The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-06-01
.MeMAN>m Me..
BROWN DERBY
90 -
Wells HASTINGS =
s0o Author Of cso0
The Professors Mystery
(0vshtls Ilby Bcbb1le"lI "a
CHAPTER XII.
(contlnued.)

The picture flashed grimly before
me now. as | sat gazing at my g.oved
hands, standing on the instant clear
and distinct before my mental VISION
as such pictures will. Ii had hap-
pened at school, when ! was a SEC
ond.former and IA years old, think.
was a newcomer, and, as l nave
said, not popular. One or the sixth
formers. a great meddlesome fellow
and the terror OF the smaller boys,
had stolen into my room at night, 10
drag me out 10 the hazing that most
new boys, and all unpopular ones. re-
ceived. | was asleep, and lac had
pinioned me so close and SO sudden
Is, that awoke with start, ana Jet
was unable TO strike; but in the aal X
ness and in the confusion my fingers
met his throat and only tisht6ned
there, II seemed 10 me, for a moment.
Yet he had fallen across me In me
dark, with twitching body and breath
that came So raspingly that, as | grew
wider awake, il filled me with con.
Germ. and struggled from beneath
HIM and made light. His eyes were
half open. half shut, and his lace
strange and blotchy | remember mat
called the master OF our floor that
here was a scurrying OF feet ana a
general lighting OF lights. and silly
confusion.
The doctor had come and spoken or
crushed bones in the throat" re
was around again in Il week or SO;
but onfg the fact that Il had hap
pened, in my own room saved me from
expulsion. | could get no one 20 be-
leve that I had but gripped aim FOR
A moment, when was stupid with
sleep. But il was the last PHYSICAL
trouble | had in school, and | had
never used my strength 10 the utmost
since that time. Ii had grown, | knew.
but never thought much about it; my
hands had made me shy, apd though
| had hoped in vain for friends, at
,eastI had never had an enemy, never
had all enemy until now: but hate had
come into my life almost hand IN
hand with love.
looked up to find Mrs. Lathrop
staring at me across the table. She
colored, but kept her eyes bravely
| upon mine.
| IL was you. Mr.. Ellsworth" she
said, Il should go little easy. That
| doctor deserves a good beating right
now, but il won't help either you Oh
anybody else to kill him"
| XIII him. ] questioned.
Yes" she said; isn't that what
you were thinking about? You nave
been sitting there for the last five
minutes looking like battle, murder
and sudden death"
| II don't wonder the doctor thought
you observant, Mrs. Lathrop," | said
It's all right, though. I'll remember
not TO kill him, although it will be
/ pretty hard, once | get my HANDS or
| him."
Well, hope you do give him 6
good scare"
you have asked me why did no
take my gloves off. Mrs. Lathrop.
keep them on because people find my
hands unpleasant
| Mrs. Lathrop smiled incredulously
do just as you like" she said, blu
shouldn't be afraid | should thinl
any such thing. If were you"
| stripped one glove away, because
had had enough Of the subject. Tt
my surprise her face showed M
flicker of establishment.
We'll, take of the other" she sad
they don't trouble me any. What {
queer young man you are! Do yol
expect a woman of my age to fain
because your hands are a little mark
cd? Some folks have stick-out ears
but they don't go around in ear abs
| took off my other glove.
When did Mrs. Ellsworth give you
the note?" | asked, after another III
tie pause.
This morning, just before the doc
tor came back for them. The nurse
was looking at her watch and getting
little uneasy, think; for ever!
now and then she got up and Wen
over to the window to look up IN,
road II was on one of these window
trips she made. and while she hat
her back turned, that the young lad!
slid the note into my hands. | wa
going through the room, when sir
stopped me with her finger on her lips
smiled and kept quiet, because, a
I say. whether she was right iii he
mind or not, liked her. And whel
I stopped she put one hand up to he
hair and drew out that note, whicl