Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-16

beckoned to the young man to follow him
into the library.
They called me in last night he said,
in reply to Luke's quick and anxious
query. "The butler-or whatever he may
be-told me that he was busy fastening
UP the front door preparatory to going to
bed. when he heard heavy thud pro-
ceeding from the library. He found his
master lying full length on the fioor-the
head had come In violent contact. as he
fell with the corner OF this table; blood
was trickling from a scalp wound, and
Lord Radcliffe himself was apparently
In q swoon. The man Is regular coward
and q fool besides. He left his master
lying just as he had fallen. out fortu-
nately he knew me and knew where to
find me- and within ten minutes i was on
the spot and had got Lord Radcliffe into
bed"
us it," asked Luke. anything serious?'
Lord Radcliffe has not been over
strong lately. He has had q great deal
to put up with. and at his age the system
Is not sufficiently elastic. or-how shall
put it?-sufficiently recuperative. to stand
either constant nerve strain or nagging
Worries"
'T don't know" interposed Luke. stifhy.
that my uncle has had either nerve
strain or worry to put up with.
Oh" rejoined the doctor. whose grun
IamlI1aflty Sc6IHeu 10 Luhc SchSitiNt
ear to be tainted with the least possible
note Of impertinence. II am an old friend
of your uncle, you know, and OF all your
family: there isn't much that has escaped
my observation during the past year
"You have not yet told me. doctor
said Luke. a shade more stiffly than be-
fore, what is the matter with Lord Rad
clyffe.'
There was distinct emphasis on the last
two words.
n. NYoutor,o, ,br,,uuad bis Shouldera
good humoredly.
Your uncle has had something I'm the
nature of q stroke" he said. bluntly, ana
he fixed keen. lig-- ,-colored eyes on those
Of Luke, watching the effect which the
news-baldly and crudely put-would have
on the young mans nerves. He was q
man with what Is known as fashionable
practice. He lived In HEREFORD street. and
his rounds were encircled by the same
boundaries as those Of the rest OF May
fair. He had had plenty Of opportunity
Of studying those men and women who
compose the upper grades of English So
ciety. They and their perfect sang froid.
their well drilled calm under the most
dire calamities. or most unexpected blows
had often caused him establishment when
he was a younger man, fresh from hos
pital work and from the haunts Of hum
bier folk. who had no cause or desire To
hide the depth of their feelings. Now he
was used to his fashionable patients apd
had ceased to wonder. and Luke's i'm
passiveness on hearing of his uncle's sud
den illness did not necessarily strike him
as Indifference.
us 1t serious?" asked Luke.
Serious. OF course" assented the
doctor.
do you mean that Lord Radclyffe's
life Is in danger"
AT sixty years Of age life is always In
danger
81 don't mean that" rejoined Luke.
with q slight show Of impotence. Is
Lord Radcliffe in immediate danger?"
NO. With great care and constant
nursing he may soon rally, though L
doubt if he will ever be as strong and
hearty as he was this time last year.
Then what about a. nurse?"
I'll send one down today, but
"Yes?"
lord Radclyffes present household IS
we'll, hardly adequate to the exigencies
of a long and serious illness-he ought
to have q day and a night nurse. can
send both. but they will want some wait
ing on. and. of course. proper meals aud
ordinary comforts
II can see to all that. Thank you for
your advice.
good and reliable cook is also neces-
sary-who understands invalid cooking
all that is most important
"And shall be attended to at once. Is
there anything else?"
Perfect rest and quiet of course. are
the chief things
and no one else Is likely to come near
him."
Except the police" remarked the doc
tor, dryly.
The pOlice?''
The grave events Of the night before.
and those that were ready to follow one
another in grim array for the next few
days had almost fled from Luke's memory
In face of the other-to him more serious
-calamity-his uncle's illness.
oh! All. yes!'' he said, vaguely. II
had forgotten"
CTo be continued tomorrow