The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-05-09

LILIES

~, but no one had called for a
ink. The silence was hard to
ak.
he Colonel did not look down
8 IN the ceiling, and the Second In
e, lmand did not look up from the
tcr, when Steel entered, and the
utant and | did not say anything.
What did he die Off" the Adju-
I mt asked at length, and the Colo
Lyl looked down quickly, and the
Second in Command looked up. War
ren, of the Artillery, had been late
for his wedding with Miss Craven
that morning. and when they went
to look for him they found him dead
in his bungalow, staring hard at
nothing, as II he saw death come. It
was the Second In Command who
went In first. They had always been
friends You could count Warren's
friends on the fingers of one hand
What did Warren die Off" Steel
drew with his finger on tbs table. as
II he were making a temperature
chart. That is what | want you fell
lows to tell me-"
The Colonel leaned forward. ~
doctor never knows, of course" he
said with some undercurrent of
meaning that / could not follow;
"but It's his business to pretend that
he does"
His eyes and Steel's met. The
Colonel has strong eyes, but Steel's
are stronger. IF the doctor won't
pretend" he retorted, there's al
inquest"
Good heavens, mani" the Second
in Command jerked out, you're not
going to have any fooery of that
sort?"
Steel drew another temperature
chart-fever, with the line running
up high and coming to a sudden stop.
We knew 1t.
you needn't call it an inquest un-
less you like" he offered; but I'm
going to settle this by myself. Shall
we do It here and now?"
The Colonel glanced at him under
his thick eyebrows and nodded, and
the Second in Command nodded, and
hooded, and the Adjutant nodded.
But l don't know what it's all
about" he protested.
Neither" | said, do L."
II think" said Steel, the Colonel
1H7 the Second could guess. Per-
rs you'll put the case, Colonel?"
It's no use putting guesses," the
onel objected, "and I've no wish
y)ut any case at all. You've asked
sls it. Go on"
Very we'll" Steel lit a cigarette,
took few slow draws, and threw It
impatiently away. 81 don't want to
put the case either, butts this
Warren was to have married Miss
Craven this morning If she didn't
mind. there was no reason why he
should" Steel shrugged his shoul-
ders ever so slightly, and the Second
in Command drew himself up rig
idly.
''He was my friend" he remarked,
with the ring of combat in his voice.
He knew that we didn't like War
ren.
81 was merely disposing of the
theory Of suicide" Steel explained.
II know he was your friend, and
I'm sorry. A quarter of an hour after
he was due at the church, he Is found
dead. apparently Of heart failure.
He did die OF heart failure. Most
people do; but we only call 1t that
when we can't find any reason why
the heart failed. The symptoms al
low me to put II down to that. They
also allow me to put 1t down to an
other cause-only one. That cause
Is the inhaling of certain drug 1t
isn't known to European medical
science, and I'm not going to make
1t known. They know 1t we'll enough
IN India-Warren came from India:
so did Miss Craven"
II object to that remark" inter-
posed. Miss Craven is a friend of
mine, and very nearly the incest girl
at the station; and she was engaged
to him. There's no need to drag her
In"
That" said the Colonel, is the
qestion, take it?" He looked at
Steel; and Steel nodded
THE whole question" he said,
shutting his mouth with a snap.
Surely" the Second in Com
mand began, "is there any need tc
90 on with this? He-he was my
friend; and he was engaged to her
and-Suppose she broke II off, OF
anything, and that upset him. Het
rather US leave things alone. What'i
the good Of going into it, Steel?'
Steel set his lips and contracted hi.
forehead once or twice, and tapped
slowly with his finger on the table.
II 1t were Just case of breaking
1t off-and she didn't care for him
I'd leave 1t alone, right enough
Look here! / found Warrens littl,
dog curled up behind the curtains
stone dead. Heart failure, too. Fun
ny little beast he was, Remembe
how he used to howl when Warrel
fused over herr There was Just
faint scent about the room when
noticed carefully like the odor o