Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-06-19

that clings to the chamber of the SUI.
ferer. Bell caught a glimpse of a white
figure lying rotionless In bed. 1t was
years now since he had acted thus In a
professional capacity; but the old quiz
etness and caution came back by in
stinct. As he would have entered Mar
garet Henson came out and closad the
door.
You are not going In there" she
said. mo, no. Everything of mine
touch you blight and wither. II the
girl Is to die. let her die In peace!"
She would have raised her voice high.
but a lightning glance from Bell quiet
ed her. 1t was not exact madness that
he had to deal with. and he knew it,
The woman required firm. quiet treat
ment. DR.. Walker stood alongsi ie.
anxious and nervous. The man with
the quiet practice of the well-to- do
doctor. was not used to scenes of this
kind.
s'You have something to conceal"
Bell said, sternly. "Open the door,"
Really. my dear sir" Walker said.
fussily. "Ree]ly. fancy that under
the circumstances"
You do not understand this kind Of
case" Bell interrupted. II do"
Walker dropped aside. with a NUT
etercd apology. Bell approached the
figure in the doorway ana whispered a
few words rapidly in her ear. The ef-
feet was electrical The figure seemed
to wilt and shrivel up: all the power
and resistance lad gone. She stepped
aside moaning and wringing her hands.
She babbled OF strange things: the old.
far-away look came into her eyes
again.
Without a word Of comment or sign
ct triumph. Bell entered the sick room.
Then he raised his head and shifted
the heavy atmosphere, as an eager
hound might have done. A quick, sharp
question rose to his lips, only to be in
startly suppressed as he noted the va
cant glance of his colleague.
The white figure on the bed lay per-
fectly motionless. 1t was the figure of
q young and exceedingly beautiful girl
"a beauty heightened and accentuatsd
by. the deadly-white pallor of her faa-
lures. STILL the face looked resolute,
and the exquisitely chiselled lips were
firm.
"Albumen!" Bell muttered. "What
fend's game is this? wonder if that
scoundrel-but. no. Ir that case there
would be no object in concealing my
presence here. I wonder"
He paused and touched the white
brow with his fingers. At that same
moment Enid came into the room. She
painted like one who has run fast and
far.
''Well," she whispered, els she bet
ter. better or -Hatherly, read this"
The last words We're so low that Bell
han dly heard them. He shot swift
glance al his colleague before he OPEN
ed the PAPER. One look. and he had
mastered the contents. Then the swift
glance was directed from Walker to
the girl standing there looking at Bell
with world Of passionate entreaty and
longing in hereyes.
1T l.: your sister who lies there" Bell
Whispered, meaningly. land yet you"
He paused, and Enid nodded. There
was EVIDENTLY a great struggle going
on in Bells mind. He was graphing
with something that he only partially
understood. but he did know perfectly
we'll that he was being asked to do
something absolutely wrong, and that
the girl he loved.
He rose abruptly from the bedside
and crossed over to Walker.
'You are perfectly correct" he said.
"At this rate-at this rate the patient
cannot possibly last till the morning.
It is quite hopeless
Walker smiled feeb1y.
"It is melancholy satisfaction to
have my opinion confirmed" he said.
"Miss Henson, If you will get Williams
to see me as far as the lodge gates-it
is so late that-er-"
Williams came at length, and the lit
tie doctor departed. Enid fairly cow
cred before the blazing, searching look
that Bell turned upon her. She fell 20
plucking the bedclothes. nervously.
What does it mean?" he asked,
hoarsely. Don't you know that If
that girl dies it will be murder? It was
only for your sake that didn't speak
my mind before that fool who has just
gone. He has seen murder done I'M
der his eyes for days. and he is ready
to give certificate of the cause Of
death..And the. strange thing is, that,
in the ordinary way, he would be quite
justified in doing so.''
"Chris is not going to die; at least,
not in that way" Enid whispered,
hoarsely.
''Then leave her alone. No more
drugs, no more medicine even. Give
nature a chance. Thank Heaven, the
girl has a perfect constitution"
Chris is not going to de- Enid re-
pcated, doggedly; 'but the certificate
will be given, all the same. o, Hatha-
ly, you must trust -ne--trust me as you
have never done before. Look at me.
study me. Did you ever know me to
do mean or dishonorable thing?"
They were Gown in the drawing room
again; David waiting, with strange
sense Of embarrassment, under Mar
garet Hensons distant eyes; indeed, IT
was probable that she had never no
ticed him at all. All the same, she
turned eagerly to Bell.
'"Tell me the worst!" she cried. "Tell
me all there is to know"
your niece's sufferings are over"
Bell said, glavely. II have no more to
tell you"
A profound silence followed, broken
presently by angry voices outside. Then