The Yale expositor., 1900-12-28
CHAPTER XI.

brocade, stained here and there with
punches of crushed holly berries.
It was GLADLY, stiffened and immov-
able, but with widely opened, round
blue eyes.
That she was dead was the first
muttered thought of both Cervis and
Leila.
mo! 'Tain't DEATH" quickly said
old Barnes glancing at their white
faces. "See We, Mr.. Gervis, there's a
row OF air-holes down each side o. the
chest. l saw 'em made myself in the
Old squire's time, purpose-like, in case
O. this very kind O. thing that's hap
peccd now!"
But Gervis was not listening. He
and others who had rushed to the gal
lery were carefully lifting the small,
stiffened form. A mounted groom had
already been dispatched for doctor.
But something must be done at
! once" said Gervis, as they laid the
unconscious girl on an Indian rug on
the polished floor of the gallery.
Somebody was trying to force brandy
/
Not drop will go down! What
are we to do until the doctor comes?"
piteously cried Leila, who, kneeling
down, had slipped her arm under the
little sunny-brown head.
Fetch MIR. 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 it. 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 than alive from
sheer fright, and looked on helplessly.
ITS a trance!" at last pronounced
the DOCTOR young man, with all the
latest medical and scientific theories
at his finger-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:
Somebody has got to answer for
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 bluntness, Lady
Jane, but this is not moment Cor po-
lite speech. I've got life to win back
If / can, and l can't have crowd
round me. Your ladyship can remain,
and, yes. l must have Miss Desmond,
If I've anybody"
One by one the spectators departed
from the gallery, aud the young med
zeal enthusiast set TO work, with the
result that in quarter Of an hour
GLADLY feebly opened her lips and
spoke.
(.
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
IN urgent whisper; while Garvi5, lift
ing his wife in his arms, carried her
away.
What! another case?' The doctor
! wheeled around and he was silently
beckoned to the quarter of the house
known as the bachelors wing.
Lying back n his chair in front OF
a writing table, and grasping a folded
! paper, was dead man.
The room was in perfect order. There
| had been no assault, no murder, no
suicide, so far as one could judge at
the moment.
But that death had entered the half
open stare of the black eyes, the
dropped jaw, and the marble hue of
the long, lean fingers gripping the
sheet of paper spoke all too clearly.
Little wonder that Paul Aasdell had
failed to join in the search for the
missing bride, failed TO obSy the sum-
mons for his helpful skill.
He has been dead quite couple
of hours" said Doctor Goring gravely,
secretly wondering what would be the
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 been hast
lily sent for. There must be an in
quest, of course; and, meantime, l
should take possession Of that folded
paper. See. I've managed not to tear
1t. You'd best lock it away until y
hand it to the coroner, EFT. Ten.
ton"
why" gasped Gervis, as he cau7il
sight of the close. upright handwr1-
ing, my wife wrote that! What VI
la.ny is this? See here!"
1T was the last Will and testau,.