Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-03-15


CHAPTER XII.
Lying huddled in the musty chest
was a little figure in cleaning silver
brocade, stained here and there with
lunches Of crushed holly berries.
1t was GLADLY, st!ffened and immov-
able, but with wldely opened, round
blue eyes.
That she was dead was the first
muttered thought Of both Gervis and
Leila.
mo! 'Tain't DEATH" quickly said
old Barnes, glancing at their white
faces. See We. Mr.. Gervis, there's
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
pened 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 a 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
through the marble white lips.
MOT a 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 Mr.. Ansdell!" commanded
Gervis, with 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 for po-
lite speech. I've got life to win back
if I can, and / can't have a crowd
round me. Your ladyship can remain,
and yes, must have Miss Desmond,
If I've anybody"
One by one the spectators departed
from the gallery, and the young med
ical enthusiast set to work, with tho
result that in a quarter of an hour
GLADLY feebly opened her lips and
spoke.
II 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,
we'll satisfied.
you are wanted, sir at once" came
an urgent whisper; while Gervis, 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 in his chair in front of
a writing table, and grasping folded
paper, was a dead man.
Tho 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 Ansdell had
failed to join in the search for the
missing bride, failed to obey the sum-
mons for his helpful skill.
'I:e has been dead quite a 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
ily sent for. There must be an in
quest, of course; and, meantime. I
should take possession of that folded
paper. See. I've managed not to tear
it. You'd best lock it away until you
hand It to the coroner, Mr.. Temple
ton"