Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1906-08-25
CHAPTER II.

that Crept upon her lie. Veronica per-
suaded her to summon their friend and
neighbor, DR.. QLave.
The latter, on seeing Mrs. Dumbarton,
spoke gravely of overwrought nerves, ex-
hausted brain, general debility, and or
dered complete rest from mental work,
open air exercise, avoidance of excite
ment, crowds and late hours, begging
her of all things to free her mind from
worry.
what most fatigues and distresses me
are sleepless nights" she said, so that
have taken to use choral"
THAT you must Immediately discon-
tinue," Dr. Quave replied. ''Sleep should
come from natural causes, as from ex-
ercise, for instance"
But l haven't sufficient strength to
take exercise"
''You soon will. Narcotics are espe-
cially bad in a case like yours. 1 will
send you a neutrality-suspicious. quinlne
and nux vomica. That, with complete
rest, will set you right again" the doctor
remarked, with CHEEKY air.
Mrs. Dumbarton gave up work because
all ideas seemed to have forsaken her,
and to frame three consecutive sentences
became an impossibility.
One evening after dinner as she sat
reading in the cosy room she called the
study, a servant entered bearing a card.
Mrs. Dumbarton started at the slight
but unexpected noise made by the OPEN
ing of the door, and then glanced at
her visitors name. "Mr Bostock-show
him in," she said, without hesitation and
with pleasure In another moment the
publisher stood before her, tall, slight
man, with a wide, high forehead, dark
gray melancholy eyes under well-marked
brows and a black beard.
Forgive me for calling at such an
hour" he said, apologetically, ''but was
in the neighborhood, and I thought l
would do myself the pleasure of bearing
you interesting news"
81 am always glad to see you" she
answered, the frank expression of her
pleasure showing in her face.
MY news is this: The whole of the
first edition of your book has been sub
scribed for before publication"
81 am so gladl" cried Veronica.
1T fills me with apprehension" said
the authoress. what, if after all dis
appoint the public, now it has been so
kind?"
mo fear of that It's the best novel
you have written" George Bostock re-
piled, looking at her with eyes that spoke
the secret of his heart.
'Pm delighted that you think so. The
last book at which I work always seems
to me the best until it's finished; then,
when l read it over, l see how COM
pletely it has failed oconvey what l
intended, and am ready to feel unspeak-
able gratitude to the critics if they will
mercffully refrain from rending me-"
Nov they unanimously praise YOU"
the publisher said.
Ear more than I deserve; am not
unmindful of their gentleness."
"You have earned all their praise" re-
piled this CHEEKY friend.
otis more that l receive it.
And they continued chatting of liter
ature and its votaries, tinmindful because
unconscious of the fate drawing nigh
them, until once more the servant en-
tered, this time with book and letter
which had arrived by the last post. Look
ing at them, Mrs. Dunfbarton saw they
were directed in the handwriting of Va
lerius Galbraith.
George Bostock rose. He was struck
by the pale and haggard appearance of
his hostess which her animation had I'M
til now concealed.
care you not well?" he inquired,
anxiously.
81 have been somewhat upset"
Surely not by him !"
eyes He has returned, notwithstand-
ing his promise"
"Has he been here?" Bostock asked,
anxiously, eagerly.
Not yet; but he may come any day"
"Can nothing be done?" he inquired,
much distressed by what he heard.
II fear not But the pain of this ex-
pectancy-the suspense-'
81 understand. Remember, if can
be of any service-you know"
eyes, know" she answered, CRATE
fully.
With a strong, firm grasp he. held
her hand in his, then left her without
further words.
Left alone, Mrs. Dumbarton seated her
self in a cosy chair and opened the book
Valerius had sent She soon became in
terested in its contents, so that time
quickly passed unperceived by her.
Veronica had been an hour in the
happy land of childhood's dreams, and
the cook had retired - bed, so that
none were downstairs save Olive Dunn
barton and her maid, the latter awaiting
the summons of her mistress. Suddenly,
as the girl dozed over weekly periodi-
CAL she was rudely startled into wake
fulness by sounds of the shifting and
crashing of furniture, and Immediately
after came cry of bitter pain, such as
might be drawn from a woman by a
cruel blow, to which in turn succeeded
a hoarse shout, as from man in his
extremity impiofing mercy and demand
ing help.
Petrifed by terror, the girl stood i'm
movable with strained senses for a sec
ond, then, acting on impulse, she rushed
to the study and flung wide the door
In the center of the room a man lay
upon his back motion1ess, his eyes wide
open and fixed, terror on his CHASTITY face,
his jaws clinched. while bending above
him, almost as rigid as he and as terrible
to behold, stood Mrs Dumbarton, knife