Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-06-19
CHAPTER Nv.
A Medical OpiniOn.

CHAPTER Nv.
A Medical Opinion.
David Steel followed his guide with
the feelings of man who has given
himself over to circumstances. There
was SAVIOR of nightmare about the
whole thing that appealed distinctly tc
| his ina giration. The darkness, the
| strange situation. the vivid streaks OF
the crimson hlind-the Grim blind that
the crimson blind-the crimson blind
| that seemed an integral part of the
| lnystery-all served to stimulate him
| TIE tragic note was deepened by the
| whine and growl of the days.
| "There is a man over there" David
| whispered.
"a man Who is going to stay there
Enid said. with grim satisfaction. ut
is virtually necessary that Mr.. Regi-
| maid Henson should not be disturbed.
The dogs have foolish weakness for
his society. So long as he shows no
signs of Dor edom he is safe.'
David smiled. with vague grasp of
the situation. Apparently the cue was
to be surprised at nothing that he saw
about the House of the Silent Sorr DIV.
The name Of Reginald Henson was
more or less familiar to him as that of
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 CHARGE
| ter.
II hope you are not asking me to DO
anything wrong?" David murmured.
II am absolutely certain of it," the
girl said. ut is a case Of the end just
jfVino tho %bo
justified the means, it 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 heard very re-
Gently under remarkable Circumstance
es. 1t was my good fortune to help n
lady in distress a little time back. II
she had told me more, I might have
aided her still further. AS it is, her
reticence has landed me into serious
trouble"
Enid grasped the speakers arm, con-
vulsively
II am deeply sorry to hear it," she
whispered. Perhaps the lady in ques-
ton was reticent for your sake. Per-
haps she had confided more thorough
ly in good men before. And suppose
those good men had disappeared?
''In other words, that they had been
murdered. Who by?"
There was a srarl from one Of the
hounds hard by, and deep, angry
curse from Henson. Enid pointed SOL
emily 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. 'Is the first
part Of my advice going to be carried
out?"
Yes. That is why you are here now.
Stay 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, sup
pose he is with her, as DR.. Walker de-
sired to have his opinion. My sister is
dying-dying, you understand"
Ends voice had sunk to passionate
whisper. The hand that she laid on
David'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 1 ask, and
trust me implicitly"
David nodded. After all, he re-
| fected, he could not possibly get him
| self into worse mess than he was in
already. And he felt that he could
trust the girl by his side. Her beauty
her earnestness, and her obvious sin
certify touched him.
Write" Enid whispered. "say See
nothing and notice nothing, implore
you. Only agree with everything tina,
DIR. Walker says, and leave the room
as quickly, as possible?' Now sign
your name. We can go into the draw.
ing room and wait until DIR. Bell comes
down. You are merely friend of his
I will see that he has this paper al
once"
Enid led the way into the drawing
| room. She gave no reason for tbs
weird strangeness of the place: it was
no time for explanations. AS for Steel
he gazed around him in fascinated as.
constituent. 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 sthe wilted flowers. he
noticed the overturned table, obvious.
ly untouched and neglected for years
and he wondered. The he heard the
babel of discordant voices overhead
What a sad house it was, and how
dominant was the note of tragedy.
Meanwhile. with no 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 CIR
lay. There was subdued light in.
side and the faint suggestion of illness