The Washington times., 1918-04-19
Part One-(continued)

WnlNe a. the mower ne wore.
"oh. say It isn't true. DR.. VIII
braham, please, Please say 1t isn't
trueF'
He pleaded like a child in fear
of punishment
Il cannot say that. unfortu-
nately." said the surgeon. 4 can
only tell you that the knife may
possibly save your life"
Moncrief sank back into his
chair. Il am very M" he said
family. 1--WE thought for some
time past that my health was fail
ing. II was due 10 this. On. OF
course. see II now. Il was due
wHbraham could have laughed
aloud:
You are FAINT he said. I can
understand that this has been a ter
rible shock to you. will give-you
something that will revive you
Then we had better suggest the sub
ject OF the necessary operation
that is, ~ you choose to put your
self In my hands"
''Oh, must IL be done at once7-
The man sat huddIed up in his
chair, his arms hanging helplessiy.
q wretched figure The white car
MAAAgM AAA4 AAhGm AN0AA US ~0AN -
the floor. This was q different ng-
ure. indeed, from the one who had
entered the room 30 jauntily, sure
OF himself. and OF the success OF his
object Those discriminating papers
which he carried In his breast
pocket were now quite forgotten;
he might have hurled them away.
as he had thrown the money that
burdened his pockets In Adderiy
Park.
Wilbraham had formed a fairly
shrewd idea OF Moncriefs object IN
visiting him. It was another at
tempt at blaekmail. 30 he told him
self: the agents wild denunciation
OF useless operations and 50 forth
proved very clearly what was in
his mind. This knowledge made
the surgeon all the more implaea-
BILE
There must be no delay II you
wish me to save your life" he said.
cit Il a case OF urgency. Tomor-
row"
"oh. not tomorrow for heavens
sake. not TOMORROW
A Deemed MAJ.
Monerief Eulped and tried to
moisten his dry lipe with his tongue
Cant you give me some brandy"
lhe asked hOrsely-s
"Iwin give you somethiHs even
better"
The surgeon rose and went TO a
cupboard, in which stood an array
OF bottle md iars. He took q med
icine giasssand carefully measured
into IL certain liquids in definite
g<-rkFlu. = In
crystals and stirred Ill they dis
solved.
Monerief drained the Elass. and a.
he was doing so Wilbraham crossed
to the, door and locked it. He with
drew the key and dropped it into his
pocket.
What vile stuff.T Moncrief push
ed the glass away from him with an
impatient gesture. Then he noticed
what the surgeon had done.
why are you locking the door,"
he asked. nervously.
Wilbraham strobe back to the
chair upon which the financial agent
was huddled. His tall figure tow
cred above his victim.
Mr.. Moncrief," he said. "I have
been playing with you. Il has
amused me to make you suffer. Il
was the beginning OF my revenge"
What the devil do you mean?'
Moncrief staggered to his feet.
Il mean what I say. I am play
ing no longer. You were afraid Of
death when there was no cause.
You may fear IT. now in reality.
You are a doomed man"
What? What? I don't under
stand
Il have given you a fatal dose Of
poison"
You VIII soon BE Dead.
Il have given you a fatal dose Of
poison" The surgeon repeated the
words slowly and emphatieally,
keeping his eyes fixed upon his
enemy as he spoke. 1t was also
evident. that he was prepared to
meet a sudden attack should one be
made.
"It isn't true-it can't be true.
You are playing some Internal game
upon me-" Moncrief was elutching
the arms OF the chair on which he
sat with nervous, twitchinE fingers.
His whole body was eraned for
ward: the pupils OF his eyes were
horribly dilated.
1T is absolutely true. In halt an
hour"-wnbraham calmly glanced
at his watch-'yes, l win give you
half an hour. but IL will be ? pain
full one. and II will end with a Still
more painful death"
"You devil-you devil" For q
moment Moncrief sat utterly over
whelmed by the horror OF his posi-
tion, then he sprang up and threw
himself upon the surgeon, hitting
blindfy, aimlessly, like a man DOS
sessed.
wflbraham had no difficulty in
avoiding the blows. He stepped
aside and stood by the hearth
watching. a grim smile on his lips,
while MoneTief. maddened and
frenzied, beat the air with his
fists.
A RaVlnE Maniac.
That for you-Snd that-and
that" the terror-strlcken man
was crying. "You have poisoned
me, have you? Well. you shall die.
too. I'll beat you till you cry for
mercy; I'll drag you TO hell with
me. That blow got home, did II:
You devil, take that one, too"
II was terrible TO see him On his
mania. His fists cOllided with
chairs, and his fingers became ree-
dened with blood. He saW this
himself. and fancied that the blood
was that OF his enemy.