The Washington times., 1912-09-15
CHAPTER XVIII.
Kilner Delivers His Conscienc

Kilner Delivers His Conscience.
r is not seldom the case that a man
who deludes himself into belief
i that he 10 suffering from some par
hcular disease induces that disease
by sheer effort OF will. and suffers at
last In reality what he has previously
suffered in Imagination.
Mr.. Kilner had for so many years In
formed all and sundry that he suffered
from an affection of the heart that
that organ really began to be affected.
with the result that such a great shock
as that which was communicated to It
at his arrest In the hall of his own
house had the effect Of almost entirely
stopping It's action.
In point Of fact, Mr.. Kilner no sooner
heard that fatal news than he collapsed
In heap at the foot of the staircase,
and the police instead Of carrying him
of In cab, as they had meant to,
were obliged to use the cab-which
waited, all in readiness. at the garden
entrance-for the purpose Of fetching
the nearest doctor.
1t was evident to the most inexperi-
enced eye that Mr.. Kilner, as he lay
breathing heavily in his hall. where
glass cases filled with pike and trout of
abnormal size and pitcures Of the chase
bore witness to bis love OF sport, was
much more likely to take his last Jour-
ney Of all than to be conveyed to Dub
lin.
When the doctor came, he applied
himself to bringing Mr.. Kilner to
state OF consciousness, and In order that
he might not go OF again from sheer
fright at the presence Of the police, he
| nnt oA1 han % shnx t.,I. I'D
a screen. It was a sorely afflicted Mr..
Kilner who opened fish-lke eyes on the
doctor. and one who did not quite realize
his position.
I'm afraid I've had q stroke, doc
tor" said Mr.. Kilner feebly.
"No, no. your heart IL a little af-
fected. my dear sir" replied the doc
tor. "A little weak. you know; not
'I always did suffer from a weak
ness Of the heart" said Mr.. Kilner.
he began to remember things and to
shed a few tears, especially on behold
ing his housekeeper.
%icked he charge saS as thai sens
brought against meme as the vicar
has invited to be church warden.
None OF us are free from the breath
iy. "It's blessing to be able to dis
prove the accusations which the wick
Syns nsf sgans, ha~. US %o ~ MoS my dear
"Then I'm not to 60 to prison7" said
dent in his troubled eyes.
taken to bSed. '1 answered Sotre the Doctor loo @
No prison for you. couldn't think
He got his patient to bed and min
An ~ -
time he went downstairs to the police.
who were waiting him in the dining
room.
WHATS all this ?" asked the doctor.
the position. "You can't remove him
at present, you know. or l doubt IL
you ever can. Couldn't you have
nearly killed him. What's the charge
against him7"
Mrrdfr: .cSa,cas,: sir" answered ,,ssa. the chief
~ TSe doctor whistIed. u'
"'Whew-w-w!" His eyebrows eievat.
ed themselves. 1.-THE highly respectable
Mr.. Kilner. who has been asked to bt
truth in it7''
IT can't say. sir. My instructions are
, by telegram from Dublin. Inspector
Inspector Davidson Of the Dublin forcs
are travelling over by the day mail tc
take him in charge" said the chief
They'll be here during the afternoon
Do I understand that he can't be moved
without danger to his nfe?'
"oh. certainly you must understand
IT," answered the doctor. IT you at.
tempt to move him to the police sta:
to exercise great caution when the de-
tectives arrve-the least shock will I'm
ish him.
Then the doctor went away, saying
| - tnx- ~
promising to send a nurse. and all thai
was to be done by the police was tt
leave one of their number in surveil
lance Of the sick man. which feat wa.
easy chair at the door OF Mr. Kilner'I
room.
When the two inspectors arrived dur
ing the course OF the day they were rne'
the state of affairs. The trio repaired
to Aboukir Lodge and had an inter
view with the doctor, who informed
them that the patient was somewha
charge that had been brought agains
him, but that 1t was quite impossible
to move him at present.
He had been informed that Inspector
Davidson was coming over from Dublin
to take him in charge for removal t.
Ireland, and he had expressed a wisl
to see that officer on his arrival.
II fancy" said the doctor, that h
you. He's a sly old dog-but there's n,
shamming about his heart I wouldn'
i give twopence for his chance Of life
. even II he's guilty. he'll never see tn
, scaffold."
Then he offered to take Sergeant Dav
idson upstairs, and at the door Of tn
, sick room warned him once NOR
! against giving the sick man any sud
l den shock.
; Now then, Mr., Kilner." he said
leading Davidson into the room
: "here's the gentleman you wished t
: see-come, to have quiet little tall
with YOU"
Mr.. Kilner lay slightly propped III
In bed. 1t was plain to the inspector
that his prisoner was very Ill indeed
and he could not help feeling very
sorry for him. He went up to thu
; bedside with a soft footstep and 1
} sympathetic VOICE.
well, Mr.. Kilner." he said, I'm
n very sorry to find you like this"
Mr.. Kilner's large countenance be
trayed traces of emotion.
o II never thought, Mr.. Davidson, tina
|. you and me, as was such friends IL
|. Dublin, would meet under such cir
. cumstances as this" he replied in {
u woebegone voice. TITS a cruel hare
= world, is this / hope as you've haC
naught to do with the charge agains