Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-12-16
FREDERICK COUNTY, MD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16 1915.
luge Of stark wrath that blotted out all
the normal personality of the man.


fund Of cunning that h0 had never
suspected could exist in him. He re-
called that the doctor was kacheior,
he knew that he was at the hospital
In the ey ming. He lad seen through
the open door of the consulting room
silver scattered about the top of the
buffet. With one OF those pieces
Laura's bill could be paid
Jenkins resolved to act upon the
thought. At nightfall he went softly
toward the doctors house He knew
that there was back door, always
open. except for the flmsy screen that
covered it. He had seen that during
his VISITS, and remembered that, once
over TIE 'ence, he could not be seen
from the windows Fe found the
fence, scaled it, and crouched cover
ing on the other side.
The house was dark, except for
single light in the dining room. Jen.
kins could see the silver even now.
1t cleaned derisiyely upon the buffet.
His gorge rose. IL, walked steadily
toward the back door 1t stood wide
open. 1t was not even clasped
Thieves were unknown, almost, in
prosperous Sequah.
Perhaps somebody was on the prem.
ises, though. There must be servants.
He knew the doctor had housekeep.
er. But it was not likely that she
would be on the first floor. jenkins
walked in very softly and took a sill
ven cand'estick from the buffet. He
knew by the touch that it was of pure
metal. That alone would more than
pay Laura's bill No doubt he could
pawn it somewhere in town.
He stood irresolute, holding it in his
hands. Then, all at once, he heard
the front door click open. Doctor
Evans was coming in. There was still
time to escape with his plunder
through the back. But fear paralyzed
Jenkins the irresolute man had found
himself again and the enterprising
criminal who had arisen in him, like
some Mr.. Hyde, had betaken himself
to the neither gloom from which he
sprang.
Jenkins put down the candlestick
and sprang behind the curtains. He
heard Evans enter his office. Through
the open door he saw him sit down
at his desk. The doctor pulled out
pocketbook and heaped up an inn
mense pile of bills before him. Jen-
kins could not see their denomination,
but he knew that each was for five
dollars, the spoils of his few hours Of
office work that day.
There must have been three hum
dred dollars there. Jenkins felt his
fury rising again. The sleek, SNUG
devil! Counting his money. while
Laura would be put out of the hospital
the following day.
1t did not occur to him that she
would merely be transferred to the
free ward. The man was mad at the
moment The loss of his lifelong posi-.
ton had bereft him of his senses. He
crept forward and watched the doctor
with parted lips His hand, stretched
out, closed upon the candlesuck.
That set a new thought running
through his head With that candle.
stick he could batter out the mans
brains. He could take the money
from the dead hand and go. None had
seen him enter. and none would see
him leave in the darkness. Money,
good money, was better than candle.
sticks.
Three hundred dollars! He had
never had so much money in his life
before.
He clutched the candlestick in his
hand and just then Doctor Evans
looked up with start.
"Who is there?" he called.
Jenkins put down the weapon. He
was the old man once more, the weak
man, incapable of anything but the
trained groove-moving thoughts.
Doctor Evans approached the dining
room and suddenly switched on an
electric light beside the door 1t re-
vealed jenkins, standing by the buff
fet, shaking and white. The doctor
stared at him, and suddenly jenkins
saw recognition in his eyes.
why, Mr.. jenkins, how long have
you been waiting for me?" he asked.
And Jenkins perceived that his de-
sign was unsuspected. Doctor Evans
must have thought that the servant
had admitted him through the front
entrance.
Were you anxious about your
wife," he asked. "There is nothing
to worry about. She is doing very
well. And, by the way, she asked me
to give you this. She expected you
tonight and IVES sure that | would
meet you on the way out of the hos.
pital She said 1t was important, and
wanted you to know as soon as posi-.
ble
And he hande Jenkias another let.
ter from the leather company.
Jenkins took it and looked at the
envelope. I'his one was typewriter
too 1t could n.t be tie check. Still,
a check was le. jenkins had for.
gotten that. Tie envelope was open;
Laura had read the contents.
jenkins took out-ths check and q
letter. He rcad
Dear Mr.. Jfhklhs:
I'VE have 1acr1ed to close our agen-
cy in Sequah. Foor busineDs condi.
tions, and other tffairs Of which you
will learn OH yep- arri al here, have
caused reo7gaI iyation CT our branch
system. This re guires me services Of
superinteaGe, with thorough
knowledge o. tb busin Ass. VIII you
accept the 2cst ct a salary of five
thousand?"