The Ordway new era., 1913-03-21

SAAb uuEcbI WHICH ! Au6W u uO hci .
l would have risen, but my strength
was not equal to the test My muscles
refused to obey my will and I lay su-
pine. inert. powerless. l would have
learned the time. but to seek my
watch. which I fondly fancied was
still in my pocket. seemed such an
enormous exertion that l reluctantly
gave over the idea. To breathe, to
draw air into my lungs and expel it.
was prodigious labor. wearying me. 1t
appeared. to exhaustion; though with
every inhalation lucidity OF thought
and. suppose; physical force as well,
were being impercepubly augmented.
After q time found myself listen
ing intently for sounds that might
prove informatory. while with head
slightly turned made scrupulous in.
ventory Of the room in which l was
crbbed. 1t was q cramped. confined
place. unplastered, and furnished with
four rough board hunks. one Of which
occupied. The other three Nwere
empty: but in the scant passaseway
between my resting place and that op.
posite was stool. and upon the stool
the pipe and other paraphernalia pc.
culiar to opium smoking.
Then, very slowly, there came to me
a realization Of the vulpine cunning of
these ortentals into whose hands had
fallen. was to be found here. dead.
not from inhalation Of foul air in an
ill-ventilated cellar. which might e1-
cite suspicion and provoke inquiry.
but from over-indulgence in opium. to
which had probably been addicted
for years. unknown even to my closest
friends. For the hop fend" there is
small sympathy. no matter what his
position. and my family would hesi-
tate. therefore. to prosecute. prefer
ring to avoid unpleasant publicity.
Yes: 1t was very clear they had
thought me dead. and so had left me
here unmatched and unattended with
the evidence Of my mode Of passing
theatrically displayed beside me. 1t
only remained now for some employe
or visitor to discover me and give the
alarm.
had about reached this conclusion.
after q long and desperately trying
effort at logical reasoning. when my
straining ears detected the sound OF
footsteps in the passage. The door
of the den was slightly a1ar andrI lay
well In sight of any passer-by who
should glance through the narrow
opening.
Whether to feign death, or boldly
make known my recovered conscious
ness. was for Just moment ques-
<tor Cvt haforo INV a1uUofoh brain
could decide, choice was snatched
from me. The footsteps paused. and
simultaneously. 1t seemed. the door
swung farther inward. disclosing. not
the pig-tailed. greasy-bloused Mongol-
ian 1 had expected. but white wom-
an. tall and shapely, with hair Of iron
gray and the very kindliest eyes that
ever looked into.
made as II to speak, but my swol-
len tongue refused to perform its
office, and something that may best
be described as a gurgle was the re-
suit. With that she came to my side.
and for little regarded me silently.
felt that seeing the pipe and the
little peanut-oil lamp, she must draw
the natural inference. and. though
there was no reproach in her look. I
wished, II possible, to correct that
false impression. therefore made
effort to gesture denial. employing a
glance to indicate the objects and a
very feeble side movement Of the
head to express reputation.
1t is possible that she understood.
but question that she believed. ]
have no recollection that she spoke a
single word to ME. and yet, when she
was gone, felt that she would sure
ly return to my rescue. And was
not misled. I suppose this partial re-
lief to my anxiety resulted In slack
ening Of mental effort on my part. for
I must confess that what followed Is
very vague in my memory. l know
only that she was accompanied by
two men, one white and one yellow.
who carried me down a narrow flight
of stairs, out onto the street and into
a waiting cab. I cannot recall that
spoke, but I learned afterward that
I had mumbled the word 'Loyalton."
and thither she accompanied me.
There a physician came, one whom
I had never seen before: and I was
dosed with aromatic spirits Of am
monia and made to breathe oxygen
through a funnel. by white-clad
nurse. who also. at intervals. painted
NV ankle with iodine, and. whenever
7 attempted to speak. domineered me
in a gentle and perfectly ladylike
manner to silence.
with regard to sending word to
Evelyn Grayson. however, was in.
.,.tent: and though she had refused
absolutely to crafty my curiosity in
other respects. she set my mind at
rest on this point by informing me
that Miss Grayson had called up the
Iovalton by telephone several times
and had been informed Of my condi.
tion Ave minutes after my arrival at
my chambers.
-. +tn,aa durfnp the week