Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-07-23
Continued.
GEO. MANvILLE FENN

Whyley pulled himself together, ant
cleared his throat
Don't be alarmed, Miss" he said
as he stood in the large blank hall
and rubbed his shoes upon a very olt
mat. II don't like soaring you but It's
better to make sure than TO let any
thing go wrong That's partly, you
see, Miss what we're for"
yes, yes but come at once to the
surgery"
Zone minute, Miss" said the con
stable, examining carefully the hand
some frightend face, and noting that
its owner was tall, graceful rather
dark and about three or four and
twenty, while though her hair was in
disorder as If from lying down. the
lady was fully dressed.
What do you want?" she said with
the wild look In her eyes intensfyng
TO do everything In order, Miss
First who lives here?"
my father, DR.. Charley"
who else on the premlses?"
THE servant-gir Our boy. My
brother, medical student, lives here,
hut he has not yet returned. He Is
at a trends house--a little party"
And you've had a party here,
Mss2"
"Oh, no; we never have company"
"That'll do, Miss, Now for tho
surgery. One moment; your name,
please?"
Richmond Charley"
"Fhat'll dc. Rum name" he NUT.
tered; and following the lady, who led
the way with chamber candlesticK
in past the open door Of a gloomy
looking dlningroom, constable John
Whyley found himself at the end of a
passage to the left, in front OF half
glass door. whose panes were covered
on the other side by thick dark
blind,
my fathers surgery, said the lady
In answer TO an inquiring look.
The constable nodded, and tried the
door twice before kneellng down and
holding his light 10 the key.hole.
Key In" he said grutIly, "locked in.
side. Who's likely to he here2"
My father. He always sits in the
consultinp-room beyond Mt night
studying"
Another short nod, and the con
stable raped loudly.
No response.
He raped again, with the same re-
suit, Then he drew n long breath, and
the man showed that he possessed
feeling as well as GN"laion.
u don't want to alarm you Miss, but
| ought TO force open this door
But you do alarm me. man, Yes,
you are right, No! let me come"
She raped smartly on the door.
Father! Father! Are you hero?"
Stlll no reply; and she drew back,
looking wildly IN the constable's eyes,
while her hands seemed as If drawn
together to clasp each other and check
tho nervous trembling and be OF
mutual support
Yes she said force It open
Stop hrenk one of the panes,"
The constable leaned his shoulder
against the pane nearest the lock, and
there was n sharp cracking noise,
the splintered glass being caught by
the blind inside; but AS the man thrust
his hand through the great hole he had
made to draw the blind on one side. a
fragment or two FELL making a
musical tnl,ling.
The mans next act was to take his
lantern from his belt and pass it
through, directing the light in all
directions as he pcored through the
glass above, and then he withdrew
the lirht with n low "lla!"
What can you see?'
Hold hard, please, Miss, and keep
back This isn't ladies' work want
some help hore."
Then something has happened?"
We'll, Miss, seeing what did sec
tonight II may lie nothing worse than
a drop too much, but II looks ugly"
Who Is It? My Gather?"
Can't say Miss, Elderly gent with
bald head"
oh, what YOU say Is possible!
Quick burst open the door"
The constable placed his shoulder
to the door, but drew back with an
angry gesture.
"Of courso," he muttered, and
thrnsting his arm through he reached
the lock, turned the key and then
swung open with dismal crcak
Nov, Miss, Ill see FIRST, and come
back and tell you"
Man, do you think am childg"
was the sharp reply; and rushing by
him, the speaker passed into the room
and went down upon her knees direct.
ly beside figure in shabby old
dressinggown, lying face downward
on the floor
is he"
Quick, turn on that gas"
The constable took a step to obey
and kicked against something which
ratified as 1t few forward. and struck
the wainscot board, while the next mo-
ment dim, blue spark OF light in q
ground glass burst into flame, and lit
up a dingy.looking, oid-fashloned
-