The St. Charles herald., 1922-07-01

upon the couch In the library, and as
the sound Of its heavy breathing
reached her; and the wild fancy which
had come to her when the servants
had told her Of what was going on
a fancy that Uncle Benny had come
back-was banished instantly.
Alan led her into the room across
from the library.
"You shouldn't have come in," he
said. II shouldn't have let you in;
but-you saw him."
"YeS."
do you know him?"
Know him?' She shook her head.
'I mean, you've never seen him be-
foreY
mo"
"His name Is Luke-he speaks of
himself by that name. Did you ever
hear my father mention a man named
LukeT
"No; never"
Luke's voice cut suddenly their con-
versation: the doctor probably had
given him some stimulant.
"Where'sh Ben Corvetr' Luke de-
manded arrogantly Of the doctor.
'You 60 get Ben Corvet! Tell Ben
Corvet I wart drink right away. Tell
Ren Corvet I want my thousan' dol
lar !"
Constance. turned swiftly to her
maid. go out to the car and wait
| for me-" she commanded.
| Luke's muffled, heavy voice went on !;
moments while he fought for breath
interrupted it.
"You hear me, you d-n Injin! i. . u.
| You 60 tell Ben Corvet I want my
| thousan' dollars, or make 1t two mex
| time! You hear me; you so tell Ben
| Corvet. You let me 60, you
d-n Injin!"
| Through the doorway to the library
they could see the doctor force Luke
back upon the couch; Luke fought him
furiously; then, suddenly as he had
stirred to strength and fury, Luke COL
lapsed again. His voice went on a
moment more, and rapidly growing
weaker:
"You tell Ben Corvet I want my
money, or I'll tell. He knows what
I'll tell. You don't know, you
Injin devil. Ben Corvet knows,
and I know. Tell him I'll tell
|. I'll tell I'll tell" The
threatening voice stopped suddenly
Constance. very pale. again faced
Alan. "Of course, I understand" she
said. "Uncle Benny has been paying
blackmail to this man. For years, per-
haps. ;" She repeated the word
after an instant, in frightened voice,
"Blackmail
"Won't you please 60, Miss Sher-
rinY' Alan urged her. ut was good
Of you to come; but you mustn't stay
now. He's-he's dying, Of course"
She seated herself upon chair.
"Pm going to stay with you" she said
simply. It was not, she knew, to share
the waiting for the man in the next
room to die; in that, Of itself, there
could be nothing for him to feel. 1t
was to be with him while realization
which had come to her was settling
upon him, Generalization Of what
this meant to him. He was realizing
that, she thought; he had realized 1t +;
It made him, at moments, forget her
while, listening for sounds from the
other room. he paced back and forth
beside the table or stood staring
away, clinging to the portieres. he
left her presently, and went across the
hell to the doctor.
''Is he deadY Constance heard him
ask.
"Not yet" the doctor answered; "but
It won't be long, now"
There's nothing you can do to make
him talk-bring him to himself long
enough so that he will tell what he
keeps threatening to tell?"
The doctor shrugged. "How many
times, do you suppose. he's been drunk
and still not told7 Concealment is his
established habit now. It's an inhibi
tion; even In wandering, he stops shor1
Of actually telling anything"
Alan came back to Constance. Ont
side, the gray Of dusk was spreading
and within the house 1t had grown
dark. It was very quiet in the library
she could not even hear Luke's breath
ing now. Then the doctor came out t
them.
"It's over" he said to Alan. There's
law covering these cases; you may
not be familiar with 1t. I'll make out
the death certificate pneumonia ant
weak heart with alcoholism. But tht
police have to be notified at once; vol
have no choice as to that. I'll lool
after those things for you, IL yor
want"
| "Thank you; II you WILL" Alan went
with the doctor to the door and saw
him drive away. Returning, he drew
the library portieres; then, coming
back to Constance, he picked up hel
mum and collar from the chair wher,
she had thrown them, and held then
out to her.
| you'll 60 now. Miss Sheriff." ht
said. Indeed, you mustn't stay herr
your cars still waiting, and-yor
mustn't stay here /. in this house =
won't you come over home witt
me-" she, said, "and wait for father
there till we can think this thing oul
| <<rvn<1, AZ 80