Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-11-04
FREDERICK COUNTY, MD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4 1915.

self that 1t would not be he, but the
fever that would kill the drunkard
above. But he was too honest for
that.
81 am going to kill him." he said.
and dropped drop into tumbler Of
water. From this he took two drops
and let them fall,into the medicine.
He shook the bottle. He went up
stairs.
1.-TWO teaspoonfuls in an hour,
nurse, he said to Molly. Call me II
he shows signs of change for the
worse. He ought to pull through, how
ever. with this atropin."
He looked down at the face Of the
unconscious man. There had been not
the slightest change; he was breath
ing slowly and the almost impercepti-
BILE pulse had hardly varied beat.
He went into his room and lay down
on the sofa. He could not sleep, but,
awaiting the summons, he reviewed
his action and justified It, II not In
the. sight of God, at least In that Of
man.
1t was nearly two hours later when
the summons came. There was
light tap at the door. Dyce sprang to
his feet and opened 1t. Before him
stood the nurse.
"Come at once!" she whispered
tensely. II am afraid-something Is
happening to him, doctor"
He hurried up the stairs and into
the room. A single glance showed him
that the man was dying. The crisis
had come and passed. There was
hardly flicker Of life. At that in
stant Dyce was afraid for the first
time In his life. He was afraid that
the dying man would open his eyes
and look at him. He felt his hands
trembling. Molly, beside him, clung
to the foot OF the bed and stared at
her husband.
But the dying man gave no sign OF
recognition. Slowly the remnants Of
life faded out. The breathing grew
deeper and slower. Once it stopped,
then it began again. 1t stopped.
There followed long-drawn sigh. The
man was dead.
And Molly, suddenly overcome.
tainted clean away.
Dyce raised her In his arms and
carried her into the nurses room. He
told the night superintendent what
had occurred. "She has been over
working" he said.
"She wouldn't leave the patient
DOCTOR" answered the woman She
had your permission, sir"
Quite right" said Dyce He
worked over Molly until she began to
revive. And now he had again that
singular dread OF meeting human
eyes. He could not meet Molly's
eyes when at last they opened and
fixed themselves on his. Though the
girl did not suspect. 1t almost seemed
as II she had known, in that dim land
to which her swoon had taken her.
And, though they were alone, Dyce
did not dare tc speak Of anything but
his professional duties.
You must 60 to bed now, and we
will talk in the morning" he said
you have done all that you could
do. You could not save him, nor l.
The atropin came too late. should
have given 1t yesterday, but l was
afraid"
She rose without speaking and left
the room. Dyce went back into his
own room. And, finging himself down
on the sofa, he felt the paroxysms OF
deadly fear take hold Of him.
He was a murderer, though none
knew of it but himself. He alone must
bear that inner brand of Cain for the
rest of his life. At that moment even
the gain of Molly seemed singularly
inadequate in the place Of the soul
which he had lost.
A murderer! For ever and for ever
that word would be burned into his
heart and brain. The years would pass
with Molly, and she must never know,
she must never discern the cause of
his inner unrest. A murderer! And
for her sake!
He saw how mad he had been. At
the time he dropped the drug into
the glass he had sincerely believed
that he was acting according to the
laws of human duty. Now he felt
the burden of that higher law which
says: Thou shalt not kill"
He could bear it no longer. He
rose and began pacing the floor. But
suddenly he remembered that he was
not wholly safe from detection, not 80
long as that tell-tale bottle remained
beside the atropin upon the table.
He snatched 1t up. Then his hand
fell to his side, and he was staring in
wild amazement at the bottle. 1t was
uncorked. 1t had never been opened!
The autcmatism Of his hand had
been guided, not by his cool and calcu-
lating brain, but by some higher pow
er. Perhaps it was God! He had
given the sick man atropin after all,
and not the deadly alkaloid. He had
never touched the waxed stopper OF
the Inacinite!
Suddenly he fell upon his knees and
poured forth his heart in thanksgiving.
He had not prayed for years; now he
prayed for mercy, that the evil thought
might be purged from his soul even
as the deed had been.
When he arose he was transfgured.
In an ectasy OF happiness he hardly
heard the door open until Molly stood
on the threshold.
20 thank God 1t Is all right" she
cried. II was afraid was afraid
you cannot guess what feared!"
'And now you fear no longer"
Your face, Charles! Upstairs it
was so clouded, and horrible thoughts
came to me; but now know it Is all
right [ dared to nlistrust YOU. Can