Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-10-22
CHAPTER XIV.
CAUGHT In His Own Trap.


motionless. His scheme had failed
His friend, innocent and guilty at the
same time though he might be, was
doomed.
Swiftwind was no longer under any
ones orders but even If he should &c
To General Crook, Of what advantage
would his appeal be unless backed VI
by the authority Of Colonel Gray?
With a deep sigh, he stopped and
picked up the coat, the insignia OF the
position he had abandoned, and leav-
ing the coloners quarters, made his
way with a heavy heart toward the
chief surgeons house.
He must tell Sherwood that he nc
longer had an assistant.
1t was his custom to enter without
knocking, and he did so now.
There was no one in the hall.
He crossed the room to hang his coat
upon one of a row of pegs which had
been placed there for such purposes.
The coat, by some mischance, or pos
sibly good chance as it turned out, fell
to the floor.
Swiftwind bent over to raise it, and,
as re did so, his keen eye fell upon
small cleaning object that lay there
close to the coat. He picked 1t up
and saw that it was a hypodermic
needle.
Instantly II came to him that this
was find which could not be ignored.
1t might be key to the enigma OF
which he had not yet found the true
solution.
He examined it carefully and a cry
of horror broke from his lips. Every
think was now plain to him.
With a jerk he turned and after a
glance about him to see that he was
not observed, rapidly ascended the
stairs, and, after knock at Florence
Sherwood's door. entered the room.
Sherwood had failed in his search.
He could not find his assistant on
whom he so strongly depended. Some
how his brain refused to work, and
with tagging step. he returned to his
own house. Just as he entered the
hall, Helen Dare came in from the
back way, bright and rosy from her
mornings walk.
The sight Of her reused him to him
self. After all she was the one thing
he cared for, the one thing for which
he had inperiled his soul.
"Nell!" he cried, starting forward.
She shrank away from him, with
loathing on her face and in her atti-
tude.
Don't touch mel"
He drew back.
II won't" he said piteously and alb
jectly. II won't, If you don't wish It..
Oh" his eyes devouring her; "how l
have dreaded to come back here,
dreaded to find the deadly fever run
ming through your veins. But no, you
are there, calm, cold and repellant.
But" with a gasp. II like it. For 1t
tells me that you are safe. The fatal
hour is past. and all danger for you
is over"
And then ne burst into q peal of
laughter which was not far removed
from that of a maniac.
Helen Dare looked at him and rec
ognized his condition. Abhorrent as
he was to her, and doubly so now, she
was not in the least alarmed. She was
not an unsophisticated girl, but a
woman. whom the vicissitudes Of life,
miserable enough in her case, had
armed at all points.
Disguised as she was, she felt her
self quite capable Of dealing with the
situation.
Sidney Sherwood" she said, with
slow scorn, ARE you mad?"
"Mad?" he repeated. with another
low, hideous laugh. Mad? Yes!
was mad when l left you years ago.
Mad again when I found you. Mad
with passion and despair. Mad now
with joy that you are safe. Mad, mad
now that 1 have lost you forever, and
forever lost myself"
His voice, which had risen to a
shrek in this wild uttering now died
away in an inarticulate moan, and he
shivered and covered his face with his
hands.
But Helen, who had no patience with
such raving. and who. moreover, was
determined now for the sake of others
to unmask him and discover the truth
advanced bravely toward him and tore
away his hands.
stop this wild babble. and look al
mel" she commanded.
He tried to raise his eyes, but they
fell before the stern, relentless accusa-
ton in hers.
We'll. WELL" he said, haltingly, moi
realizing the confession OF the truth
there was in his words, "do you mean
to accuse me?"
Yes" she answered, looking full in
t. his face, which was ghastly in Its
covering acknowledgment Of guilt
Yes! Do you think a person who has
yassed through the fearful courses OF
that disease does not know its symp-
tCms?"
She paused. and towering above him
like a very Nemesis of his misdeeds
raised her hand and pointed upward
toward the room where Florence lay.
THAT woman is dying of cholera!'
We'll. even so," replied Sherwood
shaking from head to foot and with
a strange, wild glare in his eyes. IAN
l responsible?"
Yes" replied Helen, boldly. "fl
stake my hopes of future salvation up
on it. In some way, aided by that skill
and scientific knowledge for which yol
are noted, you have brought this poor
confding. unsuspecting creature to hel
death. Dog" her horror and hatred
Of the wretched being before her sud
denly getting the better Of her, dos
that snaps the caressing hand! How
did l ever think you a man.
Sherwood stepped back as thougf
some one had struck him. and then N
burst into a horrible, maniacal peal o