Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1912-02-01
BY ANNA
A
GREENE
Copyright 1910.
BY Anna Katharine Rohlfs

grew very ervOus. She vas only hui
man; h was in a very trying posi-
ton, and she realized it. Where could
that book be? Suddenly she espied it
and, falling on her knees before the
trunk, with her back still to Carmel,
studied out the words she wanted.
h was leaning over the tray to write
these words in her notebook when-no
n eve knew how it happened-the
lid Of the heavy trunk fell forward and
its iron edge struck her on the nape Of
the neck with a keen blow which laid
her senseless. When Carmel reached
her side she found herself the strong
one and. her stalwart nurse the patient.
When help had been summoned, the
accident explained and everything
done for the unconscious woman which
medical skill could suggest Carmel,
finding a moment to herself, stole to
the trunk and, lifting up the lid. looked
in. She had been watchful of her
nurse from the first and was suspi-
cious Of the actions which had led to
this untoward accident. Seeing the
two little books, she took them out.
The notebook lay open. and on the
page thus disclosed she beheld written:
Ap Lox Fidestum Trubum
Ridiculous nol,sense-untiJ she COLI
suited the code. Then these detached
and meaningless words took on a Sig
n%ifcance which she could not afford to
ignore:
Ap-A change.
Lox-Makes remarkable statements.
Fidestum-Shall we return?
Trubum-Not tractable.
Carmel ~endeavored to find out for
whom this telegram was intended.
There was nothing to inform her. A
h moment of indecision was followed by
Quick action. She had noticed that
she had been invariably. addressed as
Miss Campbell by every n who had
come into the room.
Regaining her W room. which was
on the other side of their common sit
sing room, she collected a few neces-
sary articles and placed them in a
bag, which she thrust under her bed.
Hunting for money, she found quite
an adequate amount in her own purse,
which was attached to her person.
Satisfied thus far, she chose her most
inconspicuous hat and coat and, put
ting them on, went out by her own
door into the corridor.
The time-it was the dinner hour
favored her attempt. She found her
way to the Office unobserved and,
going frankly up to the clerk, in
formed him that she had some tele-
grams to send and that she would be
out for some little time. Would he see
that Miss Huckins vas not neglected
in her absence?
IT will see to it," said he. Then, as
she turned to go, be ventured to add:
ut is quite dark now. If you would
like n Of the boys to go with you
But he received 10 encouragement and
allowed his suggestion to remain un-
finished.
She looked grateful for this and was
pulling down her veil when she per
ceived two or three men on the other
side Of the room watching her in evil
dent wonder. Stepping back to the
desk, she addressed the clerk again,
this time with a marked distinctness:
II have been very i'll. l know. and
not always quite myself. But the
shock of this accident to my nurse has
cleared my brain and made me capa-
BILE again of attending to my af-
fairs You can trust me; I can do my
errands all right. but perhaps I had
better have Il of the boys go with
me-"
The clerk, greatly relieved, rang his
bell. With the first step into the street
Carmel's freshly freed mind began its
work. "Where is the railroad sta
tion?' she inquired of the boy who was
trotting along at her side.
"Over there" he answered vaguely.
"Take me to it."
The sight Of the station. from which
a train was just leaving, frightened
S1er for a moment with its hustle and
many lights. but she rallied under the
stress Of her purpose and. entering,
found the telegraph Office, from which
she sent this message, directed to her
physician at home, DR.. Carpenter:
Look for me on early train. All is clear
to me now, and I must return. Preserve
silence till we meet.
This she signed with a pet name
known only to themselves and dating
back to her childish days.
Then she bought a ticket and
studied the time table. When quite
satisfied she returned to the hotel.
She was met in the doorway by the
physician who was attending the nurse.
He paused when be saw her and
asked a few questions, which she was
penetrating enough to perceive We're
more for the purpose of testing her
own condition than to express interest
in his patient. She answered quietly
and was met by a surprise and curios-
ity which evinced that he was greatly
drawn toward her case. This alarmed
her. She did not wish to be the OBJ
ject of any ones notice. On the con-
trary, she desired to obliterate her.
GOLF tO no cOunted 0ut So FAR 0s all