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

the room which had been occupied by Leslie
Guest.
Outside the door she hesitated. She turned
and faced me abruptly. She was white to the
not go in!' she moaned. Il have been
nurse for fifteen years, and have never known
| anything like this!'
Like WHAT" asked bewildered. "Are
you hysterical? l wish you would try to
tell me what is the matter"
go in!' she answered. GO in, and see
if you see anything
l opened the door and entered. The room
was dinly lit by a lamp, placed on the table
| near the window. Upon the bed, covered by
a sheet; his waxen like face alone visible was
the body of the man who had been my guest.
Except for the ticking of a clock, there was
no sound to be heard, there was no sign any
where of any disturbance or disorder. looked
back at the nurse for an explanation.
She pointed to the bed. His eyesi" she
murmured. GO and look!'
l walked over to the bedside, and leaned
reverently over the still figure. Suddenly l
felt though l was turned to stone. The
blood in my veins ran cold. l staggered back.
My gaze had been met with an upturned
CLASSY stare from a pair of wide opened deep
set eyes.
Good God!" cried. "His eyes are open,"
The nurse, who had gained little courage,
came to my side Il closed them myself,
she whispered II closed them carefully. I
thought that l heard a noise, and came in.
l lit lamp, and saw-what you can see!"
Once more l approached the bedside. One
arm was drawn up a little from under the
clothes. l noticed its somewhat unnatural
position and pointed it out to the nurse.
Did you leave it like that" l asked
Her teeth chartered. mol" she answered.
The arms were quite straight. Some one
has been in the room, or"
"Or WHAT" | asked.
He must have moved!" she whispered in
an unnatural tone.
Once more l bent over the still form. The
pupils OF the wide open eyes were slightly
dilated; they seemed to meet mine with a
horrible unseeing directness. There was no
sign about his waxen face or still cold mouth
that life had fingered for moment beyond
the stated period And yet something of the
nurses terror was slowly becoming commune
Gated to me. l felt that l was in close COM
pany with mysterious things.
| turned toward the nurse. GO to Your
ROOM l said, and shut yourself in there. |
am going to send for DR.. Rust. Understand
it is you that are i'll l do not want a word of
this to be spoken of among the servants
She passed into her room and closed the
door without word. 1 had telephone from
my room to the stables and in few minutes
had awakened one of the groorns.
"The nurse is i'll, told him. Take dog
cart and go down and fetch DR.. Rust. Ask
him to come back with YOU at once"
| heard his answer, and a few minutes later
the sound of wheels in the avenue. Then l
put on my clothes and, going down stairs,
got some brandy and took it up to the nurse.
You think l asked, that he has lived,
since"
Il am sure of it" she answered. ellis was
very peculiar illness, and l know that it
puzzled the doctor very much. 1t was Just
the sort of illness to have led to a of sus-
pended animation"
" You think it possible" 1 asked, that he
is alive now?"
at is quite possible" she answered. "but
not very likely. He probably died with the
Slight effort he made in moving his arm. l
am quite willing to go in and examine him, if
you like, or would you prefer to wait until the
doctor cones?'
I'VE will wait" I answered. "He cannot
be more than few minutes"
Almost as l spoke, l heard the dog cart re-
turning. l hurried down stairs and admitted
the doctor. 1t almost daybreak.
Whats wrong?" he asked
Something very extraordinary, doctor" I
answered, hurrying him up stairs. Come