The Monmouth inquirer., 1919-05-08
COpyfiSut,
The Frank A. Munsey Co.

"We are prepared to pay you one
hundred dollars week as mini
mum, with a bonus of five hundred
at the end of the case if your work is
satisfactory which is not in the
least to be questioned. viii you con-
slider such an offer?'
More than that" I answered; Il
accept it = providing, of course, that
the case is legitimate and involves no
legal risk. You understand me-"
perfectly, perfectly" he asserted,
raising his hand in the characteristic
gesture later came to know SO well.
"The patient is"
"a woman, age twenty-five. Very
cultured and agreeable. No unpleas-
ant or Illegal features to fear, what.
ever. Nothing at all questionable.
Just an operative case, you under
stand.
IF 1 misrepresent anything at all
YOU shall have a written and legally
witnessed guarantee that you are at
liberty to withdraw, with four weeks
salary. That is eminently fair,
think"
perfectly. Where is this opera
ion to be performed"
"At a kind of private sanitorium
out on Long Island-an old colonial
house, rather, that we have fitted up
especially for our work. We have en-
gagged woman to cook and do the
housework. There will be only one
patient, as l have told you.
"The case, l know, VIII not only be
profitable to you from financial
standpoint, but will also afford you
large opportunities for learning. You
will see some unusual work done, and
will largely extend your surgical and
medical knowledge. l know you will
never regret your decision to come.
Secrecy, you understand, is sine
qua non in the matter. Quite essential.
Nobody at all must be Informed OF
YOUR whereabouts or employment
Can you promise that?"
Easily. When shall Gomez"
Again l seemed to hear the inner
warming: Tragedy"
But now, even had / wished it, re-
treat was out of the question. Here
l was; here l must stay. The game
must be played through.
Ergazy knocked vigorously. Steps
sounded within. The latch lifted, a
chain ratified. and the door swung in
ward.
Why had not Ergazy been able TO
open it himself?
Why had it been locked?
l had not time even to ponder the
question. AS the door opened l heard
a sound of music-a piano OF unusual
richness, over which a skilled and
melancholy hand lingered-end saw a
man standing in the cblong Of light
cut in the gloom by the illumination
within.
"Ah. Here at last?" the man cried
with a marked French accent. "And
you have her, see?"
Happy to say I have" replied
Ergazy, stepping into the hallway
"Dr. Bloss, allow me to present my
friend and colleague, DR.. Andre
Brodeur."
The Frenchman took my hand
bowed and kissed it, quite in story
book style-my first experience of his
courtly, whimsical, yet charming way
DIR. BIoss, welcome you;" said
he. Nov our little triumyirate is
completed. 1 am more glad than
can tell to see you here!"
"Triumvirate! exclaimed Ergazy
with a certain malice. "And one OF
/ us a woman?"
He dropped my bag and blinked at
me.
"Ah, that matters nothing" smiled
/ Brodeur. 'Tn science sex counts for
nothing. DR.. Bloss is one with US in
this work. Triumyirate. l repeat"
He closed the door.
Success is asured." he went on
"Esery condition is perfect. The re
suit is absolutely certain All contin
/ gencies are foreseen and provided for
With the care and nursing that you
can give, DR. Bloss. the thing is al
ready as good as done. 1 congratu-
late Ergazy on having induced you to
come, and myself on being privileged
to work with you"
I thanked him. smiling at his ex
uberance, and glanced about me. try
ing to form some preliminary estimate
of the place to which luck-good OF
bad, knew not-had brought me.
The music had ceased. l seemed to
/ feel that l was being observed, but
could see no one else.
Mrs Spragg! Oh, Mrs. Spragg!
called Ergazy loudly.
An uneasy little silence followed. Il
was but moment, however; for now
the hsusekeeper appeared, rubbing
her thin, gnarled hands together anc
bobbing her head like some queel
kind of mechanical toy, with man
ner altogether disconcerting tC
strange eyes.
A curious old creature, Mrs. Sprays
spare and nervous, with a little
wisp of hair hardly covering hel