Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-03-01
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.
Doctor Francis Brcdnar rapidly
paced the richly carpeted floor of his
spacious parlor Office, his brow c!ouded
and his massive jaw clenched. His
countenance, usually serene and trust
inspiring. had for the moment lost it's
kindness, and was forbidding almost
to responsiveness. A patient viewing
him from the operating table would, it
is likely, unless possessed of superior
nerve, have succumbed to heart fail
ure: at best he would have demanded
another appointment; for by some
atavic reversion the good doctor had
apparently returned to savagery of .
virulent type. When he paused alb
ruptly before the clock and suffered
his jaws to relax, the spectacular re-
suits were even worse. He glared vim
dictively at the placid timepiece and
gnawed fiercely his heavy mustache.
-Four o'clock! four o'clock" he ex-
claimed. land this is her last dayi"
The sentence ended in something like
q groan.
WELL" replied voice near at hand,
"there must be last days for everybody
and everything" The voice was full
and musical, with shading of melan-
choly. The speaker stood in the door
way, hat and cane in hand. IF this
were my last day of bachelorhood, 1
don't think could have stated it so
woefully, nor have / put as much despair
into the sentence. How are you,
Frank? Why, what is the matter ?"
he continued, entering the room slowly
as the other remained motionless, gaz-
Ing silently towards him. Don't know
me? Sorry to see me7 You are glar-
ing!"
"Dick Somers!" The name burst
from the Doctors lips, and he rushed
on his visitor, selling and wringing the
proffered hand. Again he stopped, his
whole soul in his face and eyes.
WELL" said Somers, eheerfully,
"what 10 on your mind, old man? Five
years is long time and Paris was q
gay place; but five years and Richmond
are not enough. surely, to effect such
change as thisl And I shall have use
again for that hand, perhaps, bones
and all, So"
1.-THE last days Of your bachelorhood
you said the last days Of your bach
elorhood, did you not? Then you are
still bachelor, Dick?"
"Well, yes" and somers smiled visit
fully into his friends face. 1.-THE same
old Brodnar," he continued, "headlong,
enthusiastic, impetuousl What new
scheme Is afoot nowa Do you want to
offer me up on the altar Of matrimony7
II so. draw the line there. Why, con-
found 1t, man, what 10 the matter with
your" he added; for the other, still
retaining his hand, continued to regard
him in deem thnAaht-
"Sit down." said the doctor, drawing
him towards chair-"sit down." And
Somers perforce accepted the seat.
.Dick"-and the professional man
stood over him-"I will welcome you
formally tomorrow. but to-day you are
the most welcome man on earth. Isup-
pose I am headlong. enthusiastic and
impulsive, but am true, am / not r.
true to my friepds?"
.True2 AS truth itself, old fellow"
And Somers, who had taken cigar
from a box on the table by his side, sus-
pended the lighted match over the
weed as he looked up. Anybody been
casting doubt on that yoint7"
"And honorable7"
"As honor!"
"You would take my word unsup-
ported for any amount, would you
not?"
Somers looked additionally into
the flushed. eager face above him and
grew serious. II would take your word.
Frank. against the world. except in
| one event"
sand that?"
swell. IL you speak disparagingly Of
yourself. Frank" Their hands met i'm
pulsively.
"Dick, don't laugh at me OF think me
out Of my senses. but tell me seriously
lis there any reason why you may not
be married tonight" somers started
to rise, queer look upon his face.
"Sit down." said the doctor, with
both hands on his shoulders. Answer
me frankly"
:Heayensi man, are you in your right
senses2-but yes. this ia only the same
9ld Brpdnar."
"You do not answer, Dick. You are
treating me lightly, and am desperate
ly in earnest"
well. then. old fellow. will answer
you seriously. There is NO reason ON
Gods earth why may not marry to-
night. No heart will break, no trust
be shattered, no one will care. Yes,
one-my mother" He lifted his fine
face towards his friend. 1t wore again
the characteristic half-wistful, half
hooking smile.
"You would not care. either, Dick :
Not II by marrying you obliged friend
who loves you? Not il by marrying
you enabled him to defeat piece OF
villainy planned against the HE apd
welfare OF one Of his dear friends
Not il it defeated cowardly enemy