The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-09-18

MeanWnlle as TO Elnef
Terribly worried at the report
brought by the physicians that John
was badly hurt and in danger Of dy-
,ng, she sat listlessly in the machine
Is the Spider sped them over the road
to. Idle Wild where the bogus "ot.
Luke's Hospital" with it's sign especial
ly painted for this purpose by Nor
gan, was situated. AS they drove into
the carriage way and the handsome
building confronted her, she clasped
her hands over her bosom and with a
little gasp summoned her fortitude for
the ordeal which lay before her. Ip
front Of the door DR.. Fream and his
assistant helped her carefully down,
and supporting her lightly upon each
side, led her within. Escorting her to
the reception room, they seated her.
DR.. Fream spoke.
IF you will rest and compose your
self for few moments, will 60 and
see in what condition the patient is.
If he is we'll enough to see you, I will
take you to him. But I implore you,
Miss, to bear this in mind. While I
expect you will find him alive and con-
scious, you must be prepared for
shock when you first see him. Bow
ing gravely to her he left the room,
while the distressed girl, biting her
lip and with fingers clenched, subdued
her wild impulse to follow him and
throw herself at the bedside Of the
man she loved so dearly.
Morgan, his coat and collar off and
wearing a white shirt, was standing
in a room upstairs which had been
fitted up as hospital private room.
when his confederate, Fream. entered.
''Is she here?" he asked. The other
nodded.
"Then we'll get busy" Placing him
self upon the bed Morgan covered
himself while Fream bandaged his
head and the other confederate donned
q white hospital ;nterne's uniform.
When Fream had finished the entire
head of the Hawk was swathed in
bandages, save for one eye which had
been left unbound that the pretended
sufferer might see. This done, Fream
turned the light low and returned to
the lower floor.
Ethel was standing at the window
looking out into the darkness when
he entered. Noting the fluttering Of
her lips and the heaving of her bosom,
and fearing that she was about to col.
lapse beneath the nervous strain, he
hastened to her.
eyes, he is still alive" he said hur.
riedly. "He wants you to do some
thing-some strange request. If you
can comply with it, I believe it will
help him in his fight for life"
"Anything!" she cried passionately.
"Anything he may ask. Only take me
to him at once" Taking her BY the
arm, he led her from the room.
Softly he opened the door and
| Ethel, feeling herself growing faint
and dizzy, stood gazing into the SUBJ
duedly lighted room. At the sight OF
the bandaged one in the bed, she ut
tered a low cry and started impulsive-
ly forward, but the hand of Fream
held her back.
"Slowly and quietly" he warned in
q low tone. Realizing that she must
control herself, the girl slowed her
pace. She kneeled beside the bed
and one hand lovingly touched the
bandages.
'I am so glad that you are alive,
dear. You will live for me, John,
won't you?" By slight movement OF
the head, tho swathed one indicated
that he wished to speak to her. She
bent closer to him, her ear turned to
catch his whispered words.
ssHe asks me to marry him, so #
he dies She buried her face In her
hands, but regained her self control
and looked up at Fream. II am ready.
Send for q minister" she said.
1T will help him." returned Fream
SoDerly.
"How strange his voice sounds" she
said. A slight smile crept to the lips
of the physician.
"What would you expect when one
has been burned nearly to death, be-
sides being terribly cut? The wopder
is that he can speak at ALL" Silently
she nodded her understanding.
Fream, stepping into the next room,
spoke to the Spider who sat there
! smoking.
'The girl is ready. Take the car and
get the Reverend DR.. Preston and
bring him here as quick as the devil
will let you. Then in ten minutes we
will have the thing cinched." Leaping
to his feet, the Spider went hurrylng
on his mission.
Leaving their machine. John and
Rainface walked up to the house. All
was dark within. nor did any re-
Spouse come to their ringing of the
bell. With vague suspicion crawling
into their minds they walked about
| -1o,o c1ncQ1y Then