New-York tribune., 1906-10-28
CHAPTER XIV.

~UEST for the remainder Of the morning SCENE
Il to have fallen into a sort of stuPor. t
~ declined to sit in the garden or come dow
to lunch. When | went up to his room, he WI
living upon a couch half undressed, and with
dressing gown wrapped around HIM. lie opent
his eyes when came in, but waved me away
g am thinking, he said Don't interrupt m
l want to be alone for an hour or so.
But you must have something to eat, | II
sisted. "You will lose your strength if you don t
Quite right" he admitted. Send me up son
soup and let me have pencil and paper"
He was supplied with both. When | went up
hour later, he was smoking cigarette and wrtin
Il do not wish,' he said, TO be worried wit
any more doctors. 1t is only farce, and | ha'
Nonsense!' | answered "Rust declares tn;
there is very little the matter with you. He HI
sent for friend to come and have look
you.
little gesture of impatience escaped hir
MY dear Courage" he said, i am obliged
YOU for all this care; but | am quite sure tn;
in your inner consciousness you realize as L {
that it is sheer waste of time He drew h
dressing gown a little closer around him. II
hollows under his eyes seemed to have grown deep
since the morning.
Il am fairly run to earth" he continued.
Even these few hours of life | owe to my
enemies. They hope to profit by them. Of course.
If YOU are the man | think you are, they will be
mistaken. But don t waste my time with doctors
He began to write again. | made some per
functory remark which he entirely ignored. Just
then | was called away. He watched my depar-
ture with obvious relief.
| was told that stranger waiting to see
me in the library. My first thought was of the
doctor. When | arrived there, | found a young
man whose face was familiar but whom | could
not at once place. Then like a flash | re-
membered. 1t the younger of the two men
who had forced their way into my room at the
Hotel Universal.
Now, | was in no very good humOr for dealing
with these gentry. | had distinct inclination
to take him by the collar of the coat and throw
him out. | fancy that he OWNED from my face
1x,1N rNls,y,,
his presence.
Il am very sorry to be an intruder, Mr. Cour-
age, he said in his slow precise English .! had
wish to come at all We were willing to leave
you undlsturbed But do not understand
why you have sent for doctor from London,
and especially Professor Kauppmann."
looked at him deliberately. He was wearing
English Clothes dark tweed suit i'll cut and
apparently ready made but the foreigner
written large all over him. from the tie of his bow
to his narrow patent boots. His eyes were fixed
anxiously upon me, large black eyes with long
feminine eye laShes. | think that II he had not
been under the shelter of my own roof, must
have laid violent hands upon him.
why the deuce should you understand" |
exclaimed. Mr.. Guest is my visitor and if |
choose to send for doctor to see him. it is m
business and nobody's else. If you have come he
with any idea of bullying me, am afraid YOU hay
wasted your time"
You have evidently" he answered, 'nC
troubled yourself to understand the situation. NJ
Guest is our prisoner
Your WHAT" l exclaimed.
" Our prisoner the Young man answered. L
me ask you this. Has Mr. Guest himself encourage
YOU in your attempt to interfere between him and h
inevitable fate? No. | that he has no
He accepts what he knows must happen. y fe
days more or less of life, what do they matter"
You make me feel inclined,' l said grinly Il
test your theory"
The young man stepped back. Ny fingers wei
itching to take him by the throat and think thi
he read the desire in my face "Will YOU allow n
to see Mr.. GUEST y he asked.