Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-09-27
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Doctors Story.
[Orisinal.I

On my list of trained nurses was
Mercedes Marcel, a young woman Of
the Spanish type. Miss Marcel had
ravishing black eyes, n wealth of hair
of the same hue and a supple figure.
She had great influence over the pa
tients she nursed, often lifting them
over their low points solely by her
magnetic influence. For this reason
recommended her whenever she was
disengaged.
l sent for her to attend a Mrs. Brier-
". and as usual she gave great salts
faction. The patient, however. did not
seem TO gain after having reached n
certain point. Indeed she seemed to
retrograde. Several times it occurred
TO me to ask, as is my custom with my
patients, how she liked her nurse, but
as Miss Marcel was always in the
room with her when l called and as
1 had heard the nurses praises so Of
ten sounded by others it did not occur
to me to send her out in order to make
the inquiry.
One day while visiting Mrs. Briefly
noticed that she was following the
nurse about the room with her eyes,
and when Miss Marcel's back was
turned she quickly drew me down and
with her lips close to my ear whis-
pered:
'Tf you don't take that woman
away. 1 shall die"
Miss Marcel l said, Ego and get
me some hot water"
The nurse stepped to the electric but
ton and was about to push it when l
said, go yourself"
II have signals for some of the or
binary wants of a sickroom,' she
said. Il press the button twice. and 1
get hot water quicker than l can go
for it,
Every nice. You needn't press the
button. 1 wish to be left alone with
my patient Go out and don't return
until call for YOU
She obeyed me. l turned my back to
her as she went out and saw her face
| in a mirror. She gave the sick woman
one of the most peculiar glances 1 ever
saw, such a glance as hypnotist
would give one he was endeavoring to
master.
"Now," 1 said to my patient when
the door was closed. why did you not
tell me this beforeE'
Because she always remained in the
room when you were here. and have
no charge to make against her.
What then. is the trouble?"
''There is something in her that is
wearing the life out of me. Don't ask
me what it is. for don't understand it
myself"
Never mind. Don't talk about it.
She shall not enter your room again"
But
But what?"
"She will ruin me-"
ruin you? How? You are nothing
TO her. and will see that she doesn't
get at YOU
| did what could to make the poor
woman feel easy and left her. Her
husband was coming in as l was going
out. l told him that 1 was about to
change his wife's nurse.
You surprise me. / have never met
more agreeable woman" he said.
You mean seductive?' faint suspi-
cion coming over me at his warmth.
He turned pale.
Briefly" 1 said. ~ shall at once
commence inquiries as to Miss Mar
cells antecedents. If you are especially
predlsposed toward her. suspend judg-
ment till make my report"
Within an hour l had hired q detec-
tive to learn all that he could about
Miss Marcel. 1t was six weeks before
he made his report. When l received
It, Mrs. Briefly had become GONZALES
cent and was no longer under my care.
so went to her husbands office.
MIR. Briefly" said his confidential
clerk, lis out of the city,
.'His address,"
Il will forward any communion
tom
His address?' I said sharply. "There
is something wrong. Tell me ut once or
will report to the police that he has
absconded.'
The man made excuses and all that,
but. seeing that was not to be trifled
with, told me that could find Brier
ly at certain hotel. / went there
and sent up my card. Briefly came
down with a scared look on his face.
Without commenting on how or where
had found him drew the detectives
report on Miss Marcel.
Father. Jaques Marcel. banker, Paris:
embezzIed funds and served ten years in
the galleys. Mother, previous to her hus-
bands arrest. had eloped with Spanish
gentleman. taking with her the little girl
Mercedes: afterward came TO America.
The child was brought up In the circus
ring; subsequently worked In n hospital
and became a trained nurse; nothing def
mite as to her character
1 watched Briefly closely as he read
the report and saw him shudder. Then
all his reserve broke away, and he
oava mo his confidence
Doctor" he said. ''how can l ever
repay YOU? You saved my wife from
this woman. and now you have saved
me. 1 came here preparatory to elop-
ing with her-that is, she brought me,
for l have been under her strange in
fuence since the day you sent her to