Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-10
A Mystery
Of T w O
Continents
By
BURTON E.
STEVENSON
Copyright. 1905. by
Henry Holt and
Company

Dul SIG Stol)l'eu ultl abruptly Will
little imperative motion of the hand.
pray do not" she whispered hoarse-
ly. "Pray do not"
He stopped and pulled himself to-
gether. When he spoke again it was In
quite different tone.
Il have brought the money you asked
for" and lie handed her the package.
"Thank YOU" she murmured.
will you verify the amounts"
"Oh, he; thnt is not necessary"
81 have IL receipt here" and lie pro-
duced it and his fountain pen. "Please
sign it."
She took the pen with trembling fin
gers, laid the receipt upon her chair
arm without reading and signed her
name with a somewhat painful slow
ness. Then she leaned back with q
sigh of relief and buried her face in
her hands. Mr.. Royce placed the re-
ceipt in his pocketbook and stopped,
hesitating. But the maid had opened
the doer and was awaiting us. Her
mistress made no sign; there was no
excuse to linger. We turned and fol-
lowed the maid.
'AIiss Holiday seems very ILL.," said
Mr.. Royce in voice somewhat tremu.
lous as she paused before us in tile
lower hall.
Eyes, sir; YER ILL.,"
Again the voice! l took advantage
of the chance TO look at her intently.
Her hair was turning gray, certainly;
her face was scanned with lines which
only care and poverty could have
craven there, and yet, beneath it all,
[ fancied could detect faded but
living likeness to Hiram Holidays
daughter. looked again-it was faint
neutrality-suspicious. my nerves were
overweight and We're deceiving me
For how could such likeness possibly
exist?
''She has physician, of course?'
asked my companion.
"Oh, yes, SIR"
Eyes, SIR
"When do you leave for the coun
try?"
Tomorrow or the next day aftel
that. think. SIR"
He turned to the door and then paus
ed, hesitating. He opened his lips t.
say something more-his anxiety wa!
clamoring for utterance then h,
| changed his mind and stepped outsid,
as she held the door open.
Good day." he said, with stern re
preston. ~ wish her pleasant jour
ney."
The door closed after us, and w,
went down the steps.
"Jenkinson's the family DOCTOR" h,
said. Lets drive around there ant
find out how i'll Miss Holiday really
is. I'm worried about her, Lester"
THAT'S good idea," agreed AMI
gave the driver the address. Jenkin
son was in his office and received u.
| at once.
"Dr. Jenkinson," began our junior
without preamble, II am John Royce
of Graham 4 Royce. You know, sup
pose, that we are the legal advisers %
Miss Frances Holiday"
YES" answered Jenkinson. "Glad I,
meet you, MI. Royce"
I'm consequence we're naturally in
terested in her welfare and all tia
concerns her, and called to ask yol
for some definite details of her condi
tion.''
Her condition? don't quite under
stand.'
I'VE should like to know, doctor, jus
how ill she isl
%ll!' repeated Jenkinson. in eviden
surprise. But is she ill?'
She's your patient, isn't she?
thought you We're the family DOCTOR"
$50 am" assented the other. "Bu
l haven't seen Miss Holiday for tel
days or two weeks. At that time sh
seemed quite well-a little nervous
perhaps, and worried, but certainl,
not requiring medical attention. Sh
has always been unusually robust"
Mr.. Royce stopped, perplexed. AS 70
nue., my head was i'll whirl again.
IN tell you the story" he said a
last. Il should like the benefit of you
advice" And lie recounted rapidly til,
facts of Miss Holidays illness, in S,
far as he knew them, ending with al
account of our recent visit and til,
statement of the maid that her mis-
tress was under DOCTORS care. Jen
kinson heiRd him to the end withou
interrupting, but he was plainly puz
zled and annoyed.
"And you say she looked very illf'
he asked.
"Oh, very i'll, sir; alarmingly i'll, Il
my Impractical eyes. She seemed thil
and Worn. She could scarcely talk
she had such cough. l hardly knew
her."
Again the doctor paused to consider
He was very famous doctor, will
many very famous patients, and
could see that this case piQued him
that another physician should hav,
been preferred!
"Of course, Mr.. Royce" he said final
ly, Miss Holiday was perfectly fire,
to choose another physician IL sh,
thought best"
But would you have thought it prob
ablc?' Queried our junior.
"Ten minutes ago should hav,
thought it extremely improbable" an
swered the doctor emphatically. "Still
women are sometimes cratic, as w,
doctors know to our sorrow"
Mr.. Royce hesitated and then tool
the bull by the horns.
DIR. Jenkinson," he began earnest
ly, don't you think it would be wis
to see Miss Holladay-you know how
her father trusted you and relied OF
you-and assure yourself that she's ii
good hands? confess l don't know
what to think, but l fear some DANCE
is hanging over her. Perhaps she ma,
even have fallen into the hands of til
fai;il curists."
.]enkinson smiled.
THE advice to seek rest and Quie
seems sane enough" he said, "and III
terly unlike any that a faith curis
would give"
But still, if you could see for you
SELF" persisted Mr.. Royce.
| The doctor hesitated, drumming wit
his fingers upon the arm of his chair.
Such course would be somewha
llnDrOfeSSiOnal {" no said nt last 80 "A