, 1902-12-25
A DOCTORS STORY


rnVlSnlnR DIack eyes, q wealth OF nair
Of the same hue and Il supple figure
She had great influence over the pa
tients h nursed, often lifting them
over their low points solely by her
magnetic influence. For this reason
I recommended her whenever she was
disengaged.
l sent for her to attend n Mrs. Brier-
)y. and as usual she gave great satis-
faction. The patient, however. lie not
seem to gain after having reached a
certain point. Indeed she seemed to
retrograde. Several lines 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 n rs
l 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 tile room with her eyes,
n when Miss Marcel's back was
turned she quickly drew me down and
with her lips close to my ear whis-
pered:
"If you don't take h woman
away, l shall die"
Miss Marcel" l said. go and get
LIE some hot water"
The nurse stepped to the electric but
tor II was about to push it when I
said, Go YOURSELF
81 have signals for some of the or
binary rants of Il sickroom.'' she
said. Il press the button twice. and L
get hot water quicker than l can 60
for it,
"Very nice. You needn't press the
button. l wish 10 be left alone with
my patient. Go OFT ana don't return
until l cali for YOU
She obeyed me. | turned my back to
her as she went ont and saw her face
in Il mirror. She gave the sick woman
one of the most peculiar glances l ever
saw, such Il glance as Il hypno.ist
would give one he was endeavoring to
master.
"Now." l said to my patient when !
the door was closed. why did you not
tell me this bcforc?"
because she always remained in The
room when you were here. and l have
no charge to make against her."
what. then. is the ~troublc:"
There is something In her that is
wearing the life out of me. Don't ask
me what it is. for l don't understand it
myself"
Never mind Don't talk about it
Ii shall not enter your room again"
But
Blu whatg'
"She will ruin me-"
"Ruin you? How? You are nothing
tn laos. o,,l I will ,,n tl,t clio dn,.,-A
get ut you"
did what l could to make the roor
woman feel easy and left her. Her
husband WAS coming In MS l was going
out. l told him that l was about To
change his wife's nurse.
/, You surprise me. I have never met
n more agreeable woman" he said.
You mean scductivey"a faint suspL
cion coming over me at his warmth.
He turned pale.
Briefly" ! said, ~ shall mt once
commence Inquiries rs to Miss Mar
ccl's ~antccedents. If you are especially
prcdisposcd toward r., -Isn"nd indg-
ment nj | ...Iii- :..y i,p~..
Within an h3r" | led hired n derec-
tise to learn all tlil, H. could about
Miss Marcel. 1t was six weeks before
he made his report. When ! received
, It. Mrs. I~:ricriy had become Gonzales
cent and WAS M lcngcr under my care.
so l went to her husbands Office.
Mr.. Briefly" said his confidential
clcIk. lis ont of the city
lis aCdrSss:"
Il VIII forward any communica-
ton
His address," | said sharply. ''Thorc
is something wrong. Tell me ut one or
l will report to the p lice that Ii, has
~aGSconGpG."
The man made excuse and all that,
but. seeing that | WIS not to lie triflcd
with. told me that | could find Bricr-
ly ut Il certain hotel. | went there
ard sent W my card. Briefly came
down with Il scared ook on his face
Without commenting Oil how or where
| had found him | drcw the detectives
report on Miss Marcel.
Father. jacques Marcel. banker. Paris;
o.G;hczZlcd funds and servci ton years In
the gi;llcys. Mother. previous to her hus-
band arrest. had cloped with Il Spanish
gentleman. taking with her the ii tie sri
Mercedes: aftcrwaId came to America
The child WAS brought IN in the circus
ring: subsequently worried in n hospital
and became n trained nurse; nothing def
mite as to her cha. ICtCr.
| watched l:ricrly closely rs he read
tho report ar:d slw him slmddcr. Then.
ill his reserve l,roiic away. and he
gave me his confidence.
Doctor" he said. ''how can I ever
repay Won! fua saved my wife from
this AID now you have saved
me. | c;iinc here rraparatory TO cop
i'll" with hCr-that is. she iron; lit i:e.
FIR | lave hcen under her strange iii-
tIcncr since the day YOU srit hcr to-
my hcusc to- nurse my dear wife. TIE
spoil is l~iroi;rn. ANA | shall do all in
ny power to avoid meeting this witch
tint she mas never c-u:rol me again.