Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-01-16
CHAPTER XVIII.

This event gave me no little anxiety
at first. but it wore off when | came to
consider it calmly. | could not believe
in the mans statement respecting a Grim
inal charge in reserve. 1t was not likely
he would keep back the stronger induce
ment in leading to a compromise AS for
his witness to prove that Audrey had
been instrumental to my delay, that was
nothing; he could get many witnesses
of that kind as he chose at a pound a
head. No; it seemed to me nothing but
mere attempt at extortion, got up,
probably, by Yeames, his mother and
Bax, who thought. very likely, that l
should be rascal enough to stand in with
them.
| fattered myself that l had shown
Bax the folly of his proceedings" and
that | should neither see nor hear any
more of him or his criminal charges. And
this belief was strengthened when two
days later Lynn Yeames appeared in
Coneyford, and his mother returned to her
cottage.
He went the very morning of his ar
rival to DR.. Audrey. and in the after
noon | saw them going along the High
Street together, Lynn with his arm linked
in Awdrey's. They We're going towards
the farm to see about some alterations
and improvements that had occurred to
the doctor in the others absence. | felt
sure then that the intimidation scheme
was abandoned.
Nothing occurred for several days but
on Friday, the Goth of March, Miss Dial
rymple called upon me. She was as pale
.'Oh. Mr.. Keenei ~ she exclaimed, what
is the meaning of these rumors2"
"Sit down, my DEAR" said l, guessing
what she meant. "Sit down; now tell me
what it is you have heard"
'srhey say that DR.. Audrey prevented
you from arriving at the house in time for
Mr.. Flexmore to sign his will. A man
has confessed to being employed by him."
Il have heard nothing about that. Have
you heard anything else?"
"Oh. yes, yes! They say that the med
icne he gave me to administer to Mr..
Flexmore was''-she hesitated a moment.
and dropping her voice so that it was
scarcely audible, said-'poisonedw
| started This, then, was the criminal
charge Bax had limited at.
"Who told you this?" l asked, when 7
had overcome the first dash of astonish-
ment.
Mrs Caseby came to tell me- She
thought that l ought 10 know"
L know what is in your mind" said
|. "You do not wish Awdrey TO know
what you have told me- Be under no
apprehension; lawyer knows how TO
keep a secret when it suits him. Leave
the matter in my hands, and by tomorrow
morning you shall have news of some
kind-good news, / feel pretty sure"
/ lost no time in seeing DR.. Awdrey :
on my way to his house l settled how to
act.
''Well, Audrey" said L when we met,
show is the world using you?"
Pretty much the same as usual-only
more So he said with laugh; and then
IN tone of perplexity he continued: II
can't quite make it out. l have received
three letters to-day asking for my &C
count and all three have employed me
only about a month. l suppose it's a po-
lite way Of telling me that l am not want
ed any more"
That's it." said I, "and the reason is
that you are accused of throwing me out
of a gig, and poisoning poor old F'lex-
more"
What" he exclaimed, knitting his
brows in establishment.
ITS fact. The rumor is circulating.
You'll have none but your paupers to
doctor at the end of the week.
I'm glad of it, said he, IF the rest
will listen to such nonsense as that"
I'VE shall have to take measures to
disprove the charge, DOCTOR" said 1.
Then don't lose any time about it, IS
said he. Poor Nurse Gertrude, - he add
ed tenderly, thinking doubtless of the af-
front he had received being offered to
her Then in tone OF vexation he ask
ed. How long have you known this,
keene:"
We'll, | heard something about 1t more
than week ago"
why didn't you tell me at once?"
Because l thought it merely a scheme
TO eStort money. A man named Bax
spoke about it. He tells me ne is a friend
of the Yeames family"
He went off at once to find Lynn. And
not long afterwards l caught sight of the
pair in the High street, Lynn with his
arm linked through the Doctors, and a