Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-06-26
THE PLOTTERS
A New Serial of East and West
BY Virginia Terhune Van de Water

"I shall not go out before eleven
o'clock" he replied.
'Well-I want to ask you about
! this crazy notion that John has now
of working on a farm you men
toned. Tell me what it is all about
Douglas had anticipated this de-
mand, and in the silent midnight
4 watches had thought out his re-
Gently and tactfully, he explained
the situation, prefacing the eXplana-
ton by the statement that he had
/ specialized in nervousness diseases
at q famous French university, sc
was more than casually interested
in John Buffers case. What John
needed was complete change of
scene and thought, an abundance of
] terest. Would Mrs. Wade trust her
son to the care of a man of whom
she knew very little?
All the way through the CONVEX
sation the young physician was
careful not to suggest that large
! part of the patients troubles were
| due to too assiduous maternal at
tention. Yet he did intimate that
John would be better off where
he could not turn to his mother
with every complaint
She Finally consents
Mrs. Wade listened eagerly to
Wade's proposal that the invalid be
allowed to spend the Summer on
the Wade farm in New Hampshire.
When at last she spoke her voice
trembled
II dread to send my boy from
me-" she said, 'and yet / have taken
him to so many physicians and have
done so many things for him-and
all in vain-that 1 am at my wits
end. 1t does seem cruel that
woman with as much money as
have cannot save her only son from
what threatens to be complete
and permanent breakdown"
You can save him from that,
really believe" her companion re-
assured her. Will you trust him to
me?"
She arose impulsively, and the
man rose, too. Holding out both
hands to him, she looked straight
into his honest eyes.
DIR. Wade, if you can save my
boy, if you can prevent his becom-
ing the wreck that l dread, l will
pay you any sum you name, and
will always be your friend"
Douglas Wade smiled down at her
kindly. II will do my best he
promised, "and we will not talk of
money until we see the result of my
efforts. But must ask you to leave
your boy completely to me and not
interfere, even if you think l am
permitting him to bury his genius
in the wilds of New England"
"'Oh, I will promise anything you
ask" she said. But it is very hard
on me-"
IT know it," the man sympathized
But the game is worth the candle"
During his solitary office-hours
that afternoon, Douglas Wade wrote
long letter to his sister.
He reminded her that she had
expressed the wish that she could
do something - anything = to help
him. He was about to give her an
opportunity to prove the sincerity
of that wish. She had told him
she had a talent for dramatics.
and follow the instructions which
he would now give her-although
to do this would mean much
thought and not a little tact.
Many Directions
Then there came several pages
of large letter paper filled with di-
rections as to the course she was
to pursue. The writer went into
full particulars on the nervous con-
dition of his patient, and on the pro-
posed plan of curative treatment.
II must have a clever and inter-
ested person on the ground to see
that my orders are carried out" he
explained. will you do all that
ask? Let Chaplin and his wife know
that Butler is a farming expert
that is all. You can say that he
has not been well, and is combin-
ing business and recreation by
spending the summer on my farm.
Make them understand that you do
not wish your identity known to
this man. Let them think that l
am paying him for his valuable ad-
vice and assistance. Telegraph me
at once and tell me If you under
stand my scheme and if you agree
to it."
A special delivery stamp was put
on the letter, and Douglas Wade
sailed forth at sunset to mail it.
For the next three days he found
t. hard to conceal his nervousness.
When at last his sisters telegram
arrived, his hands trembled as he
opened it.
"Will do what you direct" he
read. Thanks for chance. Am
writing"
The man laughed tremulously as
he re-read the message. Just ten
words!" he exclaimed approvingly,
Even in her excitement, Eliza
beth is busin ess-like and econom-
ical. Between us. we'll see this
thing through"
Three days later her letter came,
approving of his action and prom
ising her hearty cooperation.
BY the time the letter had ar
rived. John Buffers plans for de-
parture from Riverhill were com
p1eted, and he was ready to take
the next train TO the East and to
the New Hampshire farm.
10 Be Continued.