Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-07-03

at his post up stairs. and therefore"
Therefore, you have not seen the
body of my poor. dear cousin?"
"Otherwise could have given no GER
tiftcate." Walker said. With dignity. II
I have satisfied myself. sir, and the re-
uufrements of the law, why, then. ev-
erybody Is satisfied. I have seen the
body"
Technically, the little doctor spoke the
truth. Henson muttered something that
sounded like an apology. Walker smiled
eraciously, and suggested that rest aud
a plain diet We're all that the patient
needed. Rest was the great thing. The
bandages need not be removed for a day
or two. at the expiration of which time
he would look in again. Once the road
was reached in safety Walker took off
his hat and wiped the beads from his
forehead.
| "What a house." he muttered. what
a life to lead. Thank goodness I need
not go there again before Saturday. II
anybody We're to offer me a small glass
of brandy with little soda now.
should feel tempted to break through
my rule and drink It,"
Meanwhile the long terror of the day
dragged on inside the house. The SER
wants crept about the place on tip-toe.
the hideous bell changed out. Mrs. Hen
son paced YEARLY up and down the
drawing room, singing and muttering
to herself. until Enid was fain to fly or
break down and yell. Historically. 1t
| was one of Margaret Henson's worst
days.
The death of Christiana seemed to
NJ y A1H~@
her in terror. More than once she was
| fearful that the frail thread might
srap-the last faint glimmer of reason
so out forever. And yet it would be
madness to tell Margaret Henson the
truth. In the first place she would not
have understood, and on the other hand.
| she might have comprehended enough
| to betray to Reginald Henson. AS 1t
was. her grief was obvious and sincere
enough. The whole thing was refnedly
cruel. but. really, there was no help for
it, And things had gone on splendidly.
| Henson was powerless to interfere
and the doctor was satisfied. Once she
had put her hand to the pillow, Ends
| quick brain saw her through. But she
would have been hard put to it to de-
ceive Henson under his very nose
| without the help Of the bloodhound.
Now he could see her way still farther.
| She waited nervously for ring from
| the lodge gates to the house, and about
4 o'clock it came. The undertaken was
at the gates waiting for an escort to
| the Grange.
Enid passed her tongue over pair Of
dry lips. The critical moment was at
hand. If she could get through the
next hour she was safe. 1t not-but
there must be no 'if not" she told her
self The undertaken came. suave, quiet.
respectful, but he dropped back from
! the bedroom door as he saw two gleam-
ing. amber eyes regarding him menac-
ingly.
THE dog loved my sister," Enid ex-
| planned, quietly. But he has found his
way to Ter room, and refuses to move.
He fancies that we have done something
| with her. Oh, no, couldn't
poison him! And it would be a dread
full thing If there were to be anything
| like a struggle here. Come, Rollo."
Evidently the dog had learned his les
son we'll. He wagged his great tail, but
refused to move. The undertaken took
a couple Of steps forward and Rollo's
crest rose. There was a flash Of white
teeth and a growl. At the end of half
!
There's only one thing for it," Will
Jams suggested, in his rusty voice. I'VE
can get The dog away for ten minutes
at midnight. He likes run then, and
TIL bring the other dogs to fetch him,
| like"
"My time is very valuable just now,"
the undertaken suggested, humbly.
'Then you had better measure me-"
said Enid, turning a face absolutely
flaming red and deadly white, to the
speaker. cit is dreadfully CHASTITY
business altogether, but cannot posi-
bly, think of any other way. The idea
of anything like a struggle here is alb
| horrent. And the dogs fidelity
is so touching. My sister and I were
exactly alike, except that she was fair
er than me-"
| The undertaken was understood to de-
muir slightly on professional grounds.
1t was very irregular, and not In the
least likely to give satisfaction.
"what does It matter?" Enid cried,
passionately. She was acting none the
less magnifcently because her nerves
were quiver;ng like harpstrings. "When
I am dead you can fling me in a ditch,
for all care. We are strange fam
lily and do strange things. The ques-
| ton Of satisfaction need not bother you.
| Take my measure, and send the coffin
home tomorrow, and we will manage
! to do the rest. Then tomorrow night
you will have four-horse hearse here
at II o'clock, and drive the coffin to
Churchfield Church, where you will be
expected. After that your work will be
finished"
The bew'ldered young man responded
that things should be exactly as the
young lady required. He had seen many
strange and wild things IN his time, but
none so strange and weird 'as this. 1t
was utterly irregular, Of course: but
people, after all, had right to demand
what they paid for. Enid watched the
demure young man in black down the
ccrridot, and then everything seemed to
be enveloped in a dense. purple mist,
the world was spinning under her feet,
there was great noise, like the rush of
mighty waters in her brain. With a
! oroat effort ahe fhrexv off the weakness