Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-11-27


room. Mile stopped when she had
mounted stairs enough for her face
TO be on a lev Il with her visitors. and
turning round, she said in low
voice:
You mustn't think anything of
mammals COZ manner of receiving.
She's always like that to strangers,
but she's perfectly easy to manage
when you know her. think she must
have read too much about Napoleon
the Great when she was a child
This sly apology was rendered so
funny by the twinkle in her eyes that
Armathwaite with difficulty stifed his
laughter as he followed his conduct
ress into the doctors room.
CHAPTER
The events which had preceded this
visit to DIR. Peele were of such
strange nature, that all inclination 10
mirth gave place to an awestruck
feeling of interest and mystery in
Armathwaites mind as he passed
into the presence of the sick man.
The weak daylight still showed
family through the drawn blinds, and
helped to give a mournful look to
room which dark mahogany furniture
and funeral four-post bedstead
rendered already sufficiently gloomy
BY the fire sat the doctor in a large
armchair, sorting papers by the light
OF couple of candles on small table
at his side. Armathwaite was
startled by the look on his face as he
raised his head and held out a thin
hand In welcome. Having heard on
all sides that the ailment which kept
the doctor at home was nothing but a
cold, the young man had not been pre-
pared for the sunken eyes and ashy
paleness which, to his observant
vision, seemed the unmistakable
heralds of death; he was so much
changed that but for the keen and
kindly eyes, the weak and vacillating
mouth, Frank would scarcely have
known him. The old man watched the
face of his visitor with great keenness
as he told him, gravely and without
surprise, that he was glad he had
come, and babe his daughter bring a
chair and place it near him. He then
with gesture invited the young man
to sit down. and with very little
preface, with the grave manner of a
man who felt that he had no time left
for trihing, asked him what had
brought him.
/ Il have come here by the strangest
accident" answered Armathwaite.
| I'M ..,hi ab
already led To some many extraor-
binary adventures, that | hesitate to
call it an accident at ALL"
Dr.. Peele pushed back his gray hair
with a gesture peculiar to him when
he was interested; and with a touch of
affectionate dismissal to his daughter.
who was standing lovingly beside his
chair, he gravely bowed his head to
intimate that he was ready to listen.
| AS soon as they were alone, Arma,
thwaite. as much impressed by the
manner of the doctors reception as
by any of the previous events to which
his strangely interrupted journey hau
given rise, related very simply the
circumstances: that he had met Alma
Crosmont, passed the night, by her
husbands invitation, in their house
and that Lady Kildonan had taken
him to luncheon at The Crags. Even
narrated barely like this. without any
hint of the discoveries he had made
concerning the inner life of the two
households, Armathwaite found that
his story was listened to with intense
interest by the old doctor, who con-
sidered has face in silence for some
minutes after it was finished.
1T is very strange" he said at last
And perhaps the strongest part of it
all is that not many weeks ago
mentioned you to Alma Crosmont as
man who. in certain circumstances We
were then imagining. would be likely
to have the skill and the courage to 90
her difficult and perhaps dangerous
service
| what was that service? May | not
know" asked Armathwaite in a very
low voice.
"Hardly-yet," answered the old
doctor slowly. But il you will stay
here few days. l will talk to you
again on this subject. Can you spare
| the timer"
81 will do so, If you have any strong
reason for wishing me to say. But if
may so up to Glasgow tonight and
return to you, should prefer it, as
have chance of an appointment at
the lnfirmary there, and the can
didates will be seen tomorrow"
Let 'em be seen; can give you
something better. My wife and
daughter think l shall be about again
in few days: but you and know
otherwise. believe with Alma and
with you, that it was no chance
brought you to this place. Within
few hours of your arrival you have
come face to face with the two cases
which have been gnawing at my very
life; for warn YOU, you will have no
easy post here; there are secrets
| which / will confide tn Won II Won caro-