Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-12-28
By
GEORGE ALLAN ENGLAND.

Perfectly. Every symptom and
condition points to perfect success"
How long now? Have they
said?"
Impossible to tell. You must bear
1t till all the indications tell US it is
time to free you"
"A fortnight perhaps?"
Even a month would not be too
great a price to pay for the reward"
comforted her. but it can't be as
long as that, I'm sure. Two weeks at
the outside ought to see you free
being"
She lay there inert moment evil
IDENTIFY thinking. Then she wrote a
single word:
"Patience!" and gave no further
sign Of activity.
Certain changes had taken place in
the cages on her arm, due to the
slight excitement Of the conversation,
and had to make adjustments. These
done and the records set down, once
more took my place beside her, gazing
with wonder and great compassion
at that motionless, swathed form,
within which lay the greatest hopes
OF the Ideal lat man had ever known.
Something of the w'mans stole
fortitude and bravery toul ned me
very deeply. felt new ard strong
:, or sense of love and fidelity to her.
Come what might, | would stand by
her to the end.
Thus that long evening passed.
Hour followed hour fed the patient.
adjusted the implements, and did
all things with accuracy and preci.
sion. Alexandra questioned me no
more but seemed to have settled
down for the long ordeal with Spartan
endurance.
She may have slept again. knew
not; nor did | disturb ner after the
ten.thrty feeding. My orders were
to leave her alone as much as posi-
BILE. No mental or bodily excitement
must be allowed to initiate against
the perfect calm necessary for com
plete success.
Eleven o'clock came and went ;
eleven-thirty midnight. Soon there
after the casson-door swung, and
Vital Ergazy noiselessly appeared
with that peculiar, catlike stiffness OF
his. | smelled the reek of cigarettes
upon him. He stood moment look
ing down at the chrysalis, then turned
to me and with hard glance in those
peculiar eyes asked:
Conscious"
III don't know"
Everything going all right"
Perfectly So
motioned toward the cages anC
the recordcharts on the wall.
you can see for yourself, doc
tor"
So great had my aversion for the
man become that only by an effor
could l maintain the outward sem
bance OF impersonallty.
He nodded, carefully inspected
everything, and stroked his beard
Then with that odd upward gesture
of the hand he dismissed me.
you may go, DOCTOR he said
1T is my watch now. Go and sleep
Very WELL" accepted. "Shal
send you anything coffee or rolls
or anything at all?"
mo. Mrs. Spragg has gone to bee
long since, and I'm perfectly com
Portable, thank you. | bid you goot
night"
His tone was finalty itself.
bowed and retired, thankful for th'
chance to rest for few hours afte
the strain of my long vigil. But frs
looked once more at him, sittins
there beside the bed, his narrowed
blinking gaze fixed on the motonles
form before him.
Something president of evil to com'
through him fell over me- the man.
whole personality exuded evil. 4
strong instinct of protection over Al
exandra welled up in my lreast; hl
there was nothing could aleg,
against Ergazy; there was nothing
could say or do. had only on,
course of action-to obey.
Turning, left the ward. But as
closed the caisson.doors behind No
heavy sense of foreboding oppressed
my tired heart.
As l came put into the broad hall