Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-03-03

Iunu or cunning that he mad never |
suspected could exist in him. He re-
called that the doctor was bachelor,
he knew that he was at the hospital
in the evening. He had 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 fimsy screen that
covered it. He had seen that during
his visits, and remembered that, once
over the fence, he could not be seen
from the windows. He found the
fence, scaled 1t, and crouched COVER
ing on the other side.
The house was dark. except for a
single light in the dining room. Jen-
kins could see the silver even now.
1t cleaned derisively upon the buffet.
His gorge rose. He walked steadily
toward the back door. 1t stood wide
open. 1t was not even clasped.
prosperous SeQuah.
Perhaps somebody was on the prem
ises, though. There must be servants.
He knew the doctor had housekeep-
er. But 1t was not likely that she
would be on the first floor. Jenkins
walked in very softly and took sill
yer candlestick from the buffet. He
knew by the touch that ii was of pure
metal. That alone would more than
pay Laura's bill. No doubt he could
pawn it somewhere III 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 plumber
through the back. But fear paralyzed
Jenkins; the irresolute mau 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 a
pocketbook and heaped up an i'm
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 hun
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
with parted lips. His hand stretched
out, closed upon the candlestick.
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 dollarsl 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 a 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-mcving 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 unsupported. 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
we'll And, by the way, she asked me
to give you this. She expected yoJ
tonight and was sure that 1 would
meet you on the way out of the hos
pital. She said it was important, anC
wanted you to know as soon as posi-
BILE.
And he handed Jenkins another let
ter from the leather company
Jenkins took it and looked at tn,
envelope. This one was typewriter
too. 1t could not be the check. Still
a check was due. Jenkins had for
gotten that. The envelope was open
Laura had read the contents.
Jenkins took out-the check and |
letter. He read: