Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-24

else, was just about entering upon. or
emerging from, a grOveling debauch
with that Thing to which he had pawned
his manhood. his intellect and his soul,
that Thing Of gray places, Of horror, OF
forgetfulness, Of bliss. Of torture
drugs.
Halfway from the threshold to where
John Bruce lay, Doctor Crang halted
abruptly.
"Helio!" he exclaimed, and glanced
with suddenly darkening face from
, Claire Veniza to the form of John
Bruce. and back to Claire Veniza again.
"Oh. will you hurry!' she implored.
Cant you see that the wound"
II am more interested in the man
than in the wound.' said Doctor Crang,
and there was hint of menace in his
voice. Quite a gentleman of parts
/ had expected-let me see what had
expected well, say. one Of the common
knife. sticking breed that curses this
neishborhood.'
Claire venize stamped her foot.
ooh. hurry!' she burst out wildly.
Don't stand there talking while the
man is dying! Do something!"
Doctor Crang advanced to John
Bruce's side, set down the little hand
bag he was carrying. and began to cx.
anime the wound.
Eyes, quite a gentleman Of parts! ~
How did he get hereY'
II do not know" she answered. HE
came in through that window there and
fell on the tloor.'
''How peculiar!' observed Doctor
Crang. "a gentleman down here in
this locality, who is, yes, will state
it as professional fact. in q very crit
ical state, climbs in through Miss Claire
| Neniza's window. and -"
The telephone in the other room
rang. Claire Veniza ran to it. Doctor
Crang's fingers nestled on John Bruce's
pulse; he made no other movement save
to cock his head in a listening attitude
in the girls direction; he made no effort
either to examine further or to dress
the wound.
Claire veniza' voice came distinctly ::
:" Yes 'No, do not
think he will return tonight" was
hesitating-"he-he met with an-ac-
cident-----'
| Doctor Crang had sprung from the
other room and had snatched the re.
ceiver from the girls hand. A wave
Of insensate fury swept his face now.
He pushed her roughly from the instru-
ment, and slapped his hand over the
transmitter.
"That's one lie you've told met" he
said hourscly. "I'n attend to the rest
of this now." He withdrew his hand
from the transmitter. "Yes. hello!
His voice was cool. even sauve. ."What
vergne speaking-yes Mister
who? - Mr.. John Bruce-yes." "
lie listened for a moment, his lips
twitching. his eyes narrowed on Claire
Veniza, who had retreated a few steps
away. "No, not tonight he said,
speaking again into the transmitter.
Yes, a slight accident . ' Yes . '
Good by"
Doctor Sydney Angus Crang hung up
the receiver, and with a placid smile
at variance with the glitter that sud-
denly brought life into his dullcd eyes,
advanced toward the girl. She stepped
backward quickly into the other room,
retreating as far as the motionless form
that lay upon the floor. Doctor Crang
followed her.
And then Claire Veniza. her face
grown stony. her small hands clenched,
found her voice again.
"Aren't you going to help him: =:
Aren't you going to do something? Is
he to die there before your eyes," she
cried.
DR.. Crang shrugged his shoulders.
"What cnn do?" he inquired with
velvet softness. II am helpless. How
can ] bring the dead back to life?'
"Dead!' All color had fed her
face: she bent and looked searchingly
at John Bruce.
"Oh, no; not yet" said DR.. Crang
easily. "But very nearly So"
"And you will do nOthing!' She was
facing him again. '"Then-then l will
try and get some one else
She stepped forward abruptly.
DIR. Crang barred her way.
II don't think you will, Claire, my
dear!" His voice was mOnOtOnous; the
placid smile was vanishing. You see,
having spoken to that dear little doll
Of a man, Monsieur Henri de Lavergne,
I'm very much interested In hearing
your side Of the story"
"Storyi" the girl echoed wildly:
"Story--while that mans life Is lost
Are you mad-or a murderer~-or-----"
Another lover" said DR.. Crang, and
threw back his head and laughed.
She shrank away; her hands tight
against her bosom. She glanced around
her, If she could only reach tho tele.
phone and lock the connecting door
| No! She did not dare leave him alone
with the wounded man.
"What--what are you going to DOR
she whispered. a.,
"Nothing-till I hear tho story" he
.if-if hs dles'-.her voice rans