Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-09

Lord the severely respectable footman,
ushered in patients, one after the other
many of the society women suffering from
what is EEow1l in these days as .,, nerves,
ladies' doctor--for so many of the gentier
sex get burnt up in tie mad rush OF a
London season.
chief, and with that object entered his
room on the following afternoon at
quarter before 4.
Well, Boyd, anything fresh?" he asked.
putting off his severely professional air
and lolIing back in his padded writing
chair as ] entered.
No nothing" / responded. throwing
myself in the patients chair opposite hin,
and tossing my gloves On the table. "A
hard day down at the hospital. hats all
You've been busy as usual, l SUPPOSE"
Busy" the old man echoed Why.
these COMPOUNDED women never let Inc
alone for an instant: Always the same
story-eXcitement. late hours, little
worries over erring husbands, and all
sorts of things. I always know what's
coming as soor as they get seated and
ciety's coming TO. Boyd" and he bIinked
over at me through his heavily framed
spectacles.
About sixty OF middle height he was
si: itly inclined to rotundity. with hair
almost white. a stubb.y gary beard and
a pair of keen eyes rather prominently
set in bony but not unpleasant coun-
,enance. He had peculiar habit of
stroking his left ear when puzzled and
was not without those little eccentrici-
ties which run hand in hand with genius.
One of them was his fondness for anna
teur theatriCals-for he was leading
member of the Dramatic Club at Hove
and nearly always took part in the per-
formanceS. But he was a pronounced
miser. Each day when he arrived at
Victoria station from Hove he purchased
three ham sandwiches at the refresh
ment bar and carried them in his black
VA" ~ 'T"~iav street. He there concealed
them in a drawer in the writing .ape and
sleall4ii.y ate them. instead of taking.
half an hour for luncheon. Sometimes
he sent Ford out to the nearest green.
Grocer's in the Maryleborne road for
penny apple. which he surrep,iuously ate
as dessert.
Indeed. he was finishing his last sand
wich when l entered. and his mouth was
fu...
1t may have been that small fact which
caused me 10 hesitate. AT any rate
sitting there with those big round eyes
peering upon me, l felt the ahSurdity of
the situation.
presently, When ne hdu HNlShed MS
sandwich. carefully brushed the crumbs
from his blottins pad and cast the bag
into the waste paper basket, he raised
his head, and with his big eyes again
blinking through his spectacles. said:
You've had to call on poor old Cour-
tenay, l suppcse?"
No / replied. Why
Because he's in a bad way.
''Worse?"
Yes" he replied. I'm rat'.er anxious
about him. He'll have to keep to his
bed. I fear.
did not III the least doubt this. OLD
Mr.. Henry Courtenay, one Of the De--on-
shire Courtenays, very wealthy. If
somewhat eccentric old gentleman, lived
In one of those prirn. pleasant detached
houses in Richmond Road, facing Kew
Gardens, and was one OF Sir Bernard's
best patients. He had been under him for
a number OF years, until they had be-
come personal friends. One Of his &C.
centricities was to insist on paying heavy
fees to his medican adviser-believing,
perhaps, that by SO doing he would secure
greater and more careful attention.
But. strangely enough. mention Of the
name suddenly gave me the clue SO long
wanting. It aroused within ma a sense
OF impending evil regarding the very man