The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-07
The House Opposite
"A M Us T Z r 7

present when she was made to give an ac-
count of herself to the coroner, were you
not?"
Yes: but I trust that my slight associa-
ton with that affair will make no differ
ence."
She again interrupted me. ut makes
the greatest difference, L assure you. As
you are aware of the exact nature of the
shock she has sustained, 1 am spared the
painful necessity of informing a stranger
of her escapade We are naturally anx-
ious that the fact of her having been in
the building at the time of the murder
should be known TO as few people as posi-
ble l am, therefore, very grateful to you
for not mentioning the matter, even to
Fred. Although l have been obliged TO con-
fide in him myself L think that your not
having done so indicates rare discretion on
your part"
l bowed.
You may rely on me- said. 81 have
the greatest respect and admiration Tor
Miss Derwent and would be most unwill-
ing to say anything which might lay her
open to misconstruction."
Thank you. Now, doctor, you know ex-
iy better able than any one else to judge
whether what she has been through is In
Illness
''She is still very nervous?"
Incredibly SO. She cannot bear to be
left alone minute"
"And you know of no reason for this
nervousness other than her experience at
the Rosenere?"
None
May ask how the news of the buffers
attack affected HERO How sweet
10 think that she had cared at all!
Very strangely" replied Mrs. Derwent.
After reading the account of it she faint
ed, and 1t was quite an hour before she re-
covered consciousness. Since then she has
expressed the greatest desire to go to New
York, but will give no reason for this alb
surd whim. Mr.. Norman was also much
upset by the thought of the danger you
had incurred"
"Mr. Norman? But 1 don't know him."
so he told me. To be able to feel SO
keenly for a stranger shows an eXtraor-
binary sensibility, does it not?'
She looked at me keenly.
1T does, indeed; 1t is most inexplica-
81 don't know whether Fred has told you
that since my daughter was taken i'll on
Sunday she cannot bear to have Mr.. Nor
man out of her sight. He has been here
all day, and now she insists on his leaving
the Cowpers and staying with us alto
gether. Her behavior is incomprehensible."
This was unpleasant news for me!
Surely this desire for his society can
"Of course, you think that she must care
for him, but am quite sure that she does
not"
Really 1 could hardly keep the note
of pleasure out of my voice.
IF she were in love with him L should
consider her conduct quite normal. But it
is the fact of her Indifference that makes
1t so very curious.
You are sure this Indifference is real
and not assumed?"
quite sure" replied Mrs. Derwent. "She
tries to hide 1t, but / can see that his at
tentions are most unwelcome to her If he
happens, in handing her something, to
touch her accidentally she visibly shrinks
from him. Oh Mr.. Norman has noticed
this as well as have, and it hurts him.
and yet she cannot bear him out of her
sight, you say?
Exactly. AS long as he is within call
she is quiet and contented, and in his alb
sence she fidgets And yet she does not
care to talk to him. and does so with an
effort that is perfectly apparent to me. The
poor fellow is patheticaily in love, and
can see that he suffers keenly from her in
difference
81 suppose he expects his patient devo-
ton TO win the day in the end?'
81 don't think he does. 1 felt it my duty
in the face of Mays behavior-which is un-
usual to say the least-to tell him that
didn't believe she cared for him or meant
to marry him. Il quite understand that,
was all he answered. But why he does not
expect her to do so is what L should like
to know AS she evidently can't live with
out him, i don't see why she won't live
with himt
But now, DR.. Fortescue," added Mrs.
Derwent. rising to leave the room. ''let us
go to my daughter. She is prepared to
see you. But your visit is purely social, re-
member"
A curtain of honeysuckles and roses pro-
tected one end of the piazz from the rays
of an August sun, and it was in this scent
ed nook, amid surroundings whose peace
and beauty contrasted strangely with those
of our first meeting, that / at last saw May
Derwent again. She lay in hammock, her
golden head supported by pile of beruf-
fled cushions, and with one small slipper
peeping from under her voluminous skirts
At approach, however, she sprang TO
her feet and came forward to meet us.
had thought and dreamt of her for six long
weary days and nights, and yet, now that
she stood before me, dressed in a trailing,
white gown of some soft material, slightly
opened at the neck and revealing her strong
white young throat, her firm. rounded
arms bare to the elbow, and with one SUI
perb rose Q devoutly hoped it was one of
those 1 had sent herr her only orna-
ment, she made picture of such surpass-
ing loneliness as fairly to take my breath
away / had been doubtful as to how she
would receive me, that when she smil-
ingly held out her hand / felt a great
weight roll off my heart Her manner was
perfectly composed, much more so than
mine, in fact A beautiful blush alone be-
trayed her embarrassment at meeting me-
why. DR.. Fortescue." exclaimed Alice
Cowper, you never told me that you knew
May"
"Our previous acquaintance was so slight
that / did not expect Miss Derwent to re-
member me-" l answered evasively, won
dering, / did so, whether May had con-
fided to her friend where and when it was
that we had met
II want to congratulate you, doctor"
said Miss Derwent, changing the CONVEX
sation abruptly, ION your recent ESCAPE"
From the mailman, you mean? Ii was
close shave, assure you. For several min
utes / within nodding distance of St
Peter"
How dreadful. But why was the fellow
not locked up long before this?"
II did all 1 could to have him put under
restraint. Several days ago l told detec-
tive that / was sure not only that Argot
was insane, but that he had committed the
Rosemere murder. But he would not listen
TO me, and i came very near having to pay
with my life for his pig-headedness. Every
thinking except this same detective, who
still insists that the butler is innocent
Now that the blush had faded from her
cheek / realized that she was indeed look
| ing wrecthedly pale and thin, and as she
leaned eagerly forward i was shocked to
see how her lips twitched and her hands
trembled.
so it was you who first put the police
on the Frenchmans tracks?" she de-
manded.
Eyes. But you must remember that the
success my first attempt at detective work
has met with is largely due to the excep-
tional opportunities have had for investi-
that no hat was found with the corpse and
the police have, therefore, been searching
everywhere for one that could reasonably
be supposed to have belonged to the MUIR
dered man. Now, / may tell you, although
/ must ask you not to mention Ii. as the
police do not yet wish that the fact become
known, that il was / who found this miss
| ing hat in Argot's possession. But / can't
boast much of my discovery, because the
man brought IL into my office himself. All
really did was to keep my eyes open, you
See" / tried to speak modestly. for / was
| conscious of secret pride in my achieve
ment