Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-04


l hurried him up stairs. The nurse met him
on the landing. She whispered something in
his ear, and they entered the bed chamber
together. | remained outside
In about ten minutes the door was thrown
open, and the doctor appeared upon the TIRES
hold. He was in his shirt sleeves, and there
was a look upon his face which | had never
seen there before. He had the appearance of
man who has been in touch with strange
things
Some hot water he said" boiling if pos
siblel Don't ask me any questions, there's a
good felowl''
l had already aroused some of the servants,
telling them that the nurse had been taken
ILL., and able to bring what he had asked
for in few minutes. But when l returned
with it and tried the handle of the door l
found it locked. Rust opened it after l had
knocked twice, and took the from me.
begged. Il will come to you as soon as l can
soon there is anything to tellr'
| obeyed him without demur. | went into
my study, ordered some tea, and tried to
read. 1t must have been an hour before the
door was opened and Rust appeared.
Courage he said, 81 have some extraor-
binary news for you"
q am quite prepared for it," l answered
calmly.
He is alive"
I nodded. 81 judged as much
More than that believe he will recoverN'
There was a short silence. | had never seen
Rust SO agitated.
You don't seem to grasp quite all that this
means he continued. For the first time in
my life, l have signed certificate of death
for living person"
You have signed the certifcate?" asked.
He nodded. The undertaken has it.
The maid entered just then with the tea.
ordered another cup for Rust and when it
had arrived l made him sit down opposite
to me.
His was exactly the kind of illness" he
remarked thoughtfully, TO lead to something
of this sort. | am quite sure now, whatever
kauppmann' friend may say, that his disease
was not natural one. He has been suffering
from some strange form of poisoning. 1t is
the most interesting case l have ever come in
contact with. There were certain symptoms"
Rust" l interrupted, forgive me, but
don't want to hear about symptoms. l want
to talk to you man to man. We are old
friends. You must listen carefully to what l
have to say
Rusts good humored, weather beaten little
face was almost pitiful. You're going to
pitch into me, of course he remarked
Well | suppose l deserve it. You may not
believe it, but l can assure you that ninety
nine out of every hundred medical men would
have signed the certificate in my case"
81 have no doubt of it, answered. That
is not the matter l want to discuss with you
at all. There is something more serious,
terribly serious, behind all this. Frankly II L
did not know you so well, Rust, l should offer
you the biggest fee you ever received in
your life to leave the place this morning, and
be called to-Timbuktu. As it is" l con-
tinued more slowly, Il am going to appeal to
you as a sportsman. am going to take you
into my confidence as far as l dare | want,
if l can, to justify very extraordinary re-
quest"
Rust took off his spectacles and laid them
upon the table. The request being" he
asked.
That you start for the holiday you were
speaking of the other day." l said, within
twelve hours"
He glanced at me curiously. think that
he was beginning to wonder whether l might
not be the next person to need medical ad-
vice. Go on, he said. :" prepared to
listen, at any rate
He listened. And at thirty that morning
he left Saxby for the south coast.
To be continued next Sunday