Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-08-29
CHAPTER XIV.

Harvey lay and held on to the stran-
gers beard, and the stranger. who was
extended on the broad of his back. stared
hard and unthinkingly at the ceiling The
corridor was brilliantly illuminated by
this time and new observers were drib-
bling into it every instant. The manager
had arrived, and was questioning one or
two of his servants as to what had hap
pened. Harvey was beginning to come
to himself
This fellow" he said, ran into me
like mailman. Il believe he came out
Of that lady's room"
who is he?" asked the manager, ad-
dressing one of the walters.
Gentleman in number nineteen, sir"
said the waiter. Game liz By the ten to
ten tonight"
The gentleman of number nineteen
gave no sign of consciousness. He stared
without the slightest change of counte-
nance, without so much as a flicker of
the eyelid, straight above him, and the
lockers on were somewhat alarmed about
him. One of them n little more useful
than the rest. stopped and began to lift
Harvey to his feet, but the fingers of
both hands were entangled in the stunned
mans beard, and it was seen that the
whole side of the face and throat was
bruised and bleeding where the wiry.
black gray hair had been torn away by
Harveys unconscious but strenuous
grasp. The young mans hands were full
of hair, as if he had been disembowel-
ing an old fashioned cushion.
You had better carry this gentleman
to number nineteen, and then call a
doctor" said the manager. "Mr. Jethroe
is not hurt, I trust p
Mr.. Jethroe was led back to his bed
room and comfortably seated in an arm
chair while the manager questioned him,
with all the respect due to Harvcy's in
heritance of the deceased uncles million
.erling.
Harvey attached a great deal too much
Importance to the event which had Just
happened to be inclined to talk about
it freely. He contrived to satisfy the
manager while keeping his own counsel
The manager had said his respectful good
night, and had bowed himself half way
out of the room, when sudden and I'M
expected message was brought him.
Would it be possible" the bearer of
the message asked, for Mr.. Jethroe to
receive a visitorY'
"A visitorY Harvey demanded. in
great establishment. Il suppose the Wis
itor has n name|
The name is Thorne," exclaimed
voice from without, and Harvey dashed
into the corridor to welcome the speaker.
What in the name of wonder brings
you hereY he asked, dragging the old
gentleman into the room by both hands.
Accident, dear boy, accident" said
Mr. Thorne with a fourishing geniality.
Il mad business here. and thought Con-
stance was in need of a change, and so
| brought her with me-"
Constance is here?" cried Harvey.
in this hotel?"
in this hotel, dear boy" said Mr.
Thorne. He was as pompous as of old,
but he was geniality itself. The million
made a difference. "She has not vet re-
tired" he said, though she had Just
reached her room when that extraordi-
nary noise broke out, and she and both
witnessed the extraordinary scene in the
corridor outside. What was it all about ?"
That is more than l can tell you"
Harvey answered with perfect verbal
truth, though the reply, in effect, was
misleading. Can l see ConstanceY' he
asked eagerly.
Certainly, my dear Harvey, certain
~. Meet us in two minutes in the cof-
fee ROOM"
Harvey made a rapid toilet, ard with
in the specified time was standing hand
in hand with Constance, with Mr.. Thorne
looking on at their meeting with hands
appraised in jocular blessing, like father
in a comedy. There was nobody else in
the apartment, and they were able to sit
down and talk at ease. Unfortunately
for Mr.. Thorne. he had not found time
to impress Constance as he had meant TO
do, with the idea that his arrival at that
particular hour was an accident, and even
If he had, it was ten to one that the
girls downright honesty of nature would
have led her TO refuse to shelter him. She
betrayed the truth unconsciously at once.
I'VE heard of your loss" she said.
"and papa thought that it was only right
and just that he should be present at the
funeral"
Thank you for coming Harvey an
swered. but l had very much rather
that you did not attend the funeral: it's
q NAGNNASh puoAAtSs dltOSelueT, ne SAID
haltingly, "and l wouldn't have you
there for worlds, dear"
Il didn't think it was at all my place
to be there, Constance answered; "but
papa insisted and / came"
We'll, you know" said Mr.. Thorne. 81
couldn't explain my reasons in that fell
lows presence; but it's a long time since
we met. Harvey. and l wanted"
The fact is,'' said Constance, that
papa wanted to know whether that great
fortune you have come into was going to
make any difference between you and
me-"
1T would make difference" Harvey
answered, ''if | had my way. 1t would
make all the difference in the world Ii
would have made us man and wife, my
darling; but I'm as far off from happi-
ness as ever. I'm afraid. I'm pledged
TO go to South America to wind up af-
fairs there, and l can't even guess now
long l may be forced TO be away"
Constance read the trouble in his voice,
and laid her hand in his unhesitatingly;
but her esther understood the matter diff
ferently.
You're not going back on your under
taking, Haryeyf' he said.
Father cried Constance Indignantly.