Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-14
The A1tenburg Case.
Bv GEORGE DYRE EiDRIDGE.
COPYRIGHT 1909 By GEORGE

self off the town in his old age, he held
1t legitimate to increase expenditure step
by step with income.
That's the way he put it, Ito create
interest in your keeping on living If
there's something nobody can get hold of
till you're dead, they'll want you dead.
l shouldn't expect to be murdered, but
I don't want to become temptation.
For country town like Lanceboro his
rooms were actually rather luxurious
For instance, he had set the pace with
Turkish rug for his sitting room. and
couches and chairs that invited to a
greater restfuness than usually falls to
the lot of Woodworking country doctor
His taste was. possibly. not of the purest
but much could be forgiven on the score
of subdued colors. and when there was
added. of an evening. the dance of the
freight and the softening of the as
sertive glare of the electric bulb by a
simple shade. one saw that 1t needed
only the touch of woman's hand to
make the room something more than
merely habitable.
Grimbleshaw was incased in long,
soft wooden robe: his armchair was am
pie and comfortable. and his slippered
feet were raised from any possible floor
drafts to toast pleasantly before the
wood fire. The whisky at his elbow was
far better than is sold in no-license
towns like Lanceboro, and the unlish,ed
cigar had an air of contributing its share
to the equalization of outgo with income.
"A
covered disease. which was rapidly be-
coming fashionable. lay ostentatiously be-
side a modestly bound novel, that might.
however. be depended on to hold it's own
in the struggle of duty with inclination.
Grimbleshaw took up the cigar with the
loving touch Of one who foregathers the
JOY of the first breath of sweet smoke.
when
'"Tingle, Jingle. Jingle" went the tele-
He turned partly around and glanced
at the instrument obviously.
There's nobody sick enough to want
me as badly all that he muttered.
spea king as a lover of ease TO himself.
cursed with the conscience of a doctor.
..Tingle-ingle-ingle-in went
the bell in mad riot of demand
"oh. Lord" he grumbled. IF it's as
bad as that she'll be dead before l can
possibly get there
His use of the feminine pronoun be-
spoke experience.
Just as he reached the telephone an
other mad tumult began, and he got the
full buzz and rattle of 1t through the re-
ceiver.
Eyes. yes, yes! I'm here.'' he called.
Eyes. this is one. naught, four; who
wants me-"
innocent squeak of the central demon
Hello"
Hello! Is that Dr. Grimbleshaw?"
Yes. Go ahead"'
There's been a-buzz-z-z-z-z-z- Man
-buzz-z-z head; buzZ-z-Z come buzz-z-Z
Hold on. / can't hear you Grimble-
shaw interrupted. IF you'd talk in your
natural voice we might get ahead. Start
over again.
There's been an accident; yes I've
got that. You'll have to repeat the rest"
AN accident: mans neck broken?
Oh. head! Put on some sticking
What? Skull fractured. you think? In
sensible? Can't you be sensible enough
to talk in your natural voice? Yes. I've
got that much-that there's been an acct
dent and you think the mans skull is
fractured and that's he's insensible. Don't
ring off. you idiot! You haven't hold me
where you are. Where? John Oily
what? Say. are you trying to disguise