The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1901-05-30
CHAPTER xvI.-CoNr1NuEp.

SIlsaI LIN Atl.-SONIIN JED. -
"Ah!" Father Surtees' brows were
knitted together. AS he uttered that
exclamation he rose and began to
walk back and forth across the room.
Suddenly he turned and stood over
Goddard.
do you think she could have in
duced you to take a hand in this plot
if you had believed Blanche to be per-
fectly sound, physically"
Certainly not; it is because she has
such a short life, and
Father Surtees laid his hand on the
majors shoulder.
"Then," he said, "your wife must
have known that it woulu require
most extraordinary pressure to induce
you to enter into her scheme, and
and has it never occurred to you that
her story may be a deliberate lie out
of whole cloth?"
The major could hardly formulate
an answer. His eyes were wide open,
and his face was like a death mask.
Blanche" he began, presently, sis
taking DR.. Jennings medicines. I
have seen that"
Medicines" said the priest, "are
often given for slight ailments. That
fact ought not to substantiate the
statement of your wife-that fiend III
carnate-especially when it looks as
if she could have gal ed her purpose
by misleading ou."
Maj. Goddard groaned. AS he bowed
there beneath the earnest look of his
friend he seemed a wreck of past man
illness.
what can I do? Is there any
thing?"
"There is but one thing right now"
answered Father Surtees. "You
ought to so at once to see this DR..
Fleming. I see by the papers that he
arrived yesterday, and is at the Sher-
man house."
There was a startled stare in the
eyes of the major as he rose.
"Come with me-" he said, huskily;
'scome with me-"
81 should like to. I am very impa-
tient, Rowland, to know the truth on
that point. Much depends on it; very
much"
In a moment the priest had put on
his overcoat and hat, and the two men
We're walking down the avenue to-
wards the hotel just mentioned.
Il shall wait down I.ere for you,"
said the priest, when they had entered
the office of the hotel and been told
that DR.. Fleming was in. Goddard
sent up his card, and in a few mo-
ments he received permission to go
up.
All, Maj. Goddard!" cried DR.. Flem-
ing, a tall, h~eavy-set, full-be arded
man, as he came to meet his visitor.
II was half expecting to meet your
wife today, but this is an unexpected
surprise. hope she is not indisposed."
81 think she is no worse,'' said the
major, helplessly, as he drew off his
gloves. "In fact, she did not know I
was coming"
But you are not going to fancy
yourself i'll, Maj. Goddard" said the
physician, lightly. "You are nervous;
that's all. l detected that fact when
I took your hand; but otherwise you
are as SOuHu DIS d DUCK OIL lluG steel.
1T is about Blanche, who is now
mywife, that I called" said the major.
"You-you knew, I presume, that my
first wife,
DR.. Fleming saw that Goddard was
unable to finish his remark.
"And I was awfully shocked to hear
of the accident, I assure you; and I
was glad to hear of -our recent mar
riage. Your ward was one of my
most interesting patients. You will
pardon an old man like me, who is old
enough to be her father, when I take
the liberty of saying she is one Of the
finest characters I ever met. You
know it is almos. an instinct with my
profession to be Gble to read human
nature well. Maj. GODDARD, you are to
be enyied."
II I'm sorry" said the major, "that
you did not speak to me of her physi-
cal condition when she began to take
your treatment; Lut, of course, you
knew best as to the advisability of
taking me into your confidence. I
may as well tell you Lhat Mrs. God
dard, just before sailing for England,
eo1fded to me what you had told her
about Blanche's %con..lion."
DR.. Fleming raised his bushy, iron
gray eyebrows inquiringly; then he
saidi