The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1907-11-22
Alive or Dead?'
The Strange Disappearance of
Gerald Rathbone.
CHAPTER xlx-(continued.)
~ ouv ThoRNG.

CHAPTER xlx-(continued.)
"A very strange one. William. She
said, Gerald is not dead, mother. I
know it; I feel it. I feel certain Of it,
and when I feel thus, how car I say
anything to Sir William? Then I
asked her IL she proposed to keep you
waiting for the rest of both your lives
before she said anything definite. She
burst into tears and said that she was
very miserable, but that she intended
70 say something definite to you after
the coming reception here, when you
are going to show everyone your new
invention
Eyes," Sir William answered. "She
has promised that. But l fear what
her answer will be. Well, we must
hope for the best, Lady Poole. II I
we're you I should not worry. Leave
everything to me. I have everything
ct stake"
well, l felt I must come and tell
you. William" Lady Poole said. Il
telt that it would help you to know
exactly how things stand. Perhaps
Ill will come well. Girls are very diff
lcult to manage. I wanted Marjorie
to 60 out a great deal in order to &c
cupy her mind and to keep her from
brooding over this absurd fancy that
Gerald Rathbone Is alive. But she
seems to shun all engagements. How
ever, she's fortunately thought that
she would like to try her hand at writ
Ing something-she was always in
terested In books. you know-so she's
spending q good deal Of time over tt
1 story, I think-and Mr.. Donald Meg
BILE is helping her. He calls now and
then and makes suggestions on what
she has done. A nice, quiet little man
he seems, and a fervant admirer Of
yours. I sounded him on that point
the other day. 80 even this little
fancy Of Marjorie's for writing may
turn out to be a help. Mr.. Megbie is
sure to become enthusiastic II your
name is mentioned In any way, and it
will keep the fact Of how the world
regards you well before Marjorie.
Now, good-by. It's q relief to have
come and told you everything. must
ny, and I know you will want to get
back to your electricity and things"
Sir William went with her to the
garden gate in the wall, where her
carriage was waiting. Then he went
back to the study and took down the
speaking tube that communicated
with the laboratory. He asked Will
son Guest to come to him at once.
In a few minutes the assistant
shambled in. His eyes were bright
with. the liquid brightness OF alcoholic
poisoning; his speech was much
clearer and more decided than It had
been earlier In the day. 1t had tone
and timbre. The crimson blotches on
the face were less in evidence. Guest
had drunk q bottle Of whisky since
lbreakfast-time. a quantity which
would hopelessly intoxicate two ordi-
gary men, and probably kill one. But
this enormous quantity Of spirit was
.iuat ~sufncient, In the case Of this man,
make him a. near the normal as he
eould ever get. A bottle Of whisky In
the morning acted upon the drink-sod-
den tissues as q single peg might act
upon an ordinary person who was
)aded and faint.
Gouldesbrough knew all the symp.
toms Of his assistants disease very
well. He recognized that the moment
"a the day when Guest was most him.
self and was most useful had now ar
rived. The eReets Of yesterdays
drinking we're now temporarily de.
stroyed.
Il want your help, Wilson," he said,
With . strange look In his eyes. Il
want to resume the discussion we
were beginning when Lady Poole
called. You are al right now?"
"Oh, yes, William" the man an
swered, without q trace Of his usual
giggle, with the former sly malice Of
his manner quite o~bliterated. This
. my rood hour. l feel quite nt-for
me-and I'm ready. About Rathbone
you meant"
"Exactly. Lady Poole has given
ne. TO understand that her daughter
y still pining after this person"
s.Call him . thing, William. He
TINT . person any more. He II just
= part o9 our machinery, nothing
more. And, moreover. q part Of our
machinery that II getting worn ont.
that. ~ don't want any longer, and
hat. ~ ought TO get rid Of"
~You think sol"
sT'm certain Of Il We must not
ocee sight 81 the fact that while there
HI Ia that body there II always
Hanger to N. Not much danger. l ad-
ndt-everything was managed too
Weal IN the flrst instance. But still
kIore Ii danger, and Z danger that
orows..
How grows?"
sBecause at the present moment the
snoWspapers Of the civilized world are
~ oE your name: because the eyes
- whole world are directed to-
sra his house Ia Regents Park"
fhere 10 something In that. Wilson.
~ thought - that II the body
actually b found, then Miss
Would know, with the rest OF
uueId. that the fellow was actual
Could that be managed7"