The Washington herald., 1912-08-04
CHAPTER XIV.
What Came Of the. Great Love
Experiment.

What Came of the. Great Love
Experiment..
HOR an hour after he had gone to
bed Philip lay awake thinking
of the doctors story. He
dreamed of it when he fell asleep. In
a way for which he could not account
the story, had a peculiar effect upon him,
and developed in him desire to know
the end. He awoke in the morning
anxious to resume the subject with
McGill, but the doctor disappointed
him. During the whole of the day he
made no direct reference to his mis-
sion in the North, and when Philip once
or twice brought him back TO the matter
he evaded any discussion of 1t, giving
him to understand, without saying SO,
that the matter was a closed incident
between them, only to be reopened when
he was able to give some help IN tne
search. The doctor talked freely OF ms
home, of the beauty and the goodness
of his wife, and of third memoef
whom they expected in their little tam,
lily circle in the spring. They discussed
home topics-politics, clubs, and sport
The doctor disliked society, though
for professional reasons he was com,
PEELED to play a small part in it, and
in this dislike the two men found them
selves on common ground. They be-
czme more and more confidential in all
WAYS but one. They passed hours in
PLAYING cribbage with a worn pack of
Pierre's cards, and the third night sang
old college songs which both had near
ly forgotten. Ii was on this evening
that they planned TO remain one more
day in Pierre's cabin and then leave
for Fort Smith.
"You have hope-there," said Philip
in a casual way, as they were undress-
ing.
Little hope, but the search will be-
ginsfrom- there replied the doctor. Il
have more hope at Chippewayan, where
we struck clew. / sent back my In
dian to follow it up" =.
They went to bed How long he had
slept Philip had no idea, when he was
awakened by slight noise. In a sub
conscious sort of way, with his eyes
still closed. he lay without moving and
listened The sound came again, like
the soft, cautious tread of feet near
him. Still without moving he opened
his eyes. The oil lamp which he had
put out on retiring was burning low:
In its dim light stood the doctor. half
dressed. in tense attitude OF listening.
whats the natter" asked Philip.
The professor started, and turned to-
ward the stove. -,
Nervousness, l guess" he said
gloou1ily. az was afraid | would awak-
en- you. I've been up three times dur
ing the last hour-listening for voice.
"A voice ?"
eyes. back there in the bunk | could
have sworn that | heard it calling some
where out in the night But when l
get up / can't hear it. I've stood at
the door until I'm frozen"
tits the wind" said Philip. 1T has
troubled me many times out on the
snnw plains. I've heard If wall like
children crying among the dunes, and
again like women screaming. and men
shouting. You'd better go TO bed"
sListenp
The doctor stiffened, his white face
turned to the door. 49, e..
Good heavens, was that the wind 2
he asked after a moment 1919.
Philip had rolled from his bunk and
was pulling on his clothes
Dress and we'll find out" he advised
together they went to the door. open
ed it, and stepped outside. The sky was
thick and heavy, with only white blur
where the moon was smothered- Fifty
yards away the gray gloom became
opaque Over the thousand miles OF
drift to the north there came a faint
whistling wind. rising at times in ftful
sweeps of hinty snow. and at intervals
dying away until it became only lull-
ing sound. In one of these intervals
both men held their breath. From
somewhere out of the night, and yet
from nowhere that they could point,
there came human voice.
Thoreau-Ho, Pierre Thoreau-u-u-u"
of there" shivered the doctor.
''No-out. there" said Philip.
wering shout, and in response there
I'm rightp cried the doctor. |
Comet"
He darted away, his greatcoat making
a dark blur in the night ahead of Philip,
who paused again to shout through the
megaphone of his hands. There came
no reply A second and a third time
he shouted, and still there was no re-
spouse,
Queer" he thought What the devil
can it mean?
The doctor had disappeared, and he
followed in the direction he had gone
A hundred yards more and he saw the
dark blur again, close to the ground.
The doctor was bending over human
form stretched out in the snow. OIL.
lust in time he said to Philip as
he came up. Excitement had gone
from his voice now. 1t was cool and
professional, and he spoke in a COM
way to his companion.
You're heavier than |, so take him by
the shoulders and hold his head well
up. don't believe. it's the cold. for
his body is warm and comfortable. l
feel something wet and thick on his
shirt, and If may be blood. So hold
his head well up"
Between them they carried him back
to the cabin, and with the quick alert
ness of a man accustomed to every
Of his profession the doc
tor stripped off his two coats while
Philip looked at the face of the man
whom they had placed in his bunk.
His own experience had acquainted him /,
with violence and bloodshed. but in :
spite of that fact he shuddered slightly /,
IS he gazed on the unconscious form.
It was that of young man of splendid
physique, with a closely shaver face, {
short blond hair and MAGNIFICENT pair