The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-08-21

aI. llldL UlUluSuI u0 was SuulIuOu0u
hurriedly to Miss Westons room and
was handed g. telegram from Mac
! Ardel which read:
Keep away from that hole and do
nothing till you get my letter. Your
life may depend on it. Wire If you
wish me to come"
The messenger was waiting and,
+. with no thought Of the letter to which
he referred, but only to hasten the
time when some one would be with
me to whom l could talk. replied
with the single word. Come" ..
CHAPTER XIV.
/ - A Drive In the Storm.
I! A moment later the doctor returned
hurriedly to the library for his medi-
+, cine case and said:
Il wish we could get consultation
here in the country" he continued,
measuring out some powders with
critical air and depositing them on
bits Of paper which he had cut for the
purpose. Most Of the deaths In this
part Of the world are from accident or
old age, and man with large city
practice and extensive hospital expe-
rience might possibly suggest some
means OF prolong.ng her life for a
time. We cannot hope to save her.
but wish we could keep her till Car
ney comes"
Il have telegraphed my friend Mac
Ardel to come and help me solve the
mystery of the place." ventured eau
tlously, not wishing to hurt his poo-
fessional pride. you know he was
with me here last summer and we had
a number of very peculiar experiences
then, so he knows a good deal about
1t already, and I thought we could
work together to advantage. Perhaps
he could be of service to you at the
same time"
"The very mani" exclaimed the doc
tor. II know him well by reputation.
When will he arrive?" -. !,
IF my wire is delivered promptly he
can get here on the midnight train," I
replied. II know he will start at once,
for sent for him at his own sugges-
ton, in response to letter from me
telling him OF the tunnel affair, and I
think he has some very definite the
cries on the subject.
-. Gust the thing!". cried the doctor,
picking up the powders and hurrying
toward the door. LET me know the
minute he sets foot in the house. I
shall be here all night"
AS he left the room l strove to COL
lect my scattered thoughts and deter
mine the present aspect of the situa-
ton. If, the widow could not write,
who, in heavens name, did send the
notes? 1t did not appear probable that
the doctor was wrong in what he had
said, and, moreover, the statement
served to explain the merriment Of
jerks when had accused her directly
of being the author of the letters.
Still, she had assumed all RESPONSE
bility for them, which was tantamount
to writing them as far as their prac-
tical features were concerned, and I
finally decided that if they were not
her own work they must have been
written at her dictation, which really
amounted to the same thing.
I spent the afternoon in the library,
hoping that might see Miss Carney
and at least offer her my sympathy in
her present trouble, even if said no
more at this time, but she did not
come down stairs during the entire
day, and at dinner she sent me word
by Mrs. Randolph that DIR. MacArdel
would be very welcome, not only be.
cause had asked him to come, but for
himself as well, and in the hope that
he might be of benefit to Miss Weston.
The storm had increased steadily all
day but, in spite Of its fury and the
drifts that were piling UP and block
ing the roads at every point, 1 an
nounced my determination to go with
the sleigh to meet MacArdel.
You'd better not try to bring three
people back through the drifts said
the doctor, who had just come in for
bite and cup Of coffee. you can't
drive two horses to advantage in this
weather, and if you insist upon going
why don't you take my mare and cut
ter and go alone? She's been in the
stable all day and she knows every
inch of the road, so If you just give
her her head she'll bring you through
all right. You'd better take my storm
coat and gloves, too, for you'll find the
wind pretty cold after you've been in
It bit"
Although l had but two miles or
thereabouts to travel from the house
to the railway station j made an early
start and had the horse at the door
before ten o'clock. The doctor came
down to see me off and gave me few
parting words of advice.
AS l opened the door it was almost
blown out CT my hand by the force OF
the wind and great sheets Of snow and
sleet came sailing in, under the prote.
cochere and half way down the hall.
bundled myself up in the doctors
great fur coat and surrounded myself
with his rugs. and then, bowling my
head to the fury of the gale, did as
had heen tn1d and Lot tho mara