Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-09-24
CHAPTER V.

headed with tiny drcpS winch Snone with
the lustre of pearls in the sunlight. She
was bareheaded, and she stood in an
attitude which might have expressed
defiance or nervousness or both.
81 saw you in the grounds" she said,
"and came down purposely to speak to
you. 1t was my only chance; they would
have been on the watch an hour later"
Gaude's eyes met hers, his wearing
a look of quiet inquiry.
They are humbugging you" the girl
said shortly-NLord and Lady Delisle,
mean. They have humbugged Alick
Lorrin too; but not me. Listen to me,
Dr.. Surtees-they have lied to you about
my sister"
Miss Vassie," the young man replied
very gently, II have examined your sis
ter, and grieve to say that her present
state of health is due to alcohol poison
ing. Does it sound cruel to your Let
me assure you that it would be far more
cruel for me to hide the truth from you.
What Lady Delisle tells me confirms my
own observation"
Il dare say" the girl said scornfully.
THE thing is a disease like any other
disease" Claude continued. "Your sis
ter, / am sure, will obey my orders. No
blame or shame will attach to her.
believe l shall cure her. l will dare to
promise to do So"
"Thanksl" Irma said with the same
fierce scorn. ''1f you are to cure her, if
you are to save her, yon must know the
truth" che cried.
Eyes," Claude said gravely
'Very well, then / will tell you. Dr..
Surtees, you must dismiss all you have
been told about my sister from your
mind. And if you listen honestly and
dndly-as / believe you will do-you
must see that am speaking the truth"
But, Miss Vassie, / myself am con-
WINGED that your sister has been in the
habit of taking alcohol in excess"
THE alcohol has been administered TO
her without her own knowledge" Irma
said scornfully.
"How would that be possible, Miss
WASHER You yourself and Lady Delisle
have been with her constantly, have you
motif"
"Just SO; Lady Delisle has been with
her constantly" Irma said, "but I have
not. 1t is only few weeks since / came
home after an absence of eight months.
and | came home because | feared that
all was not well with Kathleen, though
did not expect anything quite so dia-
pollcas as the truth. l received a letter."
che went on after a minutes hesitation,
which limited to me that 1 ought to be
with Kathleen"
You received letter? Some one else
shared your suspicious ?"
Yes, Viscount Gaxtmore"
"Viscount Gartmore warned YOU
biS ~ h.
She is not his mother. She ia De.
isles second wife. She was our nursery
goyerness when we were children. and
she came here with us. She was married
to Lord Delisle seven or eight years ago"
but, Miss Vassie, it is extraordinary.
She has known you and your sister all
your life. What motive could she have
for doing such dreadful thingp
She has motive" Irma said with
anger and scorn in her voice. "Gartmore
told me, and ] ieaow it is true It is
because of our money. My father left
q good deal of money-more too Kath-
leen than to me, for she is the elder.
Gartmore believes that his father can.
not account for the money; it was left
IN his care, and we are to get it when
we marry, or when we reach the age of
10 unmarried. Gartmore knows that his
fathers affairs are in bad way. and he
believes that Lady Delisle has made this
plot; he overheard conversation be-
tween them"
But it is terrible charge to bring
against them, Miss Vassie, and cannot
see why the desire to KEEP you and your
SISTER from marrying should"
Don't you seer" Irma interrupted
with stamp of her foot. "Alick Iorrin
ioVes Kathleen-they are engaged,
though Lord and Lady Delise say they
are not. Don't you see that they know
mat she-that she has fixed on this as
The surest means of estranging himY"
1t has not done that" Claude said.
remembering the look in Lorrin's honest
Light eyes.
All, but it will Even if his love
lasts how could he marry her? Suppose
they have been successful-suppose the
IiaVng has really been made part Of
ner Poor little Kathleen! Oh, DR..
ourtees, you'll help me to save Kathleen
you'll help me to make her happy!"
certainly, my dear Miss Vassie, GER
tainly | will do everything in nv
power, believe me. have little doubt l
snau be able to cure your sister. but If
nave seemed to you unsympathetic you
usC make allowances for my very nat
Ial surprise. The whole thing is SO
y1t[aoralnary. SO amazing. You and
',scount Gartmore have ocular know
eage that alcohol is being administered
70 your sister without her knowledge %
for answer Irma slipped her hand into
er pocket and drew forth a little card
board box.
.t lnese are capsules which Dr. St. Clair
the last doctor we had-ordered for
aSathieen. Please cut one of them, DR..
0urtees, and look what is inside it!'
C1aede took out his penknife and slit
one OF the egg-shaped pellets. The dark
3 s,uL1 inside it was, he perceived, moth
more harmful than a mixture of iron
@ilo various other substances generally
recommended in cases of anaemia. He
40o aa perplexedly at Irma.
open another!" the girl said. let
60 little deeper in among the
A4HQQe OOona1 >