The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-10-11
The COrrectOr of DeStinieS
Being Tales of Randolph Mason no Re,.,.a g.,
His Private Secretary. CORTLAND Parks
The LIFE TENANT
By Melville DAVIDSON Post
Copyright by edward ]. God.

,lnb Mascn's house. IL vas very
[arm. and at daybreak Pietro opened
N The doors and windows to invite in
No., little breeze there was. l was
,s,urbed by this. and presently arose
H. took a cold shower bath, after
[hicb Pietro brought me a Continen-
breakfast served on n tray.
II was early then, doubtless not
.,or than six o'clock, when l left my
-lodchamber. AS l turned the landing
the stair, / noticed n mar standing
the street door. He was a tall.
,epder young man, rather well dress.
the lower part OF his face was
I,Jden by a handkerchief. which he
olI pressed against his mouth: there
Eerc blood spots, widening on the
handkerchief, and an unmistakable
kyrression of fear was in the eyes.
was evident that he had met with
cmc injury.
led him at once into the Office and
eug for Pietro. In a moment the
httcr was at the door. and ] directed
I'm to bring a bowl of. water as
IpickIy ms possible. So far. the in.
hired man had not spoken. doubted
le could speak, the wound being
EVIDENTLY in the mouth or throat. The
komcnt he got into the room he lay
Eoan az full length on the floor, per.
lectly m~otionless, his head back, his
yc. closed. still pressing the bloody
handkerchief to his lips. When Pie
b. set the bowl of water on the floor
" idn him, he dipped the handker-
~ into Il. squeezed out the blood
H. rcturned the damp cloth to Ns
bagrh. saw the blood coming slow
b rom between his lips; IL was very
bright-arterial blood, n little frothy.
turned to Pictro and directed him
b. call n surgeon. At the word the
kleci.ng mar shook his head and
br.ued his eyes with an expression Of
klot-st. This refusal of medical at
tuaa0cc IN one SO desperately hurt
s Go me highly significant; It sub
ectal him instantly to suspicion. |
fc's.u med TO see If he could speak.
No YOU want a physician" |
Ecd
lIr hook his head.
"A.g YOU badly hurt?"
again he replied with the same
egar.ye sign.
What is the matter with you
frcy9' ! purpusely phrased the ques-
s sd. fhaV IN ,,nAIinu mould moi
hnsWor Il.
4 ruby" he SAID thickly behind
o. .uakerchicf. The reply was IN
r'o. rlblo TO me. II was doubtless
fo1" term current among criminals.
VAS now convinced that the man
fc.oncrd TO the criminal classes. He
y. Certainly injured and he refused
S'rCoon-yet | could not leave him
f. die on the floor. IN this quandary,
turned TO find Randolph Mason
sanding behind me.
"P."tru.' he said, this man is hav.
png n hcmOrrhage. Leave him alone
Then he went back into the next
foom.
Instantly the mystery cleared. The
poor fellow vas merely n consump-
1--WE, doing the only thing possible
'oF a slight bleeding--to lie stretched
|oNt motionless. The hemorrhage had
ooNh'less come on him In the street,
ahd he had noticed our open door
ahG como in. The flow Of blood had
now about ceased. and I went to my
'aole to examine the mornings mail.
PRESENTLY the man got up and sat
ooWn in a chair by my table.
Was that Randolph Mason?" he
said.
Yes" l replied.
! thought So" said the man. 81
game to New York to see two great
speclaiists, DIR. Ashby Clark and Ran
dolph Mason"
lie tapped his breast with his fin.
Ger.
lark says no> good. I wonder
"Nal Mason will say"
lou were looking for his house.
Yes; | al coming up the steps to
"n'n | got the ruby" This he
,Np'Ained: That's what we call the
S'"orrhage. the blood is so bright.
e. hnow--a technical term of the
thought you were a wounded
Mt'ar'' said. "If you wish to talk
81" Mr.. Mason, you would better go
1 w." while there is an opportunity"
,"e man o and went into the
|ilr, ONCE. heard Mason direct
~ TO be seated and order pietro
S"e him a glass OF whisky.
~, zane over to see you and DR..
c.@' began the VISITOR: CLARK. be-
|csuso | have consumption; you, be-
M no man ever has simple con
,rn" nion He always has another
,o",pe with it-a bad heart that
No.. stand high attitudes, n wife who
iOna. ieave the home folks. or no
Ia My fix Is the latter. Clark
Ar VIII last six months in an
on 'can climate: but II I will 60 at
I'm 10 tho Marquesas Islands, my
|har, WIN probably heal and I will
win on until some native pinks me
una eue"s the place isn't so bad: It's
OF va .nc French and quite a garden
rNon Clo.l. r. A -n,