The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-07-09

Dr. Bonds bearded lip curled in a sad derision that woke Caleb's smould- ering antagonism into flame. With a sudden insane impulse the Fighter knelt on the edge of the bed and caught uI the pitifully still little hands.
 "Dey"' he cried. his great rough voice echoing through the dreadful hush of the room.
 Bond opened his mouth to protest; then shrank back to the wall, staring in heavy wonder.
 .DeyI" called the Fighter again, an agony of command in his tone. "Dey! Come back!"
 It was not the fail of a weak nature vainly summoning the Lost to return. Rather it was the sharp, fierce call o1 the officer who by sheer force of ac- cepted rulership rallies his stricken men. Sublimely imperious, backed by will of chilled steel and by a men, tality that had never been successfully baked. the Fighters voice resounded again and again in that harsh, dorni- neering order:
 "Deyi Come back!"
 Calling upon his seemingly dead love to re-enter the frail flesh she was even now quitting, Conover threw into his appeal the vast strength that was his and the immeasurably enforced power of his despair and adoration. He held the white hands gripped tight to his chest; his face close to the silent girls his light eyes blazing into hers; his  pressure upon drawing an answering sign from the lifeless form.
 Tt is madnessn' muttered the doc tor; infected nevertheless by the dominant magnetism that played about the Fighter and that vibrated through every tone of his imperative voice. Tt is madness. She is dead, or"
 Conover did not heed nor hear. He had no consciousness for anything save this supreme battle of his whole nate mastership within him which for years had subdued strong men to his will had been as nothing to the name less power that love was now enabling him to put forth.
 From the threshold of death,-yes, from the grave itself,-she should come at his call: this little, silent wisp of humanity that meant life and heaven to him.
 The red haired man was fighting.
 He had always been fighting. But the fercest of his campaigns had hith- erto been as child's play by compari- son with this contest with the Un- known. Once again he was taking the Kingdom of Heaven by violenceI" This time literally.
 The mad whim had possessed him through no conscious volition of his own; and he had acted upon it with out reflection. He was matching his mortal power against the Infinite
 
 could not be done: what the most hysterical spiritualist had never claim ed power to achieve. He was trying, by force of personality and sheer de- sire, to check the flight of a soul upon the Borderland.
 And over and over again his voice swelled. untiring, through the room, in that one all-compelling demand:-a de- mand that held no note of entreaty, nor of aught else save utter. fierce domination.
 "DeyI Come backy'
 The doctor. scared, irresolute. slipped from the room. This type of mania was outside his experience. In time it would wear itself out. In the mean while. his nerves could not endure the sound of that ceaseless calling: the sight of the tense. furiously masterful face.S
 It was two hours later that Dr. Col fax. the first of the summoned New York specialists. arrived. Jack Ha- warden met him at the entrance of the hotel and briefly explained the case
 'I wish,'' the boy added, you would go in and see what you. can do for MT Conover. I'm afraid he has lost his mind. I looked into the room several times and
 He shuddered at the picture conjured up. His nerves had gone to pieces.
 "It was terrible" he went on "I didn't dare interrupt him. He was crouching there, holding her close to him and looking at her as if he'd drag her spirit by main force back into her body And all the time he was saying over and over-'
 "I will go up,'' said the specialist cutting in on the narrative. Even if the local physician did not complete full examination to make sure she was dead. such insane treatment would destroy any chance of life. Show me the way"
 Together they entered the sick-room. Conover had not stirred. Through the closed door they mad heard the hoarse rumble of his eternal commando
 'Deyi Come backr'
 Dr. Colfax walked briskly across to the bed.
 "Herel" he said. addressing Caleb in the sharp tones used for arousing the delirious. ''This won't do! You must!'
 He paused; his first idle glance at Desiree's pale face changing in a flash to one of keen professional interest. point where it was enEulfed in Caleb's great hand: held it for an instant; then, turning. flung open his black medical case.
 Jack. who had fingered at the door, hurried forward on tiptoe-
 ''You don't mean-?" he whispered quaveringly.
 "The local physician was mistaken returned pr. Colfax in the same key. 'tOr he-' he hesitated.
 'T have heard of such cases" he murmured in wonder. But I only know of two that are authentic. It is more probable that she was merely in a collapse. I can inquire later"
 While he talked. he had been select ing and, filling hypodermic needle. Now, stepping past Conover, who had not noted the newcomers presence. he pressed the needle-point into Desiree's forearm.
 "You really think then?" cried Jack.
 ''I think it is worth a fight"' snapped the doctor. Go down and see if my nurse has come. left her at the sta tion She could not walk fast as I. Go out quietly. This man doesn't even know we are here, but I don't want to take any chance just yet of break ing hjs influence Time enough for that when the digitalis begins to act"
 Caleb Conover stretched himself and sat m He felt oddly weak and de-