The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1900-05-25
A
SHORT
STORY

Ss~SSSAAA
only guess He estimated, however,
that the contents of the first bag must
be worth at least two hundred pounds;
second and third were opened with
similar result; but the last three con-
tanned not coins, but jewels, mostly un-
set and many uncut; rubies, emeralds
and diamonds, some of them of great
size and evidently of enormous value.
He was still engaged in counting and
examining these last, oblivious of the
lapse of time, when he was startled by
hearing the outer door and footsteps
cross the floor towards the door of the
inner room. Almost before he was
conscious of moving he found himself
at the door and in the act Of turn
ing the key in the lock. Good Heav-
ens!" he muttered, II must be under
the spell of the gold-fiend myself. This
will never dol" Nevertheless he
opened the door only wide enough to
let himself through, and at once closed
and locked it behind him. Then he
found himself face to face with the
driver of the cab which he had left at
the door.
BEG your pardon, sir!" said the
man, touching his hat; 81 thought you
had forgotten me. Is there anything
you want carried out to the cab?"
I'm afraid I did forget you," said
the doctor. "The fact is, 1 have seen
reason to change my mind about re-
moving the patient. You need not wait
any longer. Here is a shilling for the
time you have lost. 8
"Not quite case for the Union In
firmary," he said to himself after the
cab had departed. II must get nurse
for him and order some proper food.
He will be able to pay for them," he
added with laugh. "And now think
of it, had better take charge of his
money myself"
So saying, he returned the jewels to
their respective pouches, fastened them
securely, and again locking the door,
took off his coat and waistcoat and
buckled the heavy belt around his own
waist. Its weight surprised him, but
when he had adjusted it in its place
and rearranged his clothes over it, he
was astonished to find how easily it
fitted and how little external evidence
there was of its presence. Then he
kneeled down beside his patient and
examined him infinitely. The man lay
in death-like stupor, with eyes half
open, and the doctor, raising the lids
successfully with his thumb, noted
with keen professional glance that the
pupils were contracted to less than half
their natural size. Good heavens!"
was his first thought; "can l.. have
given him an overdose?"
The next ten minutes were spent in
efforts to awake and arouse the sleep
ing man. He shouted in his ears.
dipped, the corner of his handkerchief
i'm water and Slapped his face, raised
him. to his feet only to find his legs
collapse helplessly under him. Then
he put his hand to the hip-pocEef, in
which he carried his hypodermic;case
The bulky pouches of the belt delayed
him for moment, but it was enough to
change the current Of his thoughts.
The thought of the wealth now within
his grasp rushed over him like an ir-
resistible food, sweeping everything
before it. Don't be Quixotic fool,
Richard Falconer! You have done all
yon can for him; let him go now,: and
take the good that has fallen into your
hands. Here is what will pay all your
debts, solve all your difficulties, launch
you on a new and full career, brighten
your wife's lot, and give your boy a
proper chance in the world. Think
how much more good it will do in your
hands than in those of this useless
miser. Now you will have some chance
of pursuing your scientific studies to
advantage and doing some service to
humanity in your day. Just leave the
case to nature. Go back to your house,
make your evening visit in due course,
find him dead, and certify the. real
cause-malarial fever. And If there be
an inquest, there are the contracted
liver and enlarged spleen ready to your
hand as sufficient explanation, and,
what is better, perfectly true one"
He strobe up and down the room in
a fever Of excitement, his lips mutter-
ing, his head whirling. How it ended
he could never clearly recollect; he had
a confused remembrance Of rushing
from the house, of passing through the
streets, even Of stopping to speak with
some acquaintance. He found after
wards that he had made more than one
parish visit, through which habit and
the automatic force Of perfect training
had carried him without any blunder.
After a time he seemed to himself to
wake as If from a dream. His wife's
voice, sounding at first as If coming
from great distance, recalled him to
himself. Richard, Richard, what is
the matter? What has happened to
you?" He was seated in his own chair
in his consulting-room, his wife kneel-
ing on the floor holding his hands.
ooh, you are ILL.,. you ate nothing at
breakfast this morning. saw you,
though you thought I didn't notice.
oh, Richard, you mustn't go on like
that; If you were to break down what
would become of us? Sit still now, till
I see Il there be any wine left in the
,decanter, and then you must have
COS - ,aS Il