Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1902-06-19
XIV.
A Medical Opinion.

A Medical Opinion.
David Steel followed his guide with
the feelings Of a man who has given
himself over to circumstances. There
was a i've of nightmare about the
whole thing that appealed distinctly TO
his ina giration. The darkness, the
strange situation, the vivid streaks OF
the crimson blind-the Grim blind that
the crimson blind-the crimson blind
that seemed an integral part OF the
m~ystery-all served to stimulate him.
The tragic note vas deepened by the
whine and growl of the days.
There is a man ove there" David
whispered.
"A man Who is going to stay there"
Enid said. with grim satisfaction. at
is virtually necessary that Mr.. Regi-
nald Henson should not be disturbed.
The dogs. have q foolish weakness for
his society. SO long as he shows no
signs of boredom he is safe"
David smiled, with a vague grasp Of
the situation. Apparently the cue was
to be surprised at nothing that he saw
about the House of the Silent Sorrow.
The name of Reginald Henson was
more or less familiar to him as hat Of
a man who stood high In public esti-
nation. But the bitter contempt of his
companions voice suggesed that there
was another side to the mans charac-
ter.
II hope you are not asking me to do
anything wrong?' David murmured.
II am absolutely certain OF it." the
girl said. "It Is a case of the end just
flying the means; and If ever the end
justified the means, 1t does in this case.
Besides"
Enid Henson hesitated. David's quick
perception prompted him.
Pardon me-, you never had the pleas
ure of seeing me before"
"Ah! you would make an excellent
parliamentary fencer. I bow to your
correction, and admit that I have never
seen you before. But your voice re-
minds me of a voice I heard very re-
Gently under remarkable circumstance
es. 1t was my good fortune to help a
lady In distress a little time back. II
she had told me more, I might have
aided her still further. AS II IS, her
reticence has landed me into serious
trouble"
Enid grasped the speakers arm, con-
vulsively.
II I'm deeply sorry to hear IT," she
whispered. Perhaps the lady I'm ques-
ton was reticent for your sake. Per-
haps h had confided more thorough
ly In good men before. And suppose
those good men had disappeared?"
TN other words. that they had been
murdered. Who by?"
There was a srari from one OF the
hounds hard by, and a deep. angry
curse from Henson. Enid pointed SOL
EMMY ir his direction. No words of
hers would have been SO thrilling and
eloquent. David strobe along, without
further questions on that head.
But there is one thing that you
must tell me-" he said, as they stood
together on the porch. us the first
part of my advice going to be carried
out?"
Yes. That is why you are here now.
I a. here one moment, while I get you
pencil and paper. There! Now, will
you please write what I suggest? DR..
Bell is with my sister. At least, I sup
pose he Is with her, as DR.. Walker de-
sired to have his opinion. My sister is
dying-dyirg, you understand"
Ends voice had SUI to a passionate
whisper. The hand that she laid on
Dayid's shoulder trembled strangely.
At that moment, he would have done
anything for her. A shaft of light fl
tered from the hall into the porch, and
lit up the paper that the girl thrust
upon Steel.
Nov. WRITE" she commanded. "Ask
no questions. but write what / ask, and
trust me implicitly"
David nodded. After all, he re
fiected. he could not possibly get him
self into a worse mess than he was In
already. And he felt that he could
trust the girl by his side. Her beauty,
her earnestness, n her obvious sin
cerity touched him.
Write" Enid whispered. Say See
nothing and notice nothing, I implore
you. Only agree with everything that
DSr. Walker says, and leave the room
as quickly as possible?' Now sign
your nsme. We can go into the draw
ing room and wait until DR.. Bell comes
down. You are merely a friend of his.
/ will see that he has this paper al
once"
Enid led the way into the drawing
room. She gave no reason for the
weird strangeness OF the place: &c was
no time for explanations. AS for Steel,
he gazed around him in fascinated as
tonishment. A novelist, ever on the
lookout for new scenes and back
grounds. the aspect OF the room fascin-
ated him. He saw the dust rising IN
clouds. he saw the wilted flowers. he
noticed the overturned table. obvious
~ untouched and neglected for years.
and he wondered. The he heard the
babel Of discordant voices overhead.
What a sad house II was. and how
dominant WAS the note OF tragedy.
Meanwhile. with m suspicion OF the
path he was ~treading, Bell had gone
up stairs. He came at length to the
door Of the room where the sick girl
lay. There was a subdned light in
side and the faint suggestion OF illness