The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-03-16
Cooyrieh, 1901 By
r. Fitzgerald MAIloy
CHAPTER XNNII.

George BoStock'S Ogre toward re
covery. The comments which were ap
pended he left UNDECIDED: only the ac
tual state of the patient interested him
and this failed to disturb the calm
which had set in upon him as Il result
! Of the long hours of mental combat h,
had endured the previous night.
The early afternoon was spent il
reading old letters long stored ava,
for something they contained IN them.
selves, and which he now burned. Ant
as his eyes dwelt upon them it seemed
as if old friends came back. old day!
returned. Various chapters in his life
opened out before him as a book: som
| almost forgotten, others remembered
well, but seen now in a new light
light which had come too late.
And as the flames consumed eac!
separate sheet it WAS as though q. yeal
Of His existence had escaped his grasp
had changed to ashes and turned t.
~nothingness, until but a memory re
NAMED of that past which had seemed
so eventful. freighted as it had beer
with a thousand INCIDENTS OF the in.
ward, rather than the outward life
This task was in itself Il wrenchine
Of the past from the present: a fare
well to what llad been and might be
never more; a burying of the dead
And the pain which it brought lay
deep in his heart, but was accepted by
him as part OF that which he had sci
himself to accomplish.
Outside the world was full Of gloom
for a dense fog had settled over the
city since morning. fog which the
electric light of his rooms was scarcely
able to scare. once or twice he Went
to the windows and stared over the
park. where all things were vague and
lndlstinct; 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 if 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 We're
handed him he turned to one part and
read of George BostoCk's gradual re-
covery, q Xed expression on his face
And presently. late in the afternoon,
he went out. His man had some diff
Guilty in finding him a cab, for the at
mosphere was now biack and heavy,
so that traffic became dangerous, if not
impossible. But having secured a
hanson, Nalerius drove to Sir Pugln
Tate's| house in Harley street.
h 1amou surgeon being we'll
known to him, Valerius determined to
call upon him and receive from Sir
Pugin a statement regarding Bostocl1
which might implicitly be relied upon
Sir Pugin's footlnan admitted hat his
master was at home, but feared he was
engaged.
Falerius wrote some words upon q
card, which he asked the servant to
give his master, the result being that
G~albraith was shown into the library,
which the surgeon entered q moment
later.
Il hope you will excuse me. Sir
P1lpJn ~ NJ laViJIS Cot1 90 lo Ia !.
hands with the surgeon. Il fear / have
disturbed you, but l promise not to
keep o many minutes"
Pray sit down.
Thanks" replied Valerius, whose
excitement was beginning to overcome
his studied calmness. 81 came to
learn from your 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. you will perhaps re-
member, is my cousin"
Yes, l know that"
And a great deal | cannot now ex-
plain hangs upon the death or recovery
of the man who has confessed to muir
DER
No doubt-no doubt answered Sir
Pugin.
Therefore, I want to hear your opin-
ion as to whether George Bostock will
live or die
UNLESS something unforeseen occurs.
the mar will certainly recover
Galbralth heard this reply stated In,
an authoritative voice; heard it with
a tension of the nerves, with a tight
ening of the heart. 1t was the answer
he had expected to receive. yet its
pronouncenlent produced upon him a
despair such as criminals may feel
when the anticipated death sentence
is passed upon them.
THAT is you convictionc' Ealerius
said in a slow, hoarse voice.
Certainly. The loss of motor power
is gradually disappearing, and it's
quite plain that consciousness is re-
turning. Tomorrow or next day he
MAJ be able to answer questions
Tomorrow or next day?' repeated
Nalerius.
Il expect So
THAI settles the question, Sir
Pugin.'
Tt has been a particularly interest
ing case to me-"
am sure it mas; it could not fail
to be-"
BY one of those unexpected turns
have been enabled to save his life,
for which / don't suppose he'll thank
me" said the urgeon, well pleased
with himself.
Why did you. save him?" asked va
lerius in a voice that sounded full OF
reproach and full OF pain. Why did
you save him?"
Because it was my duty" replied
Sir Pugin stiffiy. 1T was not for me tc
take into consideration what nigh,
happen on his recovery, but to bring
aim back to life, il possible"
And YOU have done our duty re
marked Galbraith, with covert bitter
ness as he o. to take his leave
II have done my duty repeated the
great man. somewhat puzzled by his
Visitors tone II the expression of his
face.
Forgive me for having troubled
you, Sir Pugin. Thank you. and goot
night said Valerius, as he quilted TIL,
| library.
He drew the coliarof his coat aroun,
his neck as he descended the step.
and made his way to the cab tina
awaited him. Through Its windows h,
could e little save the yellow, haz,
lights of street lamps and the 8blacl
figures of Mayfarers wrapped an,
muffled, that for a second passed int
marrow circles of radiance and disap
peared again into ~blackness beyond
3 phantom-iike figures that turning
neither to right nor left with ben
heaos, hurried on their course.
The dense fog muf11ed all sounds, an,
hung black, heavy and almost palpable
like a vast pail covering a silent cit
III of the 3nnd sa@ Cof,a al n II, a t1ro.,, ...n.F.