Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-03-08

sPedkaple Horror aer hands were wet
and slippery. 1nstinctively she knew
II was blood. She could not rise nor
cry out; her heart seemed paralyzed,
her throat in the clutch of an invisible
hand. The door opened silently, and
the doctors low voice was heard:
"Somers, Somers, the day is almost
breaking" There was no response.
He spoke again. Then the two figures
became dimly visible. What has hap
pened?" he whispered, bending above
them. He. too, felt the tell-tale blood
upon his fingers as he touched the
PROSTATE man, and, rising hastily,
struck a match. Somers lay senseless
before him, the young woman kneel-
ing by his side staring speechlessly
upon her bloody hands. His quick
glance swept the room and rested
upon her. The match fell to the floor
and went out, leaving the scene to
blacker darkness.
"Remorse!" he said, in whisper,
and was still. Rallying his faculties
at length, DR.. Brodnar hurriedly lit
the gas, and with his stern features
and saw wound back of the right
temple from which the dark blood was
still oozing.
He has shot himself" he said. A
moment he stood, with covered face,
wavering in his tracks. Suddenly the
enormity of the interests at stake
flashed upon him and stupor gave way
rs, ;rt oil. -
he wiped the girls hands and forced
her into chair.
"Stay there" he said, land on your
life do not cry out or leave the room
before return. Do you underestimate"
Eyes" she said, simply, and fixed her
gaze upon the window. He bound the
towel tightly about the head of the
wounded man, lifted him in his arms
as If he were child, and passed out
into the night. a few moments later
the rush of wheels was heard upon
the street.
"Some patient of the Doctors is
worse" said policeman upon corner
two squares away as the flying We
hicle passed him.
DR.. Brosnar was rescued from a
bad complication by his especial treas
ure. Joe, the driver
go and bring your mother" he said,
quickly, as he lifted the unconscious
somers from the carriage in front of
his Office. Don't lose one second!
Keep your mouth shut" Joe was out
Of hearing before the doctor reached
his operating-room. The doctors as
sistant, half dressed. appeared quick
ly. Somers was stretched upon a
table, and his wound critically exam.
ined. The bullet had entered over and
behind the right ear, and the eide OF
his head was clotted with blood. A
second wound an inch farther back
became visible as the blood was washed
away, but probe carefully inserted
in the forward wound came out of
the other, touching the skull in pass
ing. There was no particle of brain
matter in the blood.
"Syncope from concussion," said
| Brodnar. Watch him carefully until
I return and do not permit him to
| speak" The sound of wheels approach
ing caused him to descend the steps
three at time. He pressed back the
aged negro woman who was dismount-
ing.
ITO the same place, Joe! Hurry!"
he said, and the door closed.
The woman so hastily secured was
none other than the nanny" who
had looked after the welfare of France,
since infancy. She had been encour
aged to absent herself for the night
Trained under the old regime, with {
sense of proprietorshp in her old mis-
tress and daughter, with deep and
impregnable pride in the family. she
needed no cautioning. Nevertheless
DR.. Brodnar said as they entered 81
lently the deserted yard:
"There has been an accident, nam.
my. Ask no questions and answer
none. Permit nobody to see your
young mistress. Do you understand ?''
de chile amt hut, young marster7'
mo. A friend was. Her mind has
been affected deeply by her fathers
condition and this shock has upset her.
You must know nothing more of it,"
Frances sat as he had left her, in
the armchair. She offered no resistance
when they laid her upon the bed and
| administered an opiate. The stains of
blood We're carefully removed from
her hands, and her wrapper changed,
and DR.. Brodnar prepared to depart,
for the day was now breaking. He re-
membered the pistol, and was search
| inn f1oa ~.
set in and Frances began to cry bit
terly. Obeying his silent motion, man.
my passed into the dressing-room and
he took the girls hand.
"The whole blame rests upon me-"
he said, gently. Keep quiet; l will
see you through" And then a cry burst
from him: What fool! what fool!
| And to think that Dick Somers-!" At
sound Of this name the girls grief be-
came almost uncomfortable.
HE loved me-" she said, brokenly.
And it has cost him his lfe!'
Loved you! Never! If he had aimed
better, could forgive him." She was
silent.
"If he had aimed better!"-then she
sat up with almost frantic energy.
! Eyes. The wound is not fatal.
Frances, Frances-back, my child"
Take me to him-I must, I must 60
to him"
"You are simply mad!"
HE is my husband-I love him! I
love him!"
Brodnar groaned and turned away
his head. Suddenly the girl shivered