The Washington times., 1918-06-22
Part One-(Continued)

ever II Is HO1 SAAAA AAOA lOsS my
friendship 1 am not that sort Of
woman. Dr. Fleetwood, I am not
forcing your confidence from idle
curiosity. I am In the dark myself
over many things I have had q
strange Impression about you from
the first day we met. What you
have told me today. has half en-
iiEhtened me, but only half ! must
know ALL must"
He ventured to take her hand
She allowed IL to rest for a mo-
ment in his.
Il would not hurt you" he said. Il
DO not know that there is anything in
my story to hurt you.but il there were
! should never forgive myself I am
more afraid that you will despise me
for the part played. However, as you
command. obey. You shall hear all"
Promises Not to Interrupt.
Thank you" said Esther simply.
See, / will SIT down again and be very
calm I will not interrupt you IL can
help # You may speak unreservedly."
She sank back into her chair, and IL
her heart beat painfully she gave no
indication Of It in her face. She had
determined TO keep herself veil under
control. There's Just one question I
should like to ask before you 90 on"
she added. TT is this: Did you make
no attempt 10 trace the spot where
these events happened? am surprised
that the name Of BOrradale was unfa-
miliar 70 you. Was there nothing to
suggest a Connection"
No he replied. nothing. I have
no idea even now where l was taken
10. I asked DR.. French about the
strange little old man whom he was
49,
he professed utter ignorance OF aim.
He distinctly denied having sent any
one TO me that night 1 spoke about
the lunatics in the strange house. but
he knew nothing Of them either.
Tied to follow the way had travelled
in the motor. but IL was a hopeless
task. ! consulted mapS. but IN vain.
At last / told myself that u was best
to drop all such attempts and to keep
my experiences TO myself. II I spoke
% them people had q way OF suggest
ing that had been dreaming, and I
did not like that So kept quiet cut
you have been 20 kind TO me. such .
real friend. tina I knew you VouIi be-
lieve me. and % decided TO speak
Something has Weighed rather heavily
upon my mind. and wanted your ad-
vice"
4 will give it," said Esther sort
~. Now please so on with the
story In your own way. When I In
corrupted you, you had Just finish
Cd making your examination OF
Basil"
All" said Fleetwood. IT had not
mentioned that my patients name
was the same as my own, put I see
YOU know It."
Yes" returned Esther softly, I
know it He was called Basil
Clare"
Fleetwood inclined his head grave
y, then he continued HIS tale.
Old Man Angry 1t Delay.
II saw at once that the young
mAn-BasiI was his name. as
learnt later-was in such a condi-
tion that 1t was hopeless TO think
OF allowing him TO leave his bed,
as they evidently wished him 10 do,
and I said 80 forcibly. At this the
old man seemed terribly incensed.
But he must he said irritably.
7 tell you he must. II is absolutely
necessary. For an hoUr-it need
not be longer than that. For one
hour tomorrow night He may stay
where he is until then, and after
ward YOU may keep him in bed as
long as you like. You may be
Surely that can be manaEedZ
= will not be responsible for the
consequences II you allow such a
thing I said severely. and what il
more, you will md Il impossible.
This man IL unconscious now from
terrible blow on the head. which
has produced conclusion. He will
probably remain unconscious for
many hours. will do my best for
hin. but l can say no more than
that
The conversation was continued.
but naturally I remained infexible.
The result was that the two men
went out, leaving me with my pa
':cnt, for whom ! did all that could
be done under the circumstances.
They had rejected all my proposals
FOR a trained nurse and the regu-
lar attention OF some medical man
VINO might be settled somewhere
nearer the house Than I: they could
do all that was required in the mat
ter Of nursing. u-ey said. IL ! would
dress the wounds. their main trou-
bic had been the ~scessity OF keep
:ng this appointment; and they had
hoped that & doctor could have as
sisted them 20 the desired end
They adopted an attitude OF irrita-
non against me for sny Obstinacy:
r. much 50 that / threatened to
leave the house at once and report
lie case to the nearest police
SITmber RudeIy Disturbed.
Well, I made my patient as
comfortable as ! could. and when
lad finished the old man returned
TO the room and suggested that I
needed rest His friend. he said,
would sit up all night: It was his
business. ] could be called at a mo-
ments notice. Accordingly ] was
conducted to another bed room close
by, where ] was glad enough to
throw myself down and snatch a
lew hours sleep. ! remember vague
~ that my rest was disturbed by
horrible noises in the house, cries
and yells such as / had heard on
my arrival, and once / thought that
the door OF my room was violently
shaken. / was glad then that Il
had been locked upon me. The
whole atmosphere Of the place was
frightening, and deeply regretted
that I had been inveigled into the
adventure. Yet how could /. a doc
tor. refuse to go?T
Il was left undistuTbed till about
10 o'clock the next day. when the
old man entered the room. He look
ed very much as he had the night
before: the white muffler still COW
ering the lower part Of his face.