New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1903-05-13
EQUAL =
PARTNERS
By HOWARD FIELDING
rcoNTINUED.1
By HOWARD FIELDING
Copyright 1901, BY Charles ". Hooke.

4
tcorrrsurD.l
"And, last of all. DOCTOR" added
Kendall
-''have worried the flesh off my
bones" continued Blair without no
ticing the Interruption ''They insist
that shall identify Miss Maclane as
the woman l saw. They present
Threats and brides. They offer all
sorts of ridiculous plans for bringing
Miss A1aclane and me together so that
may be sure of her. But have seen
Miss Mac1ane already, and have said
all that l have to say upon the sub
ject.''
'You have not said that she was not
the woman" suggested Kendall.
mo. and won't" responded Blair
promptly. why should I?''
UNLESS you are sure" said Kendall,
you may feel like delaying a final
statement, but l can't help thinking
that your course takes little account Of
Miss Maclane's welfare; l might al
most say of her rights. However. /
must not get excited about it."
"You seem to take considerable in
terest," said Blair. You have known
Miss Maclane for some years, l am
told But that is none Of my business.
What does Miss Miller wish me to do?"
"She believes that she can convince
you that Miss Maclane is not the wom-
an you saw" replied Kendall
R1air cilont for soma r,0r1or1fc
81 don't see how that is possible" he
said at last, but l would be very glad
to oblige her, or you. if could. There
is, however, such a thing as the truth,
you know"
Kendall was beginning to feel pain
fully anxious. There seemed to be 4
strong probability that Blair was per-
fectly convinced in regard to this mat
ter of identity and that he was reserv-
ing his statement until the nature Of
the case should disclose itself. If Elsie
should die, there was little chance that
man Of Blair's type would withhold
his evidence, for. in that event some
body would be directly accused, and q
just person would feel that all the evil
dence should be brought forward
Blair's present position was such that
Kendall did not know how to attack it,
and so be fell back upon the matter Of
his real errand. AS to that there was
no difficulty. Blair promised to call at
the hospital within an hour. g. -
Having received this promise, Ken
dali returned at once and notified Elsie
Of the approaching visit. Her manner
was very significant. She was evil
IDENTIFY bracing herself for a consider
able ordeal. There could be no doubt
that she had determined to save Bren-
da from the annoyance to which she
was being subjected and from the
much more serious trouble that might
follow. AS she. had expressed wish
to speak with DR.. Blair a few minutes
alone there could be but one inference
she intended to tell him something
which she had withheld up to that
time. AS Blair was the first physician
who had been called to attend her she
could claim the right Of patient and
put him upon his professional honor
not to disclose what she might say.
Indeed, certain questions which she
asked made Kendall sure that she had
considered this phase of the situation.
It, was possible that she might intend
to go to the length of confding to Blair
the actual facts Of the case, for by
naming the author of the crime she
could most surely relieve Brenda from
any further suspicion. Even upon the
supposition that Brenda had really
gone to that house and had been seen
by Blair he would probably consent to
shield her from offensive publicity if
he knew her to be entirely innocent.
Kendall was conscious Of strange,
boyish feeling Of discomfort that Elsie
should not have chosen him as the re-
cipient Of this confidence. He could
understand that there might be rea-
sons why she should tell Brenda ev-
erything. and. as to that, indeed, he
had no positive knowledge that she had
not already done SO. Moreover, to have
told him would have been merely to let
another person into the secret, what
ever it might be, since it was not he.
but Blair, who had the power to check
the attacks upon Brenda. Still, he
could not help feeling isolated, the more
because of his reflection that Brenda
might already know all.
From this youthful frame of mind he
passed to one more mature and practi-
cal. 1t might be that Blair was not
worthy of this confidence. Without
pretending to know what Elsie's secret
might be, Kendall surely did not wish
it to be betrayed. All consideration Of
abstract justice had vanished in per
sonal interest. He was for Elsie with
a genuine loyalty, and Blair had not
impressed him fayorably. He seemed
morose and discontented man, with
an unsatisfed craving for something,
probably money, and he had not per-
fectly honest eye. Surprising that Ell
sizes secret involved Alden and that Al
den had really become rich in a way in
visible to his closest friends-well, in
that case it might be that DR.. Blair
would be able to afford a better Office.
grr