Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-04-30
CHAPTER VIII.
A Mystery of Life.


whose lucid interval, they discovered
had net yet passed. On seeing his
daughter he asked, but in a dull, life
less voice, if she had done what he
wished, and Mary fastened to assure
him that she had complied with his
request She tried to talk with him.
but he seemed to fall asleep almost at
once, as if he was tired out.
Christabel had noticed that his
eyes, when he had spoken to his
daughter, were wandering and luster-
less, and showed no sign of that
strange and uncanny intelligence
which had marked them on the pre-
vious night when the delusion was
strong upon him.
Mary and Christabe1 sat for two
hours, scarcely speaking to each 9TH
er, and then Mary left her, explaining
that Lady Sisterson insisted on her
being at luncheon, but she sent to the
sick room an armful of magazines and
new books by the fOotman who
brought CEristabels food to her.
All that afternoon Sir John lay sunk
in a state OF coma-like one who was
dead. About five o'clock Lady Sister
son appeared, and with her was Lord
Meldon He had not expected that
Sir John could survive the accident
for more than a few hours. yet here
he was still alive after fifteen days
had elapsed. Was there not just pos
sibility that Sir John would recover?
More amazing things had happened in
these days of advanced medical
science. Was there absolutely no
chance of getting that check for 6 So
900 for the party funds? Such
thoughts were in his mind as he gazed
on the unconscious figure lying mo-
tionIess on the bed before him.
Lord Meldon was of the world
worldly. Had any one accused him of
this he would have smiled sardonical-
ly without troubling to defend him
self Yet the motor car accident, Of
which he had been in some sort an
eyewitness. had aroused in him gen
uine human interest in Sir john that,
for the moment, grew keen again.
rs he always like that?" he asked,
in a low voice that was not devoid of
sympathy, for the sight of the piteous
wreck of what had once been vigor-
Gus body and a striking personality
so moved him that he almost forgot,
temporarily. that game of life he play
ed so skilfully and well-the game he
thought was the only thing in life.
NO" replied Lady Sisterson; mot
always. He is sometimes awake and
alert, with his mind quite clear That
is the case generally in the forenoon.
Then he seems to fall asleep and be-
comes as inanimate as he is now"
you have had, no doubt, the very
best advice. Ella?" he asked.
j Yes. of course. Two or three spe-
ciaIists have seen him, but they were
not encouraging. Sir William Smith
ers has called several times. says very
little, and goes away again. But as
Sir Johns resident doctor we have
kept DR.. Flint, the surgeon who first
ATTENDED him after the accident. He
hevotes the whole of his time to Sir
LJohD and lives in the house, so that
he is always at hand in the event of
crisis. His appearance is rather
hgainst him, perhaps, but he seems a
clever, capable man"
Flint remember him perfectly"
said Lord Meldon, somewhat surpris-
ed to hear that the surgeon to whom
he had from the first taken a strong
dislike had been retained as Sir Johns
epaciaI medical man. las you say,
Ella he went on, his appearance is
against him, but if you are satisfied
with him that is everything"
Maxwell has high opinion OF him,
and I think well of him myself. He
gave UP all his other patients to be
with Sir John"
Il see" said Lord Meld,0n, thinking
it was highly probable that Flint did
not have many patients to give up.
DO YOU know much about him."
Maxwell made inquiries, believe
said Lady Sisterson, a little stifly.
Or. Flint is greatly interested in Sir
Johns case, and is constantly study
ing it. am sure he does all that can
be done"
Lord Meldon bowed, and seeing that
for some reason or another Lady Sis
terson appeared to be offended, he
dropped the subject. Talking of 9th
err matters they withdrew.
Lord MedOn's impression of Sir
John was that he could live for a short
time only, for he saw that he was
greatly wasted and evidently was
doomed. He dismissed, therefore, Sir
John from his calculations forever;
Sir John would never sign that check
for 100000. This was the Lord Mel
don who was the pulIer of strings; as
a plain human being, mortal like 9TH
er mortals, he was sorry enough for
Sir John, but it was not sorrow that
would last very long.
In the evening Mary Sisterson, who
had looked in twice for few minutes
> during the afternoon, took her turn of
watching Sir John during the dinner
hour. and Christabel Joined Lady
Sisterson. Maxwell Sisterson, Anato-
witch and Flint at dinner. AS before
there was not much general couversa-
ton, but, also as before, she felt that
both Maxwell and Anatovitch often
looked at her-Maxwell boldly, Anato-
witch stealthily.
ST hope you enjoyed your drive,
nurse" said Maxwell to her in the