The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-10-26
THE AFTER HOUSE
A Story Of Love. Mystery and Private Yacht
BY MARY ROBERTS RINEHART
Css,rskf, 1918. ty tAe AeClar. Pxtiienfisxs i.<
Cseynxht. 1914. BY Afa,y Rsknt Rf.sAs~s.

peace. All the lights We're going.
however. and the heat was suffocat
Ing
1t. 1t was locked. but almost instant
" she spoke from inside:
what is it2"
Nothing much. Can you come out?'
! She came moment later. and ask
ed her to call into each cabin to see If
every one was safe. The result was
reassuring. No one had been disturb
ed, and | was put to it to account to
Miss Lee for my anxiety without tell
ing her what had happened. I made
some sort OF excuse. which have for
gotten, except that she evidently did
not believe it,
We carried the injured man aft, and
with such implements as had | clean
ed and dressed the wound. 1t needed
sewing. and it seemed best to do it be-
fore he regained consciousness. Jones
and Adams went below to the forecas-
tie. therefore, and brought up my am
putating set, which contained besides
its knives, some curved needles and
surgical silk. still in good condition.
| opened the case, and before the
knives-the long surgeons knives
which were in use before the Scalpe
superseded them-they fell back. NUT
tering and amazed.
l did not know that Elsa Lee also
was watching until. having requested
Jones. who had been n sailmaker, to
thread the needles. his embling hands
refused their duty. looked up. search
ing the group for competent assistant,
and saw the girl She had dressed
and the light from the lantern beside
me on the deck threw into relief her
white figure among the dark ones. She
came forward as my eyes fell on her.
"Let me try" she said, and. kneeling
by the lantern. in moment she held
out the threaded needle Her hand
was quite steady. She made an able
assistant, wiping clean the oozing edges
of the wound so that could see to clip
the bleeding vessels and working deftly
with the silk and needles to keep me
supplied. My old case yielded also
roll or so of bandage BY the time
Burns was attempting an inco-ordinate
movement or two the operation was
over and the instruments put out Of
sight.
The operating case with its knives
came in for its share of scrutiny. and
I felt that an explanation was due the
men. To tell the truth, l had forgot
ten all about the case. Perhaps 7
staggered just bit as I went over
to wash my hands. 1t was my frs.
opportunity, and / was young. and
the girl was there.
"T see you looking at my case. boys
] said. perhaps I'm a little late ex
planning, but I guess after what
you've seen you'll understand. The
case belonged to my grandfather. who
was surgeon. He was in the war.
That case was at Gettysburg"
They were not so impressed as
had expected-or perhaps they had
known all along. Sailors are a Sc
cretive lot.
I'm thinking we'll all be getting
rest soon," voice said. What are
you going to do with them knives"
/ had an inspiration. I'm going to
leave that to you men," said. "you
may throw them overheard il you
wish; but il you do, take out the nee
dies and the silk. We may need
them"
There followed savage but re-
strained argument among the men.
Jones from the tent called out irrita-
bly,:
Don't he fools. you fellows. This
happened while Leslie was asleep. I'll
swear he never moved after he lay
down."
The crew reached a decision shortly
after that and came to me in body.
I'VE think" Oleson said. that we'll
lock them in the captains cabin with
the AK"
Very WELL" said. Burns has the
key around his neck"
Clarke, I think 1t was. went into the
tent and came out again directly.
There's no key around his neck"
he said gruffly.
1T may have slipped around under
his back"
1T isn't there at ALL"