The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1920-10-28
CHAPTER Kill.

At times hated myself as method
ical person, but it did no good. /
was methodical,. and from it there was
no escape. I kept diary. And each
night as made an entry, turned back
to the day of the year before. In doing
so this night read in the entry Of the
previous year: "Mr. Sidney made
sudden and astonishing recovery of
strength. He walked about his room
without assistance AID was in high
degree of animation"
recalled that night with the sharp
er interest because the entry I was
about to make this night was substan-
tally if not precisely to the same eff
feet. Mr.. Sidney had again revealed
an astonishing recovery of strength
and had displayed the greatest ANNA
ton. He had asked us to have our
dinner in his room, a thing very sell
dom done, and he had been wonderful
as the majestic, courteous head of the
family, full of humor and joviality.
Jed was an amiable servitor, BAN
tered by Mr.. Sidney from time to time.
Isobel'S animation was as infectious as
her fathers, but Mrs. Sidney,
thought, had a look Of apprehension
In her eyes which was something apart
from the pleasant smile On her face.
She seemed to find the occasion Sig
nificant, and I wonder that / had to
read my diary to be refreshed in men,
DRY.
When I had read 1t, also saw the
significance, and turning the page in
the record of the year before, l read:
'Mr. Sidney is in a condition of ex-
haustio1 which might be called a COM
plete and dangerous collapse.
DR.. Brownell, summoned in alarm,
says that during his acquaintance with
the case this transition overnight from
extraordinary activity to exhaustion
has been noted once every year and
at approximately the same time of the
year, If not precisely on the same
date"
The apprehension which Mrs. Sid
ney could not wholly conceal had this
good foundation. Mr.. Sidney was in
the periodic miracle of renewed health
and strength, but for whatever cause.
he would be found tomorrow morning
in a precarious condition of weakness.
The event seemed so certain that I
thought it best to acQuaint DR.. Brow
nell that night of the premonitory
symptoms.
I decided to telephone a message to
DR.. Brownell's residence in the city, to
be given to him Immediately if he were
awake or as soon as he arose in the
morning. I did not want to be over
heard, by any chance, by any one. in
telephoning this premonitory message,
and thought that the Office would be
my most secure place.
The house was not yet in full dark
ness when I came down the stairs to
the main hall. It was lighted, and the
stairway leading directly to Mr.. Sid
1ey's room was lighted, which indf
Gated that Jed was still with Mr.. Sid
ney.
The Office door never was locked. I
did not want Jed laundering in on me
while was telephoning. He would be
along presently, 1 thought, and de-
cided to go out on the main portico
until by the extinguishing Of the lights
I should know he was on his way to
bed.
l was on my way to act on this plan |
when the light in the stairway leading |
to Mr.. Sidney's room was extinguished, |
and knew Jed was on his way down
stairs. / did not have time to reach the !
entrance. l doubted that I even had |
time to retrace my steps. 1 did not |
want to meet Jed. So I stepped into a |
sort of little lounging space OF the |
hall, which was quite dark.
In few minutes Jed went BY hum
ming, not singing. I had expected him |
to be very tipsy, considering the jo- |
vial mood of Mr.. Sidney it had even |
occurred to me that once year, on a |
certain date-One to be comm.':1orated |
Mr.. Sidney Joined Jed in the vino
and that this caused the relapse. i;U:
Jed was not drunk, his step VAS
steady.
(TO BE CONTINUEp.l