Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1912-01-17

Ra u
CARMEL, LIFTING UP THE LID, LOOKED IN.
remain unknown to her until circum-
stances forced it on her knowledge or
she had got sufficient strength to bear
II.
Carmel received the account well
When she had 1t fully in mind she
looked up into the nurses face again
and repeated. quite calmly. but with
immOvable decision, the order of an
hour before:
I'VE must return at once. You will
pack up Immediately"
Miss Unwin nodded and began to
open the trunks.
This, however, was a ruse. She did
not intend to take her patient back
that night. She was afraid to risk 1t.
The next day would be soon enough.
But she would calm her by making
ready and when the proper moment
came would find some complication of
trains which would interfere with their
immediate departure.
Meanwhile she would communicate
at the earliest moment with Mr.. Fox.
She had been in the habit of sending
him frequent kilograms as to her pa
TENTS condition. They had been inva-
riable SO far-"No difference. mind
still a blank" or some code word sig
nificant of the same. But new word
was necessary now. She must look 1t
up and formulate her telegram before
she did anything else.
The code book was in her top tray.
She hunted and hunted for 1t without
being able to lay her hands on It. She
grew very nervous. She was only hu-
man; she was in q very trying posi-
ton, and she realized II. Where could
that book be? Suddenly she espied 1t
and, falling on her knees before the
trunk, with her back still to Carmel
studied out the words she wanted.
She was leaning over the tray to write
these words in her notebook when-no
one ever knew how 1t happened-the
lid of the heavy trunk fell forward and
its iron edge struck her on the nape Of
the neck with 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
Honoe for tha uncononfouc rpou,oo n xuhioh
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 nonsense-until she con-
suited the code. Then these detached
and meaningless words took on sig
n'ficance 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
moment of fndecision was followed by
quick action. She had noticed that
she had been invariably addressed as
Miss Campbell by every one who had
come into the room.
Regaining her own 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 be see
that Miss Huckins was not neglected
In her absence?
81 will see to it." said he. Then, as
she turned to go, he ventured to add
"It is quite dark now If you would
like one of the boys to go with you
But he received no encouragement and
allowed bis suggestion to remain un
| finished.
She looked grateful for this and wat
pulling down her veil when she per
ceived two or three men on the othel
side of the room watching her in evi
dent wonder. Stepping back to thu
desk, she addressed the clerk again
this time with marked dlstinctness
"I have been very Ill, know. ant
not always quite myself. But thu
shock Of this accident to my nurse ha
cleared my brain and made me cape