Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-03-09
cousin to pardon readily. There was.


under his feet, the black boughs bend
ing toward him, the gate swinging
with hollow bang behind him.
He was In no humor to visit his club
and meet his fellow men, his mind be-
ing all unhinged, and having nothing
in common with the idle interests that
amused them, and yet he shrank from
solitude, where he felt himself the un-
protected prey OF thoughts that gnawed
| his heart and bereft him OF peace. He
| therefore walked for hours along roads
and avenues. through squares and
| streets, always in the center OF crowds
that distracted him and bore him COM
pany without intruding on him.
| Eventually he decided on returning
| to his home and writing his apologies
to Olive Dumbarton, but when he
found himself seated at his desk he
which he felt assured could be much
more readily accomplished in an inter-
view. which he would seek annd obtain
few days later. Slowly and dismally
the day wore itself out. yet from his
experience of the past night he dreaded
| place than his bed Is man so much the
victim o.. narrowing thoughts. distress
ing speculations and terrible fears to
which darkness lends force.
But fatigue overcoming him, he lay
down and slept soundly, not waking
| unlli late tne lOllOWluH IIoIIlllB, WAeA
| his mind seemed calmer. his head more
clear. What he now most desired was
| an interview with his cousin, that he
| might by calm and resoiute words as
sure her of George Bostock's guilt. and
| show her the suspicious to which she
left herself open If she, notwithstand-
Ing his confession. continued to assert
his innocence. So again he drove to
Hixton road, when he was told by the
servant that her mistress was better.
but was yet unable to leave her rooms
or to suffer any disturbance.
And feeling less worried and not SO
| depressed, Valet went to his club,
where he lunched. and whence he wrote
a note to Olive. begging her to see him
as soon as she felt abe. Afterwnrd
he spent some hours in the smoking
| and sitting rooms, and then set out to
walk home in the afternoon. Leaving
| Pail Mall he hurried through ST.
James's park on his way to Knights
bridge, and had got as far as Hyde Park
corner. when the shril cry of a news
boy made him suddenly pause; he had
caught the name of George Bostock
| and Immediately concluded the pub
| lishers death was being announced.
| But while Nalerius stood with ears
strained to catch the words which were
being shouted friend Joined him.
This said the latter, military
man with fresh face and gray hair
this Is strange news about Bostock."
His death?" gasped Nalerius.
His death-why. there would be
| nothing unexpected in that"
What then?' Galbraith asked.
His probable recovery"
Impossible" exclaimed Galbraith.
| ut seems there's nothing impossible to-
science nowadays-read for yourself"
answered the military man, handing
an evening paper he had just bought to
| Valerlus.
The latter, with an effort to steady
himself, took the paper, and walking
to a neighboring lamp, read by its
| light of the operation made that morn
| ing by Sir Pugin Tate on George Bos-
took, whose recovery. it was stated.
would probably be merely question
Of weeks. Valerius kept his eyes on
the paper until the words danced be-
fore him and made his brain feel
giddy.
We'll. that's plain enough" he heard
his companion say, but the words came
| to him as from a distance, and he was
Unable to reply.
i. "You are naturally interested in the
| case?" the voice said.
Naturally" Nalerius forced himself
to reply as he returned the paper. All
his senses We're stunned for the mo-
ment, his mind In chaos.
The fellow will find himself in a
predlcament he never expected, and
serves him right. too" the military
man remarked as he walked beside
Galbraith, who had mechanically
moved onward.
"A very strange predicament," Va
lerius murmured.
But then 1t has been q remarkable
case from the beginning"
IT'S not true; it Can't be true" Va
lerius suddenly cried out.
"What?"
His recovery. It's something the
| newspapers have got to create sensa-
ton and sell copies. 1 have often
known them to hoax the public be-
fore. and such a thing should be pun
ished." Galbraith exclaimed.
II think your supposition is wrong"
replied his companion; the details are
too circumstantial and they would not
give Sir Pugin Tates name If he had
not carried out the operation"
But tell you there must be some
mistake. Yesterday the mans life
was declared hopeless, and now
Thine Will TELL" said the military
man calmly.
"I'll not wait for time" valerius an
swered hurriedly. III drive at once
to the hospital and learn whether this
report is true or false" and hailing a
hanson, he sprang into 1t before its
wheels touched the curbstone. uncere-
moniously leaving his friend, who
/
On reaching the hospital Valerius
was assured that the report in the
evening papers was quite true, and that
the patient continued to progress ia
vorably. On hearing this Galbraith
turned away abruptly, and regaining
his cab drove home. What the thoughts
were that seethed through his mind
that night. now reaching a ferment
of fury that nearly drove him to mad
ness, and again subsiding until merely
the stupor of pain remained, no man
may know.
With eyes wide open and fixed he sat
in his study through midnight and the
early hours of dawn. letting his fire
die out gradually until the last red
embers turned to ashes. scarcely con-
scious the while Of the cold which
crept over him as might death itself,
chilling his blood, almost freezing his
heart, until at last, as If he had come
to a resolution there was no gain
saying, to point from which there
was no turning. he suddenly rose to
his feet. Then. as If awaking to con-
seriousness. he shuddered violently,
went to The spirit case. and filled out
some brandy which he hurriedly swal-
lowed, when with the calinness of ex-
haustion that succeeds hours of mental
strain. he retired to bed
CONTINUED Next Week.)
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