The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-03-10
OPIUM AND OLIVIA
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.
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A. young Doctor Rylance stepped
swiftly out IT his office. a shining
bauble caught his eye with - -liSten
in the bright morning sunshine He
stuoped and picked IL up.
Even to his eyes. ignorant rs 10 the
price Of feminine adorument, the locket
fairly screamed aloud its worth from
the costly mass of jewels in the gold
frame.
Hump, I'll like To get the value
Of that locket for every appendix |
expect To cut OUT" h. rumiuutel. Il
would soon have my own Shtu-le
hanging out wherever l wanted IT."
There was 4 mysterious catch that
gave The doctor no little amusement
AMI trouble before he could open the
tightly closed locket. When his
fingers discovered the secret and the
locket flew open his eyes expanded.
then contracted. in professional Scru-
tiny.
The locket was filled with tiny
/ opium pills,
Dope" muttered the doctor. In
/ voluntarily he sighed. There was 50
much wreckage floating about the
world. Here was startling evidence Of
! human tragedy. Some WretChed wom-
an was no doubt suffering the tor
! lures Of the condemned because she
had lost her opium.
His inner conviction was that the
woman. whoever she might be-. would
never claim the locket for fear her
CHASTITY skeleton should Become public
property.
Skeptical though he was rs 10 re-
suits, he inserted a well-worded al
verriSement in the daily papers. He
limited at secrecy. He wanted I" pro-
recr the woman from needless suffer
Ing following fear Of exposure, strict
est confidence was promised.
When Olivia We>tin found the adj
yertiSement abe had been seeking
her eyes lighted in triumph until they
twitChed with excitement.
She arose and took up the tele-
phone The number she called was
Doctor Rylance was in his office
When he took up the telephone re-
ceiver little snatch of song was
waited along the wire. After that de-
lightful sound Olivia's voice reached
him.
Il am most anxious about my lock
ct" she said.
II am sorry I opened IT," RylanC,
said 70 her. But as you may know, {
mans curiosity is Il thing quite be
yond his power 10 control" He ap
preciated the little laugh that bound
ell along the wires. when can yot
call for the Iocket?" He was con
scious Of keen desire 10 study thi:
opium fiend Mt close range.
} Il will call this afternoon" Olivia
said eagerly.
The growing tone in her voic'
, caused the doctor 10 sigh as he hun:
l up the receiver. II was evident tha
: she was joyous over the prospect o
rpgaining her lost property.
When the neat little nurse who act
Olivia II was nearing the twilight hour
: The doctor was forced swiftly 70 hi
{ feet. Having expected human wreck
;. age in one of its most terrifying form,
c the sight of Olivia was frightfully III
: setting.
e "It was silly of me 10 los" my pre-
q Cious lOcket." she said. II don't knON
: how IL happened. It is usually so st
= cure" She gazed calmly, If admin
ingly. ar Rylance.
e "YOu-yOu don't look like an opiur
e fiend." was his startled sOmment.
/ Olivia laughed cleefully.
Q Neither am l." she told him.
d am only a poor. harmless writer who's
e brain has been squeezed dry of ever
b plot that IL ever possessed. | hadn
f written story for ten whole days
She turned tragic eyes full upon Dot
q tor Rylance without needing the effe'
8 on his masculine senses. 81 dell
K erately lost my locket-just TO see VIII
s would find it and"
J. But what thieves are you ass
e clateu WIFI lTbul NHpll E'u 'b'h'
It Opium?" he questioned. ITS a Grim
t you know"
l. "My brother" said Olivia lOftiI
d with flaming cheeks, 'iS chemist"
l. "And fool if he gives you opiui
J. to make plots for stories out of"
II "He-he didn't give it tn me.
IS knew where it was kept" She glance
I'D swiftly in defense of her brothe
HE thinks me all kinds of a FOOLS
;e person because of the things | do
10 get atmosphere for stories"
a. Doctor Rylance was looking at h
d. in n way entirely uncalled for, COnSi
n ering the newneSs Of the acquaintan'
In Olivia feared. from the manner
le which her heart had taken 10 beatin
le that something other than shO
q story was going 10 be the outcome
le her act. Never had ii acted in tn
Id unusual way in the search for mat
rial.
le You may be silly" Rylance final
re voiced some Of the thoughts runnir
IL riot in his brain during that long NEE
st ing with OIivia's eyes, but you n
as also-many other things-Of mu'
ds nicer order" He rejoiced ar the swi
;z.o