Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1911-09-06


office.
When Stafford looked out to call
The lady with the bad throat he did
not see the girl.
Flora breathed sigh OF relief. She
was not sure and she did not want to
look in his questioning face. when
1t comes mothers turn I'll wait on the
landing for her." she thought.
At that moment there was q soft
step on the landing, the outer door
opened and small, pale man, with
preternaturally bright and luminous
black eyes, came in and paused by
Flora's chair. He addressed her in a
quiet, even voice.
II have just had message from
heaven to put an end to every doctor
in the world. / saw DR.. Stafford's
sign and l have come up to kill him.
Is he in?"
For an instant Flora's heart stood
still. "The doctor has not come yet"
she said, pleasantly, when it resumed
Its beating, "but it will not be long
until he comes. He went to the coun-
Try QlO ne not, LaV1n1a
Lavinia's dry lips opened stifdy.
"Yes'm, he's in the country" they
faltered
$50 you're going to kill him?" went
on the girl quickly.
('Dear Lord-show me what to dol"
ran her thoughts.)
"Oh, won't that be fun. Tell us how
you are going to do it,"
Her forehead was wet with a cold
perspiration, but she forced herself
to smile at the lunatic.
The man looked into her brown
eyes with an answering smile. Il am
going to shoot him."
won't you show me your revol-
ver?" she breathed, laying one slen-
der, ice-cold hand persuasively on his
arm.
"Over by the window" she amend
ed as he took a small revolver out of
his pocket. ''It is so dark here and l
want you to explain the workings Of
it to me-"
Obediently he followed her to the
window. Their backs were to the
other three, but Flora knew that her
mother lay in her chair in a swoon.
Would Rick Ashbrook or Lavinia man
age to get help in time? Would they
think to warn DR.. Stafford?
The splitting of the fire in the stove
was like thunder in her ears, but
above it she heard the light tipping
Of rubbered feet. She laughed to
cover the sound.
Women know SO little about fire,
arms, she cried, merrily. Where is
it you put the cartridges ?"
If Rob did open the door could she
strike the thing that meant his death
from the maniac's hands? O for the
presence Of the big man they had met
on the stairs, or even William, their
coachman, holding the horse below
big stalwart black William
After what seemed years she heard
a dOOrknOb turn Her heart stood
still, but it was the outer door and
before she could turn her head the
police of the town and three other
big fellows were upon the lunatic and
graphing with him, while the revol-
yer fell to the floor
The inner door opened hastily and
the intended victim came out. With
little gasping cry Flora ran to him
and flung her arms about his neck.
you've had narrow escape, Stat
ford, one of the men volunteered a
moment later, when, the demented
man safely shackled, the other start
ed down the steps with him. "This
crazy gentleman came up here to kill
you, he said, and if the young lady
hadn't had the presence of mind, after
he told his business, to talk and en-
terrain him while young Ashbrook
and your maid slipped down for us,
you'd have been a dead one the min
ute you opened that door,"
With shudder Stafford frightened
his hold about the girl clinging to
him and sobbing.
20, Rob-" she burst out, stormily.
"He might have killed you! He might
have killed you'll"
"And you would have cared?" he
murmured, his heart beating suffocat
ingly. cit isn't fair to ask you, Flo,
when you're so shaken, but I'd love
to know if by this time you're sure
you love me-"
20 Rob, l don't know!" she cried,
burying her wet face in his white Of
fee coat. "But I would have died if
you had been killed."