The Washington herald., 1912-03-03


did l imagine in what a web of GRIM
inal cunning, of battling crime, of hid
defNevil, i would find myself
AS ! strove to soothe Louise's agita-
ton the doctor appeared at the door
way and imperiously beckoned me.
tried TO persuade Louise TO wait out
side, but she chung to me like fright
ened child and insisted on accompany
ing me into the room.
Here" said the doctor in the curt
tones of authority, Il want you to help
me carry her into quieter place before
This way" said Louise, recovering
herself as soon as she saw the oppor-
tunity to be useful, into my rooms.
They are off the street and much
quieter."
/ saw the look with which she tried
to read the doctors face and put the
question she dared not ask.
will she live"
DR.. Wilcox shook his head gravely.
She is just alive and that is all. i
cannot tell yet whether or not we can
save her. There must be absolute quiet.
l am going to probe for the bullet and
see what course il has taken. Please
telephone at once for these two men.
They are my hospital aides. As soon
as they arrive / will operate"
As quickly as we had laid the sense
less girl on Louise's bed, l telephoned
for DIR. Wilcox's assistants, and was
fortunate in being able to reach both
Immediately. Louise and the maids
meanwhile were kept busy by the doc
tor preparing for the operation, so it
fell to my lot to break the news to Gen.
Parrish when he arrived. Louise had
merely told him over the telephone that
Katharine had met with an accident, so
he entered the house almost wholly I'M
prepared for the shock my news gave
him.
l had before seen strong men in
grief, but never had / witnessed such
wave Of heartrending agony as swept
over the general. He came into his
home erect, military, slightly perturbed,
but still in manner and bearing the
vigorous old soldier, fully master Of his
emotions. My words that told him as
gently as was possible what had hap
pened. seemed to sap all his vitality,
His face became ashen pale, his lips
quivered, great tears coursed down his
cheeks, his shoulders bent under the
weight of his grief and he tottered as if
about to fall
While he was fond and proud of both
his daughters, the elder had always
been his favorite. As is often the case
with fathers who have no son, Kath-
arine had been both son and daughter
to him. Since her mothers death some
years ago she had been practically head
of the household. II was on her that
he relied for everything, and il was with
her that he discussed all his business
affairs. Such association between them
naturally had strengthened the bonds
into far more than the ordinary father
and-daugiter affection.
"My poor little girl-Katharine-
. little Katharine" he moaned in tones
of agony that wrung my heart for him.
His first thought was to go to her,
but the doctor forbade his presence in
the room. / persuaded him to go to his
own apartments, leaving him in the
hands of his valet and promising to keep
him informed as to Katharine's condi-
ton.
Deeply as felt for him, it was of
Louise | thought most. ! wanted to be
with her constantly, to give her the
succor of my presence. As soon as DR..
Wilcox's assistants arrived, bringing
with them nurse, Louise and ! we're
both banished from the room. Gently
VIZ" hNi iiNo iitpN oiNthb
where, with the door ajar, we waited
to see il our aid might be needed.
fearless sorrow now weighed heavily
on her.
Tell me everything" ! said, with my
arm about her. why did she do it,"
Il don't know" she cried out. II
can't understand it at all There is
some mystery, some terrible mystery
that / cannot fathom."
When did you see your sister last"
1--WE had luncheon together. She was
sweet and kind, as she always was, but
/ could see that something was worry
ing her. We were to have gone shop
ping together this afternoon, but she
told me that she had an errand that
would make it impossible for her to
go with me. | had received your note,
so told her that il would suit me much
better to put the shopping off until to-
morrow. Right after luncheon she went