Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-11-27
CHAPTER K.

The events which had preceded this
visit to DR.. Peele were Of sucn a
! strange nature, that all inclination TO
mlrth gave place to an awestruck
| feeling of interest and mystery in
Armathwaite's 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 a
room which dark mahogany furniture
and a 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 a small table
at his side. AI1nathwaite 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; heew 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 drifting, asked him what had
brought him.
Il have come here by the strangest
accident" answered Armathw waite.
COR rather by an incident. which has
already led to some many extraor-
binary adventures, that 1 hesitate to
call it an accident at allI''
DR.. Peele pushed back his gray hair
with a gesture peculiar to him when
he was interested; and with 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 ngely-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 Tfle Crags. Even
narrated barely like this, without any
hint of the discoveries he had made
concerning the inner life of the two
households, ArmaEhwaite found that
his story was listened to with intense
interest by the odd doctor, who con-
sidered his face in silence for some
minutes after it vas finished
ct is very strange" he said at last.
And perhaps the strongest part of it
all is that nee many weeks ago 1
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 GO
her a difficult and perhaps dangerous
service
What was that service? May l not
know" asked Armathwaite in very |
low voice.
"Hardly-yet," answered the old |
doctor Slowly. But if you will stay |
here q few days, I 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
l may go up to Glasgow tonight and
return to you, should prefer it, as I
have a chance Of an appointment at
the Inf1rmary there, and the can
didates will be seen tomorrow"
Let 'em be seen; l can give you
something better. My wife and
daughter think l shall be about again
in few days; but you and know
otherwise l believe with Alma and
with you, that it was no chance
brought you to this place. Within a
few hours of your arrival you have
come face to face With the two cases