The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1913-03-27

other physicians eluded me. In de-
SPAR, l opened the Telephone Direc-
tory, In hope of a suggestion, and the
name of Addison leaped at me from
the page. To my infinite relief he was
III his office; his electric was at the
door, and he would be over at once.
And it was not until ten minutes
lat7r, when he came hurriedly into the
room, that I remembered. The name.
When saw it, had at once struck me
as familiar. l seemed to know, even,
that it belonged to a physician OF
reputed high standing, yet it was only
at the instant of his. entrance, when
his penetrating steel-gray eyes drilled
into mine, that I associated it with the
man to whom l had gone, not for any
ailment, but to learn whether my
friend, in spite of his denials, had vel
been in China.
If the recognition was mutual, DR..
Addison gave no sign Of it. His pa
tient demanded and received his i'm
mediate attention. Hastily he admin
istered a stimulating hypodermic, and
then, himself assisted in carrying her
to her room.
When he rejoined me in the library,
halt an hour later, it was with the
glad news that she had responded
gratifyingly to treatment, and was
sleeping calmly. After thanking him
for his promptness and efficiency, 1
said:
You do not remember me@"
"Oh, yes. I d." he returned, almost
%brusquely, fixing me with his gag
you are Mr.. Clyde. Did you get any
relief from the prescription I gave
you?"
had not expected the question and
was unprepared for it. In v%enturing
an evasive reply l. stammered.
Il don't suppose you even had 1t
f1lled," he declared. with a grim smile
that was at least partially r%eassuring.
And I admitted that his surmise was
accurate. Moreover l begged him to
sit down.
Il have a confession to make, Doc
tor" said, a little shamefacedly.
1T is unnecessary. Mr.. Clyde" was
his ~half-polite rejoinder, as he sank in
to a chair before the fireplace. Il
read the newspapers, and l have come
to understand many things in the
past few days"
AS I took a seal opposite to him. I
said:
The newspapers have been mis-
leading. fear, DR.. Addison"
No." he c~ontradicted, his tone
softened. con the contrary they have
opened my eyes to a truth that was
long hidden; they have made a very
contrite and, l must confess, a very
unhappy nan of me-"
"Unhappy?"
More unhappy than you can con-
ceive, Mr.. Clyde. For years I, have
misjudged one of the best friends
Heaven rel privileged a man to
have"
But, my dear Doctor" I began,
you were not at fault, altogether;
you"
He raised a d~eprecatory hand. "Nc,
please DON'T" he pleaded. You can
not temper 1t. l should have taken his
word, without question. l knew his
love of TRUTH probably more than
any n else. What right had I to
conclude then, because Of certain ap-
parently irr%econcilable happenings,
that his word was false?"
"We are all fallible," I said.
Gail but he" was his prompt reply.
And then, leaning forward. with a
strained, eager look in those piercing
eyes. his voice vibrant, he asked:
"Is it true that he is very Ill? That
he cannot be SEEM"
For a scruple Iohesitated.
"The newspapers have been mis-
leading, I fear" I said again, and !
Judge my expression Of countenance
was as cryptic as my words, for my Wis.
itor's look changed instantly to one OF
dire p%erplexity. W"
"He is not ill?" he questioned
"You mean"
"Confidentially, Doctor" I admitted
1--WE haven't the faintest notion Just
how he is. He may be in excellent
health or he may have ceased tc
exist"
"Good God!" he exclaimed, and his
face was as white az his linen.
sour best information is that he is
on a steamer tramp-bound fol
China, but we have no particulars, and
worse still, no verification."
1t was neither fair nor consistent to
conceal longer from one 60 Justly in,
~terested the whole truth, and so, with.
out reservation, I told DR.. Addison the
story.
Before I had quite concluded, Miss
Clement was announced, and when
she was shown into the library, in.
stead of permitting the physician to
leave, as he made offer Of doing, !
presented him and insisted upon his
remaining.
II want you to tell Miss Clement
about your patient, Doctor" I said
miss Clement is a very good friend
of Miss G~rayson's."
Graciously he complied, making ii
quite clear that sedatives and sleep
would undoubtedly effect a prompt re,
covery.
"And now Miss Clement will tell us
something" I added. "She has had