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

80 CufSeuly unluCky. ne Sdlu OK
ctedly 81 never saw such fog.
They've no business to allow men to
drive fast on a night like this"
Don't talk, old chap. Not serious
hope, doctor?" said the Mephisto.
phelean man. Cab seemed to come
out of the fog, and he was knocked
down. got an ugly blow on the
shoulder"
Get me some brandy" said the in
jurod man family. My chests
crushed"
mo, no, not so bad as that, said the
doctor kindly. you shall have a slim
illus soon. Now, then, suppose we see
what the damage Is A broken rib, !
expect, and that will only mean little
pain. Now, then"
His busy fingers were rapidly and
tenderly unbuttoning the injured
mans coat, while gasping moan
came from his lips.
Hurts me horribly--to breathe, doc
tor"
There was gasping sound, and the
man lttlcu, llltu W
save himself, and fell against the con
sultIng-room door, which somehow
flew open, revealing the sleeping figure
Of Mark Heath on the couch.
My dear slr-faint"
81 beg your pardon" doctor, said
the sinister-Iooking man. Sick as a
great girl. | can bear pain, but to see
him like that turned me over. No, no,
see to him; I'm better now"
The doctor continued his task while
tho door swung to once moro.
Still feel faint?" said the doctor,
without looking up.
ooh, no; It's all gone now | really
am ashamed"
Nothing to be ashamed OF, my dear
air It Is mans nature. Now
shall be obliged to ask one of you to
lend me a little assistance here"
The bearded man stood ready, ana
exchanged glance with his Mcphisto-
phelean companion, who was behind
the doctor now.
'"Ah,"
y
latOn for, as he bent over his patient,
the man behind struck him a heavy
blow with short thick life prescryor,
and, quick almost as lightning. de-
Illycred another crashing stroke on the
back of the head.
without SO much rs n groan merely
u catching at the air, the doctor fell
forward upon his supposed patient,
and then rolled with n duh heavy
sound upon the carpet to lie notion
less to all appearance dead.
yah what butcher you are
Rogers" said the sham patient, in
Quoruous high.pitched tone,
"lIold your row Quick Listen at
that door
The sham patient sprang to the door
at the end Of the passage, opened It
softly, and stood listening.
AN right" he whispered, still as
death"
Curse YOU! hold your row about
death, whispered the other as the
door was closed, Lock it,
al was going to-" said the younger
man, turning the key softly. lis he
there, Harry -
Yes all right" came in a whisper
from the bearded man, who had soft
~ opened tho consulting room door
and pcored In at the sleeping figure
upon the couch quick. como on.
Tho man addressed AS Rogers had
stopped down and thcn gone ON one
knc", TRUSTING the liIo-proserver into
his pocket while he examined the doc
tor and not noticing that 1t slipped
out on the skirt of his coat, and rolled
aside M he finished his examination.
aud satisfied himself that there was
nothing to he unprecedented thcre.
lie started up, aud followed his COM
panton ON tiptoe, and the next minute
they were gazing down ut the man
they had tracked from the diamond,
I fields and run to earth at last.
"llahi' exclaimed the Mephistophe
les Of the party; that's right. Give
him ono il he moves,
This To his boarded companion, who
had drawn q ltfopreseryer similar to
that his companion had used as he
bent over the sleeping man,
lie has had dose" was whispered
back 'Nou can smell his breath"
brandy All right, cried the
Youngest Of the three, catching IN the
ldecanter, smelling 1t, tasting it with
n loud smack of the lips, and POURING
cut goodly portion in the empty
glass, he handed It to his first com.
panion, Here, Harry"
Sure its all Hght?" was whispered
back
swear It. Now, Rogers"
Here's mine, said the man, With !
grin Hot with, Quick. lads,"
Don't touch that" was on Tho
younger mans lips but his companio,
raised the glass with laugh, and n,
, he followed his example by putting IN,
deeanter to his mouth, the doctors as
satlant literally poured the contents q
the tumhler down his throat, and theI
! StoOd still nut tho plnss harls A. ~