The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-07-18

ly and left the room. Louise and /
followed, leaving only the doctor and
nurse.
Il wonder what made him look so?''
breathed Louise.
He's afraid of something-for
some one?" l said, hurrying to over
take Davis, hoping to learn from him
his opinion as TO what caused the pa
TENTS fears.
Il was right. It's just as thought
] heard him mutter as he fastened to
the hall and reached for his hat and
coat. I saw that he was making prep.
aration for instant departure and ]
was in quandary what to do. l felt
It my duty to accompany my friend
for from his manner | was convinced
that he was on the track of the mys.
terry. Yet did not wish to leave Lou
Use until l had gained some explana-
ton of the barrier that she seemed to
have raised between US. ! was con-
scious Of no way in which | could
have offended her, yet there was a
marked difference in her attitude tow
ard me overnight. While | was still
debating the question and Davis had
all but reached the door, seemingly in
different to whether or not l accom-
panied him, nurse came running TO
Louise.
Miss Parrish" she said, 81 think
your sister is recovering conscious
ness. l thought you would like to
know 1t and to be at her side in case
she speaks"
| Though Davis was some distance
away his acute ear must have caught
/ her words. He turned and was up the
stairs in a fash. Louise convulsively
caught my hand. The barrier between
US was swept away. l knew then il
/ was only fear that she had been for
ward in showing her affection. Hand
in hand we raced up the stairs after
the inspector. and ranged ourselves
on the other side Of the bed from him.
Between us, her long hair in braids,
only the white bandage around her
forehead to suggest her wound, lay
the silent figure Of Katharine Parrish.
The pallor Of her face seemed only to
enhance her beauty, and though her
eyes were closed, her long dark lasheS
still gave expression. AS we watched,
she began stirring restlessly and her
hands twitched nervously. Suddenly
her eyes opened wide, not with the
light Of intelligence, but with the bril-
liancy OF hysteria or the excitement
Of fever. She made an Intellectual at
tempt to rise in bed, but she was too
weak Sinking back on the pillow
she shrieked: Promise me, Hugh,
promise me, you'll do it at once"
After that one sentence she relapsed
into Inconsistencies. | feared for q
moment that she was dead. The doc
tor FASTENED TO her side and began 10
feel her pulse and listen 10 her heart.
1t seemed many minutes before he
turned TO US with a reassuring whis-
per:
1T is nothing seriOus-a relapse TO
be expected after that outburst. Her
heart is stronger than l expected. She
will not likely regain consciousness
for many hours, but there is no imms-
date danger"
His manner, rather than his words,
invited US to go, so Louise and l fol-
lowed Davis from the room.
The inspector seemed to have for
gotten his haste to depart He sat
down abruptly on a divan in the up
per hall, with his face resting in his
hands, and gave himself up TO intent
thought.
Louise and l stood little apart, dis
cussing in whispers Katharine's
strange outcry. What could she have
meant?
She meant Crandall, of course
said Louise. She mentioned Hugh
did you hear it?"
| nodded assent.
Probably she was repeating a con.
yersation she had with him just be-
fore she shot herself" l suggested.
What do you suppose she wanted him
TO promise herr"
Louise shook her head. | racked
my brain in vain for some theory to
fit her words to her own desperate
act, to Crandall's flight, to her IA
TIERS terror. l judged from Davis
aDstracted 'canuer that he, too, was
similarly engaged
Everything" l said to Louise, "ev.
cry single thing We have learned
points to Crandall's connection with
the mystery that has hung over your
father and Katharine. When we have
found him We shall learn what it was.
am more and more convinced that
he is guilty of some crime. something
terrible, something that your father
and sister knew"
The inspector laughed aloud.
We turned toward him, in indigna-
ton, Louise in establishment, to find
MIN looking at US with an amused
smile.
Don't be too sure" he said quizzi-
cally. "Crandall doesn't seem TO have
been left-handed."
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