to
the fly"
He wrapped around him the rug he
had sent the evening before, which was
the only thing about him not in rags.
and with the drivers assistance carried
him out and propped him up in the fly.
Before quitting the place Richard
turned the bed over with his foot to
be sure nothing of value was left be-
hind. A heavy revolver, which proved
to be loaded, ratified upon the floor,
and as he stopped to pick it up a yellow
CLEAN caught his eye among the rags.
What! more money!" he exclaimed,
but on looking closer he found that it
was only the gilt case of an old-fash-
toned, faded daguerreotype portrait.
Nothing else was to be found, and slip
ping it into his pocket with the re-
volver, he returned to the cab, locking
the door behind him as he left.
A few minutes driving brought the
party back to Richards house, and
with the assistance of the cabman, the
still unconscious patient was carried
up to one of the empty rooms, where
bed had been prepared to receive him.
Mary was ready with hot soup and COT
fee, and felt little disappointed when
Richard turned her from the door.
mo, no, Mary, it's no use trying to
give it to him that way. Make little
very strong beef-tea; l will find a way
to administer that. Send me up the
bottle of Condy's fluid, and glass anu
jug of water"
Left to himself, he proceeded with a
fierce anxiety, very different from his
usual professional GOODNESS, to take
such measures as his knowledge die
tated to awaken his patient from his
stupor, and these not proving imme-
diately successful, to sustain life, if
possible, until the effect of the drug
should pass of. 1t was late when, after
having exhausted nearly every means
known to him, he left him still lying
unconscious, and went downstairs.
Mary had prepared little supper for
appearance.
"a good, strong cup Of tea for me,
Mary"
"Why, Richard, you know tea at
night always keeps you awake. You
would not sleep wink after it,"
That's what I want. I am going to
sit up with my patient tonight, and
before Alice goes to bed you had better
tell her to light a fire in his room"
ooh, Richard, mayn't sit up along
with you? l am sure l shall not close
my eyes the whole time for thinking of
you. l never can sleep when you aye
away from me at nights"
'All the more reason for you to be
resting quietly in bed, then" said
Richard, who had his own reasons for
wishing to be alone with his patient in
the event Of his recovering conscious
ness.
When the household had retired,
Richard sat down in an easy-chair be-
side the fire, having first made a care
full examination of his patient, who
moaned and muttered in his sleep as
he turned him over to sound his heart.
Reassured of these signs of reviving
consciousness, he opened the latest
works on "Poisons," on which he had
recently expended a guinea which he
could very i'll spare, turned to the
section on "Morphia," and settled him
self in his chair to study it attentively.
About four hours later he was awak-
ened from deep sleep by loud cry
uttered near him. The book had fallen
to the floor beside the chair; the fire
had gone out, but the lamp was burn
ing brightly. The sick man was sitting
up in bed, from which he had thrown
off the covering, and was wildly CROP
ing among the bed-clothes in search of
something.
Lost, LOST" he shrieked. "Help!
thieves! Police!"
Richard was at his side in a moment
and caught him by the shoulder.
"Thank God. you are better!" he ex-
claimed. "But what are you looking
for?"
What, doctor, is it you? Where am
I? What has been the matter with me?
I feel as If had slept for hundred
years!"
"You are in my house." said Rich
ard, "and everything you have is safe.
Now pull yourself together and let me
have look at you. Pupils normal,
heart all right. Why, you are mira
Gle! Just swallow this cup of cof-
fee; it's cold, but your throat must be
like chimney. Down with it,"
more, more; could drink up Esil!"
he cried, holding out the empty cup to
be refilled.
"You must be a magician, doctor, to
have brought me round SO quickly.
I'm accustomed to these attacks. as I
told you, and the worst is always over
in three days. But there Is always
sickness and prostration afterwards,
and this time positively feel better
than havn donn fnr 1,ao~, Y,.,. ia