The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-03-03
CHAPTER XIII.


At times hated myself as n method
lcal person, but II did no good.
was methodlcal, and from it there was
no escape. / kept n diary. And each
night as ! made an entry, turned back
to the day OF the year before. In doing
so this night l read in the entry of the
previous year: "Mr. Sidney made a
sudden and astonishing recovery Of
strength. He walked about his room
without assistance and was In a high
degree OF animation"
recalled thai night with the sharp
er interest because the entry I was
about TO make this night was substan-
TALLY II not precisely to the same e.
feet MIR. Sidney had again revealed
an astonishing recovery of strength
and had displayed the greatest anlma-
ton. He had asked us to have our
dinner in his room, 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 amlfble servitor, BAN
tered by Mr.. Sidney from time TO time.
Isobel's animation was as infectious as
her fathers, but Mrs. Sidney,
thought, had 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 l wonder that / mad to
read my diary to be refreshed In MEM
ory.
When I had read II, I also saw the
significance. and turning the page In
the record of the year before. read:
"Mr. Sidney is in condition Of ex-
haustiol which might be called q 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, II 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 DIR. Brow
nell that night Of the premonitory
symptoms.
l decided to telephone message to
DIR. Brownell's residence In the city. to
be given to him Immediately II he were
awake or ms 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 came down the stairs to
the main hall. 1t was lighted. and the
stairway leading directly to Mr.. Sid
aey's room was lighted, which indl-
Gated that Jed was still with Mr.. Sid
ney.
The Office door never was locked.
lot Wuht Jtu piuhhcilhS oh ihc
while I was telephoning. He would be
along presently, thought, and de-
cfded TO go out on the main portico
until by the extinguishing Of the lights
l should know he was ON his way to
bed.
was on my way to act on this plan
when the light In the stairway leading
to Mr.. Sidney's room was extingulshed.
and l knew Jed was on his way down.
stairs. / did not have time to reach the
entrance. / doubted that even had
time to retrace my steps. I did not
want to meet Jed. SO stepped into
sort Of little lounging space or the
hail, which was quite. dark.
In few minutes Jed went by. hum
ming. not singing. had expected him
to be very tipsy considering the jo-
vial mood OF Mr.. Sidney 1t had even
occurred to me that once year. on a
certain date-one to be commemorated
MIR. Sidney Joined Jed In the wine
and that this caused the relapse. But
Jed was not drunk, his step was
steady.
CTo BE coNTINUED)