Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-09-10
Continued.

ter Col1neSS OF lle place sScmSu W "
fresh him.
At the end Of few minutes he
stood perfectly still, thinking; and
then going to one Of the shelves, he
ran his hand softly along the top row
Of small bottles, took one, and turned
down the gas.
AS he entered the consulting.
again, he glanced at the label, nodded
his head in satisfied manner, and
after glance ut his patient he seemed
to make up his mind what TO do.
Perhaps | shall sleep" he thought,
"and If | do he may wake. 1t will be a
simple way"
He smiled as he took the glass into
which he had previously poured the
brandy, and poured In little more, to
which he added sugar, and half filed
the glass with hot water from the ket
tie.
"He will be sure TO drink that" he
said, as he replaced the glass within
easy reach Of the sofa and then re.
moving the stopper from the blue bot.
tie he held replaced 1t partly in the
neck, rested II upon the edge Of the
steamng glass, and began to count the
drops which fell.
One--two--three.
Each drop ut an interval after the
one which had preceded 1t, while with
his left hand he stcadlod the tumbler.
AS the third drop fell into the glass
ala
dull sculillng Of feet, mutterings OF
voices, and then low lmperious tap,
ping on the panel Of the door.
At the first sound tho doctor turned
his head sharply and gaZed In the dl.
recton OF the door, while the rest OF
his body seemed to have become fixed
in cataIeptIc state save that his eyes
dilated and his jaw dropped.
And meanwhile, slowly and steadily,
drlp-drIp- drlp-drip, the globules
of fluid fell from the tip Of the blue
bottle into the stoaming glass ut last
In quite a stream
a strange dread had overcome the
doctor His patients words about his
diamonds had proved to he true, were
the resl, then, tno-that he had been
pursued by mon whose aim It was to
plumber, perhaps murder him, and they
had really traced him down here?
Bah am ! turning chIdish?' said
the doctor starting up, and letting the
stopper fall back into It's place In the
bottle, just AZ his patient moaned
slightly, turned impatiently In his
sleep, and the ulster glIdod to tho
floor"
The doctor stopped quickly, raised
It, and throw 1t over his patient and
M he bent over him, listened intently
to the repetition Of the tapping.
1T might be, he said softly. "Pishl
absurd The wanderngs of dis,
eased mind"
Catching up the bottle from whore
he had plnced II ON tho table, he
walked quickly towards tho door
paused, returned, aud stopped as If to
plck up the poker Then smiled at
his folly
He passed softly out of the door.
and closed It after him, to go to tho
shelves In the dark, whore he made n
clicking noise among the bottles, az he
reached up for there In the darkness
the feeling once moro assaulted him
that his patient might be right, while
For the third time, more plainly heard
now, theHc came n sharp tapping
Tho doctor crossed to the gas
bracket, turned II up, and as It's light
filled the surgery he walked boldly
to the lobby door, opened It, and the
duh red glare from the ranlight over
the outer door shono upon his hand
some placid face,
The next moment he had opened the
outer door ana was gazing at group
of three men,
Mark Hcath's announcement flashed
through his brain once more, and then
gave place to the ideas furnished by
his visitors
Thought YOU were a bed, Couldn't
lind the hcll. This cursed for, sir.
Our friend here knocked down by Il
cab, and we saw your red light as we
were trying to get him to our hotel"
Tut, tut tut" calculated the doc.
tor Bring him ill., gentlomon"
He glanced Mt his visitors. Saw
that they wero wolldrcsscd men IN
ulstcrs and low,crowned hats, and that
the speaker was Il well built fellow
with a closely.cut beard! while an
other was a rather Mephistopheloan
looking man, with checks closely
shaven, and upper lip bearing a brstly
moustacho.
Between them they supported q
slight youngloolIing companion. who
was moaning slightly, but evidontl,
making an effort to be firm.
Mind, Harry Rogers" he said, II
high.pitched voice, ITS as IL some
thing red hot was running through m,
chest! Ah-h-h!'
Support him, gentlemen" said I'll,
doctor. Mind he doesn't faint. Here
quick! Herel'
lie spoke in sharp. decided tones a,
he directed and helped them to lay tn