The state herald., 1917-03-09

|mld and Embarrassed.
with the Staffords. father and son. than
ever before.
Days and nights Of narrowing fear
dragged over that household. Wealth
had not dulled affection, nor could it
seem to bribe death. Tho fever line
mounted on the nurses chart like
mountain side. and Gloria grew weak
er, except In her deliriums. when she
seemed to be inhabited by demons OF
ferocious strength.
At length David felt that Doctor
Wakefield had been given all the time
to experiment with Glorias life that
could be afforded. He was for calling
In o young man Of the newest school
Of medical art. He called for Doc
tor Royce. Royce came with no hesi-
tation over medical ethics or cour-
tesies. Gloria was more than q pa
tient to him. and old Wakefield was
less than doctor In his eyes, after
he had questioned the Staffords as to
the manner OF Doctor Wakefield's
treatment. Things were, as he feared.
all wrong. 1t was life or death Doc
tor Wakefield could not cope with the
disease. He must be dispossessed AZ
politely as possible.
Doctor Wakefield, he learned, was In
the sickroom above. Royce would not
mince matters or wait on professional
etiquette. He felt the eagerness OF
q lover in coming once more to the
rescue Of his idolized Gloria
He ran up the stairs and walked into
the room. He hardly knew his Gloria
when he saw her. She was in the
throes Of wild delirium. She imag-
ined herself once more among tho
Seminoles who had held her in bond
age when she ran away in Florida five
years before.
In her tormenting fancy she was
again dressed a. . squaw and set 70
the task Of gathering frewood and
subjected to the worse task Of endur-
ing the old squaw's hatred and the
young chiefs love. She begged him
to kill her rather than marry her. and
she fought with all>her fury. seising
Wakeneld's white hair with one hand
and the nurses black locks with the
other.
There was no quieting her outcries.
Take mo home; my father u rich!
He will mako you rich! oh. they don't
believe me! Help! Help!" Then she
smiled and cried: "Dick, Dick, It's
you! You'll save me! Blessed. beloved
Dick! Oh. I'm 10 glad. 20 glad you
found mel"
Then the frenzy left her and she
sank back exhausted, but content. Doc.
tor Royce realized that he had two
antagonists now to nght-Death and
Richard Freneau-both Of them try.
ing to take from him the girl Of his
heart.
Death was the frst to fight. Royce
was too desperate to treat Doctor
Wakefield with much formaiity. He
asked . few questions which reused
tho iro Of tho old physician. He a.
amined tho patient. threw OF the
smothering blankets and exclaimed.
Fresh air II the best and only treat
mont for pneumonia" He dung up the
window. showed 0ioria's bed against II.
and let the cold air from the
river sweep into the room and Into her
tormented lungs.
Almost at once her breathing be.
came less labored. Doctor Wakefield
left in a. dignined . rage - he could
manage. Royce threw away all the
Wakefield medicines and gave the
nurse now set Of instructions. The
nurse. at least. whom Doctor Wake
neld had prescribed. seemed . capA-
Bile one. Royce welcomed her - .
valuable aid In the gruesoms eight.
He arranged to stay all night, and a.
layed poor old 6taRord's fears - best
ho could. But his own head was near
10 breaking with terror for the safety
Of Gloria's sweet life-snd for her hap
piness II she lived.
ITO BU CONTINtIEnl