The Ely miner., 1903-01-02
D1 mutual consent that night
- move had been made to the lawn,

tonic after the closeness of the din
ing-room. Cigars aglow, Jim Rich
mond and myself lay comfortably
in the French window Jim's wife sar
industriously plying her needle, from
time to time aiding her husband il
his inquisitions as to my doings from
the date of our previous meeting.
But come" | said-my eXamina
ton being completed to their salts
iaction-"tell me something about
how the world has been going with
you. Three years ago L left you
James Richmond, patientless medi.
co, and more or less miserable bach
elor. Surely some extraordinary
chance that comes not to every man
who dreams of fat fees must have
lifted you into your present estab-
lished position? There is no other
deduction possible. Who, then, is
the wealthy valetudinarian, and how
did this chance to come about?"
Ny words caused them to smile.
"Your deduction is not far wide of
the mark" returned Jim, after u
pause, "but-that is a story my wife
can tell far better than l, for to her
L owe everything
Jim eXaggerates my share in the
affair."" said Mrs. Richmond, shaking
a reproving finger at her husband.
Tell me the story, and 1 will
judge" 1 said promptly, and yielding
70 H..
Well, Jack, as you know, L was al
ways keen on toxicology, and shortly
after leaving the hospital, where 1
had made special study of the sub
ject, l contributed paper to the
Lancet on "The Effect of Certain
Little-known Oriental Poisons."
Three days after it was published l
was surprised to receive telegram.
Hastily tearing open the envelope 1
read the following message: "Just
read your able treatise. Shall be
glad if you will dine with me tonight
My carriage will meet you at the sta
ton n.-Didsbury."
'Didsbury of Elton Towers!" l
cried, involuntarily, and gave a whis-
tie of amazement. Lord Didsbury!
1t was a chance that the most noted
of my confreres would have jumped
at.
Bradshaw informed me that it
ing meant staying at Elton the night
There would be just time to pack my
bag and run around to acquaint
Eileen with the news. Need L say
that she was as excited over it as my
self? Her whispered good luck' was
ringing in my ears all through the
journey.
Alighting in due course at my
destination L entered the waiting
brougham, and was rapidly driven
to the Towers. "You are eX-
pected," said the man who took my
card. ''Come this way and 1 will
show you your room. His lordship
dimes at seven"
BY the time had donned my even
ing clothes the man reappeared and
ushered me into the spacious dining
room. An old gentleman, with snow
white hair, was leaning on the man.
tlepiece before the fire. He turned
at my entrance, and [ was immedi-
ately struck with the corpse-like pal
Ior of his cadaverous face. 1t needed
no second glance to tell me that this
man was i'll.
Crossing over to him 1 took his ex-
tended hand. 1t was limp and cold,
I, To
exert the slightest pressure.
81 am glad to see you, Mr.. Rich
mond," he said, weakly. "Pray be
seated. Johnson, you may serve"
The dinner was perfect, and, feel
ing hungry after my journey, I did
justice to it. His lordship, however,
took nothing. He sat back in his
chair breathing stertorously, his eyes
glaring into vacancy, and, after at
tempting conversation and being an
swered in monosyllables that pro-
claimed his alteration, / gave it up.
He seemed utterly exhausted in mind
and body.
1t was somewhat trying expe-
rience, and l was not unthankful
when I found myself assisting him
back to the fireplace. He motioned
the servant to leave the room.
"My lord" L said, when we were
alone, 81 do not know whether you
wished to consult me in my profess
sional capacity, but your condition
o
81 know it," he interrupted, quer-
ulously. 81 want you to listen. :. :.
Three months ago 1 was as hale and
hearty as any man of my age. To-
day L am what you see me-a phys
ical wreck. Carter-my medical man
would have me believe it is only
what is to be eXpected-in short, that
I am breaking up. He's a fool!
tell you no man understands his own
body better than myself. A man
does not break up in a few short
weeks like this, and l have studied
myself for years. 1t was all incom-
prehensible to me until this morn
ing read your paper. Richmond, if
you had studied my case you could
not have described the symptoms
clearer"
His utterance came disjoiatedly, as
if every word was an effort. To say