The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1914-10-23


where she sat down and looked out
into the dark, quiet square. Out of her
memory rose the thought of an early
morning-it was only year ago
when she had seen Andrew Merry for
the first time, stretched listlessly on
the park bench, with gray, thin fog
occasionally plotting him from her
sight. 1t was here, too, she had sat
watching children scuff1e through
wind-blown leaves, while she heard
her brother read the manuscript of
THE House of Esterbrook." Merry
sat silent at her side until the nurse
entered the room.
Miss Wentworth" she said. "Dr.
Mowbray wants you. Your brother has
been conscious for few minutes. He
cannot speak, but he wants something.
VIII you Gomez"
They followed the woman swiftly.
Enoch's eyes sought hers with piteous
pleading which was aim ost agony. She
bent to kiss him. His gaze Travelled
to Merry and the agony seemed to
change to peace.
"You saved his life, Enoch." she
whispered.
Andrew laid his fingers gently upon
the nerveless hand which rested out
side the sheet. The eyes Of the two
men met: in those Of one was mute
prayer for forgiveness, in the others
shone gratitude and the old affection
grown steadfast.
Enoch's lips moved He was trying
to speak. Dorcas laid her ear close
to his mouth.
"He wants his keys" she said
quickly. ~
The nurse left the bedside and re-
turned with a bunch of small keys
strung upon a steel ring. Dorcas laid
them in her brothers hand. 1t was
pitifully inert! She lifted them and
ran them through her fingers, one by
one, as a Catholic tells her beads in
rosary Her gaze was fixed upon his
eager eyes. When she touched a shin
ing brass key CLEAN of relief shone
in the mans beseeching eyes. She
rose to her feet.
Il will go at once, Enoch. and find
it. I shall know what you want. what
ever it is, and will bring it to you"
The doctor followed Merry and Dor
cas- to the door. Don't come back un-
less I send for you. The exertion has
been too much for him."
This Is the key to small drawer
in Enoch's DESK" explained the girl.
81 can probably guess what he wants.
! ought to show it to him. IT his
mind is set on something he may sleep
quietly when he knows I have found
it."
"I will call you if he does not Sleep"
said the doctor.
Merry walked to the window and
stared vaguely into the darkness. A
little clock on the mantel struck three.
Once he looked over his shoulder at
Dorcas. He could hear the crackle of
stiff paper as she unfolded a few long,
narrow sheets which were tied in
thin bundle.
II have found Enoch's will and
number of business papers. Here are
his bankbooks and the contract with
Oswald for the play. There are bonds
and things of that sort-things l do
not understand. 1 imagine" the girls
voice broke into sob, lit must be
the will he wants"
Probably, it is, DEAR" said Andrew
gently. She laid the papers on the
desk and lifted yellow envelope.
There was no writing upon it; it was
unsealed. She took out slip of pa
per and stood motionless while she
read it. Then her fingers moved in
cropping way, to turn on a blaze OF
electricity under the green globe
above the desk.
THE room is so dark" she muir
INJURED.
She dropped the paper upon the
hotter in front of her and leaned upon
the desk with he face between her
hands.
Andrew" cried Dorcas with
stifled moan, come here!
He crossed the room and stood
looking down over the girls shoulder.
"See," she whispered. ''see what |
have found! Tell me what is it," Her
fingers pointed to the bond. She
stretched out her hand as if search
ing for protection and help. The man
clasped it between his own, then she
raised her eyes to his.
WAS it this. Andrew. this that lay
behind everything-that made you
give up your play and"
Merry's lips parted, but he~did not
speak. Dorcas glanced at the date.
She withdrew her hands from his and
nut her fingers across her eyes as II
irving desperately to remember some
thing.
cTo BE coNTINUEDl