The Monticellonian., 1919-10-17

Ing, she sat listlessly in the machine as the Spider sped them over the road To Idle Wild where the bogus "St. Luke's Hospital with it's sign especial iy painted for this purpose by Nor sah' Was situated. As they drove into the carriage way and the handsome building confronted her, she elasped her hands ever her bosom and with d little gasp summoned her fortitude for the ordeal which lay before her. In Front of the door Dr. Fream and his assistant helped her carefully down. and supporting her lightly upon each side, led her within. Eseorting her to the reception room, they seated her. l)r Fream spoke.
 If you will rest and compose your self for few moments. l will go and see in what condition the patient is. II he is well enough to see you. I will take you to him. But I implore you, Miss, to bear this in mind. While expect you will find him alive and con seious, you must be prepared for a 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 white shirt. was standing in a room upstairs which had been fitted up as q hospital private room. when his confederate Fream. entered.
 'ls she here?" he asked The other nodded.
 "Then we'll get husye Placing him. self upon the he'd Morgan covered himself while Fream bandaged his head and the other confederate donned I white hospital internes uniform. When Fream had finished the entire head of the Hawk WIS swathed in handages, save for one eye which had been left unbound that the pretendeI 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 futtering 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.
 ''Yes, he is still alive" he said hur- riedly. He wants you to do some thing-some strange request. If you can comply with it, l 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 sub the bandaged one in the bed, she ut tered low cry and started impulsive- Y 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.
 q am so glad that you are alive dear. You will live for me. John won't you?" By a slight movement of the head. the swathed one indicated that he wished to speak to her. She bent closer to him, her ear turned to catch his whispered words.
 "He asks me to marry him, so if he dies She buried her face in her hands. but regained her self control and looked up at Fream. 'I am ready. Send for minister" she said.
 "It will help him." returned Fream soberly.
 "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 wonder 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 ill ten minutes we will have the thing cinched." Leaping to his feet the Spider went hurrying on his mission.
 Leaving their machine John and Rainface walked up to the house. All was dark within, nor did any re- snonse come to their ringing of the bell. With vague suspicion crawling into their minds they walked about the place. inspecting it closely. Then as the sound of an approaching auto smote their ears, they ran to the front of the building and peeped around corner just as the Spider and another man who was enthusiastically minister entered the door, Now wholly sus- picious and alarmed, they hastened to