Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-04

lions mechanically, hear the replies and
scribble a prescription of some
formula. On the afternoon In question l
certainly believe myself guilty of such lapse
Of professional attention. Yet even we doc
tors are human, although our patients fire.
uuently forget that fact. The medico is a
long-suffering person, even in these days
Of scarcity Of properly qualified men-the
first person called on emergency, and the
very last to be paid!
1t was past 5 o'clock before I was able to
return to my rooms and on my arrival l
found upon my table a note from Jevons.
II was dated from the Yorick club, a small
but exceedingly comfortable Bohemian CEN
ter in Bedford street, Covent Garden, and
had evidently been written hurriedly on the
previous night.
81 hear you are absent in the country"
he wrote. That is unfortunate. But as
soon as you receive this, lose no time in
calling at the Henniker's and making casual
inquiries regarding Miss Mivart. Some
thing has happened, but what it is l have
| failed to discover. You stand a better
| chance. Go at once. l must leave for Bath
tonight. Address me at the Royal hotel,
G. w. Station. Amber Jevons."
What could have transpired? And why
had my friends movements been so ex-
ceedingly erratic Of late. II he had not been
following some clue? Would that clue lead
him to the truth. I wondered? Or was he
still suspicious OF Ethelwynn's guilt?
Puzzled by this vague note and wonder
ing what had occurred and whether the
trip to Bath was in connection with it, l
made a hasty toilet and drove in a han
SOM to the Hennikers.'
Mrs. Henniker met me in the drawing
room, just as gushing and charming as
ever. She was one OF those many women
in London who seek to hang on to the
skirts OF polite society by reason Of a dis
tant connection being a couStess-a fact
OF which she never failed to remind the
stranger before half an hours acquain-
lance. She found It always a pleasant
manner in which to open a conversation
at dinner. dance or soiree: "Oh, do you
Z happen to know my cousin, Lady Massing-
TONI" She never sufficiently realized II
as bad form, and, therefore, in her Owl
circle was known among the women. who
jeered at her behind her back as "thC
cousin Of Lady Washington" She wa
daintily dressed and evidently just CONF
In from visiting. for she still had on he
hat when she entered.
"Ah!' she cried with her usual buoy.
ant air. you truant! We've all beer
wondering what had become Of you. Busy
OF course, Always the same excuse! Fint
something fresh. You used it a fortnight
ago to refuse my invitation to take pot
luck with us"
, laughed at her unconventional greet
ing. replying. IF l say something fresh /
must be a lie. You know, Mrs. Henniker
how hard I'm kept at il. with hospita
work and private practice"
3 That's all very we'll" she said, with
slight pout Of her well shaped mouth-fo
she was really a pretty woman, eve
though full Of airs and caprices. But I
g doesn't excuse you for keeping away froI
us altogether"
! Il don't keep away altogether" I pro
! tested. I've called now"
. She pulled a WY face, in order to EN-
. phasize her dissatisfaction at my explana
tion, and said:
And l suppose you are prepared to re
l ceive eastigatiOn? Ethelwynn has begun
= complain because people are saying thl
your engagement is broken on"
I "WhO says so?" ! inquired rather angrll
for l hated all the tittle-tattle OF thu
r little circle OF gossips who dawdle over n
tea cups in Redeline Square and its neigl
bOrhOOd. I had attended a good many