The state herald., 1913-06-27


touching his shoulder lightly. "he is
looking at u.s." When Aleck looked up
James was indeed looking at them
with large. serious, half-focussed eyes.
1t was as II he were coming back
from another world where the laws of
vision were different, and he was only
partially adjusted to the present con-
ditions. He moved his hands feebly
under the bedclothes. where they
we're being warmed by the freestone,
and then tried to moisten his lips.
Agatha took glass OF water from
the table. looked about for napkin,
but. seeing none. wet the tips Of her
fingers and placed them gently over
James lips. His eyes followed her at
first. but closed for an instant as she
came near. When they opened again,
they looked more natural. As he felt
tho comfort Of the water on his lips,
his features relaxed. and a look Of
recognition illumIned his face. His
eyes moved from Agatha to Aleck.
who was now bending over him. and
back to Agatha The look was a sa-
lutte. happy and peaceful. Then his
eyes closed again.
For an houf Agatha and Aleck kept
their watch. almost fearing to breathe.
Doctor Thayer worked. gave quiet or.
ders. tested the heartbeats, let no
movement or symptom go unnoticed
For time Jamee kept even the doc
tor In doubt whether he was slipping
into the Great Unknown or into q
deep and convalescent sleep. BY the
end OF the hour. however. Jimsy had
decided for natural sleep. urged there
to. perhaps. by that unseen playwright
who had decreed another time for cur.
tain; or perhaps he was kept by Doc
tor Thayer's professional persuasions.
In defiance Of the prompter's signal.
However the case. the heart slowly
but surely began to take up its Job
like an honest force-pump. the face
began to lose its death.like pallor. the
breathing became more nearly nor.
NAL. Doctor Thayer. with Mrs. Stod-
dard quiet and efiicient at his elbow,
worked and tested and worked again.
and finally sat movsless for some
minutess watch in hand. counting the
pulsations Of James heart At the
end OF the time he laid the hand care
fully back under the clothes, put bis
watch In his pocket. and finally got
up and looked around the room.
Mrs. stoddard was pouring some
thing into measuring glass. Agatha
was standing BY the window. looking
out into the blue night: and Aieck
could Be- seen through the half-open
door. pacing up and down tho hall.
Doctor Thayer turned to his sister.
"0ive him his medicine on the half.
hour. and then you 20 TO bed. That
man Hand will DO now" Then he went
to the door and addressed Alsck.
well. Mr.. Van Camp. unisss soms-
thing unexpected turns up. think
your cousin viii live to Jump over.
board again"
OfYhand a. the words were, there
was unmistakablc satisfaction, happi.
ness, even triumph 10 his voice. and
he returned Aieck's hand-ciasp with q
vise-iike grip. His mascuiinity ignored
Agatha, or pretended to: but she had
followed him to the door. A tho old
man claspcd hands with Aieck. he
heard behind him u dcep. 20 Doctori"
The next instant Agatha's arms were
around his neck. and tho back OF his
bald head was pressed against some
thing that could only have been a
cheek. Surprising m this was. the
doctor did not stampede: but by tho
time he had got clear OF Aieck and
had reached up his hand T. nnd tho
cheek, Il was gone. and tho ar.,s. too.
Susan stoddnrd somehow got mixed
up In the general To Dcum In the
hall. and for the nrst time. now that
the nght was over. allowed her fsmi.
nine fceiings-that IL. . few tcars-
TO come 10 the surface.
Aisck. however. went TO pieces.
gone Down In that species Of mental
coiiapvs BY which deliberate. judicial
men become reckless. and strong men
become weak. He stepped softly back
into the bedroom and leaned again
ovsr tho curved footboard. his face
Quits miserable. Ho went nearer. and
hciA his ear down close 10 the bed.
| clothes. TO hear for himself tho rssu.
lar beating Of the hsart. Slowly be
convinced himself that the doctors
words might possibly b. true. At least
He turned 10 Hand. who had come In
and was adjusting tho shades. and
asked him: DO you believe he's
asieepY" In the tone Of ono who Do
mands an oath.
"oh. yss. cir; hes slcepins nicely.
Mrrvan Camp. saw the change the
moment ! came In"
Aisck stiii hssitatsd 70 leave. fear
fui, apparently. lest he might take the
blessed sleep away with him. A. hs
stood By the bs1, . low bat distinct
| whistle sounded oatsilA then. AflAr