The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-03-20
CHAPTER %.
A Dark Saying.

The trimming cup of Joy has been
dashed from her very lips" thought
Lord Meldon.
After supporting the limp body of
Lady SistersoH for some seconds he
placed it gently OH the couch. as no
time was to be lost in summoning as
sistance both for her and for Sir John;
but as he rang a bell for servant he
could not help rejecting how often
Fate, the Great Ironist. made grim
play with the hopes and lives of men.
She will revive presently-all too
soon," he said to himself. looking at
her face, which was now ravished of
its transient youthfulness. and Won
dering to what event she would revive.
Was it that Sir John had been killed?
Lord Mcldon's nerves were of the
stcadicst, but the sharp, sudden. tragic
stroke had shattered his impassive,
diplomatic calm, and he shuddered as
he thought that the motor-car accident
had probably had its fatal issue. For
Sir John personally he cared very lit
tic. counting him no better than a
pawn in the game: but that he should
be struck down when at the very top
CT his life was horrible thing. At
the moment Lord Meldon did not even
think of the check for 100000 which
he was to have demanded as the price
of Sir Johns elevation to the peerage.
But it might be that Sir John was
not dead! The case cried for swift &C.
ton, and to see to it was the first and
most pressing necessity. Lady Sister
son could be safely left in the hands
of her women. He must go to Sir
John
AS the bell was not answered at
once he opened the door of the room,
which was on the first floor of the
house: from the hall below came a
confusion of voices. and, looking over
the stairs, he saw some men and
SSotHOlCu toSCluCI tdlhlllS dlu
gesticulating in frightened manner,
with ,Jephson. the footnlan, in the
center. The hall door stood open, and
drops of rain were being swept in by
the wind while two men were passing
out carrying an improvised stretcher.
Short as had been the interval be-
tween Jephson's sight of the accident
and that moment he had already
alarmed the household, and under the
leadership of the butler. an old and
trusted servant, who kept his head in
the midst of the alarm caused by the
catastrophe. measures had been quick
ly taken for bringing in the sufferers.
Rapidly descending the stairs. Lord
Meldon gave his approval of what was
being done. and asked the butler to
send Lady Sisterson's maid to her.
This terrible shock has been too
much for her ladyship." he explained;
she has tainted"
Then bareheaded he stepped briskly
into the rain. following the men with
the 5tretcher.
In reality only few minutes had
passed since the din of the explosion
had broken the silence of the square:
yet on the scene OF the accident, not
withstanGing the heavy downpour,
there was crowd of people. come TO-
gether after the miraculous fashion of
London crowds, which seem to spring
cut of the populous air. Rings of men
stood around the two figures lying
still and motionless upon the ground,
while another ring was formed about
the burning wreck of the motor-car.
The chauffeur is dead" Lord Mel.
don heard some one say, as he made
his way through the press of the
throng. "Sir John. then, is alive" he
thought, leaping to the conclusion
with all unwonted throb of emotion
In another instant he was STOPPING
cver the PROSTATE form.
Sir John lay on his side with a
g.l&stly face partly upturned. and his
eyes were stering but sightless; his
figure seemed to be shrunk in his
clothes, that were now becoming soak
cd with rain.
He still breathes,'' said man
bending down close to the body. Lord
Meldon heard the words with gladness
but could himself detect no sign Of
life. Then Sir John was placed by
his servants on the stretcher and
borne into his house.
Before following them Lord Mellon
keen motorist himself turned his at
tention hastily to the motor car ant
the roadway to ascertain how the &C
cident had occurred. The burning car
which was rapidly being consumed
could tell him nothing, but the cause
of tile accident was plain enough To-
any one to see; for in spite of the oh
literating rain there were still clearl!
marked the broad track of the skid
ding wheels across part of the road
and the great, wide splash Of mu,
where the car had struck violentl,
against the high curb and had beef
overturned.
"The car must have been going at
tremendous pace, surely" though
Lord Meldon. "or this would neve
have happened. And on such a day
Y ~ - = Nus .