Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-03-17
CHATTER XXNn.

&NNNHN
tuaI state of thu patient Interested him
and this failed To disturb the calm
which had set in upon him as q result
OF the long hours of mental combat he
had endured h previous night.
h carly afternoon VAS spent IN
reading old letters long stored away
for something they contained IL them
selves, and which he now burned, And
as his eyes dwelt upon them il seemed
as IL old friends came back, old days
returned. Various chapters in his life
opened out before him as a book some
almost forgotten, Others remembered
well, but seen pow in "A new light-a
light which had come TOO late.
And m the flames consumed each
separate sheet IL was as though a year
OF his existence had escaped his grasp,
had changed TO ashes and turned 10
n~othingness, until bui a memory re-
manned OF that past which had seemed
so eventfui, freighied as il had been
with a thousand incidents OF the In
ward. rather than the outward life,
This task was in itself a w~renching
of the past from the present; . fare
well to what had been and might be
And the pain which il brought lay
deep in his heart. but WAS accepted by
him as part of hat which he had set
himseif To accomplish.
Outside h world was full OF gloom,
for a dense fog had settled over the
city since morning. fog which the
electric Tight OF his rooms was scarcely
able to scare. Once or twice he went
TO the windows stared owe the
park, where all things were vague and
indistinct: the trees. the seldom and
slow passing figures. the cabs with
their lighted lamps.
To the lunch which was served with
the same regularity as III nothing OF
vital Importance was happening. he sat
down and ate with appetite, then con-
tinued his work. When The early
editions OF the evening papers were
handed him he turned TO one part and
read OF George Bostock's gradual re-
covery, a fixed expression on his face.
And presently. late In the afternoon,
he went out. His man had SOME diffi-
Guilty I'm finding him a cab. for the at
mosphere was now black and heavy.
so that traffic became dangerous, IL o
impossible. But having secured a
hanson, Naierius drove TO Sir Pugin
Tate's house I'm Harley street.
The famous surgeon being well
known to him, Valerius determined 10
call upon him and receive from Sir
Pugin a statement regarding Bostock
which might implicitly be relied upon.
Sir Pugin's footman admitted that his
master was at home, but feared he was
engaged.
TaIarius wrote some words upon a
card. which he asked the servant TO
give his master. the result being that
Galbraith was shown into the library,
which the surgeon entered a
later.
Il hope you will excuse me. sir
Pugin," Valerius said as he shook
hands with the surgeon. Il fear l have
4 49,. l..A - "a
keep you many minutes
Pray sii down."
Thanks" replied Valerius. whose
excitement was beginning to overcome
his studied calmness. II came to
learn from III own lips the truth OF
the statement made regarding George
Bostock."
The surgeon glanced at him with
surprise, noting which Valerius hurried
TO say:
Il am much concerned in The case:
Mrs. Dumbarton, o will perhaps re-
member. is my cousin"
Yes. I know that
And a great deal / cannot now ex-
plain hangs upon the death or ecovery
of the man who has confessed to muir
der
mo doubt-no doubt wer Sir
Pugin.
Therefore, 1 want to hear your opin-
ion al 10 whether George Bostock will
live or die
Unless something unforeseen occurs.
the man will certainly recover
Galbraith heard his reply stated in
an authoritative voice; heard ii with
a tension of the nerves with a tight
ening OF the heart. II was the answer
he had expected TO receive. yet its
pronouncenent produced upon him q
despair such as criminals may feel
when the anticipated death sentence
is passed upon them.
THAT is your conviction?" Valerius
said in a slow. hoarse voice.
Certainly. The loss Of motor power
is gradually disappearing, and it's
turning. Tomorrow or next day he
may be able to answer questions"
Tomorrow or next day." repeated
Valerius.
Il expect so"
That settles the question. Sir
Pugin.'
1T has been a particularly interest
ing case to me"
4 am sure il has; it could not fail
to be-"
by one OF those unexpected turns
| have been enabled to save his life,
for which l don't suppose he'll thank
me-" said the surgeon, Well pleased
with himself
why did you save him -" asked Va
lerius In a voice that sounded full Of
reproaeh and full OF pain. why did
you save himy"
Because 1t was my duty" replied
Sir Pugtn stiffiy, 1T was not for me TO
take into consideration what might
happen on his but to bring
him back to life, IL possible"
And you have done your duty" re-
marked Galbraith. with covert bitter
ness as ne o to take his leave.
Il have done my DUTY" repeated the
great somewhat puzzled by his
visitors tone and the expression of his
face.
Forgive me for having troubled
you. Sir Pugin. Thank you, and good
night" said Valerius, as he quilted the
library.
He drew the collar of his coat around
his neck as he descended the steps
and made his way TO the cab that
awaited him. Through its windows he
could see little save the yellow. hazy
lights OF street lamps and the black
figures OF wayfarers wrapped and
lnuffied, chat for a second passed into
narrow circles of radiance and disap-
peared again into ~bluckness beyond
phantom-i.ke figures that turning
neither 10 right nor left with benz
utdNS, NuFfted cn lne1f course.
The dense fog muhied all sounds, and
hung black. heavy and almost palpable.
like a vast pail covering a silent city
OF the dead. Something there was In
the murky atmosphere that harmon
lied with the resolution he had taken
which now as the hour for its accom-
piishment drew near. heavily weighed
upon his spirits and filled his heart
with fear Though the cab drove slowly
as a funeral coach. he thought II car