Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-05-11

had told her of what was going on
a fancy that sncle 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. 81 shouldn't have let you in;
but-you saw him"
yes"
"DO you know him7"
"Know him? ?" She shook her head.
81 mean, you've never seen him be-
fore?"
mo"
His name is Luke-he speaks of
himself by that name. Did you ever
hear my father mention man named
Luke?"
mo; never"
Luke's voice cut suddenly their con-
versation; the doctor probably had
given him some stimulant
"Where'sh Ben Corvet?" Luke de-
manded arrogantly of the doctor.
you 60 get Ben Corvet! Tell Ben
Corvet I want drink right away. Tell
Ben Corvet l 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.
ttVnI1 hoor n Tr1iin
You go tell Ben Corvet l want my
thousan' dollars, or make it two mex
time! You hear me; you go tell Ben
Corvet. You let me go, 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
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 1 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 go, Miss Sher-
rill?' 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 a chair.
I'm going to stay with you," she said
| simply. 1t 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 it );
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
hall to the doctor.
rs he dead" Constance heard him
ask.
mot 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 told? Concealment is his
established habit now. It's an inhibi-
ton; even in wandering, he stops short
of actually telling anything"
Alan came back to Constance. Out
side. the gray of duslawas spreading,
and within the house it had grown
dark. 1t was very quiet in the library
she could not even hear Luke's breath
| ing now. Then the doctor came out to
| them. ......
>. ITS over" he said to Alan. "There's
law covering these cases; you may
not be familiar with it. I'll make out
the death certificate--pneumonia and
a weak heart with alcoholism. But the
police have to be notified at once; you
have no choice as to that. I'll look
after those things for you, If you
want"
THANK you; If 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 her
muff and collar from the chair where
she had thrown them, and held them
| out to her.
you'll go now, Miss Sheriff." he
said. Indeed, you mustn't stay here
your cars still waiting, and-you
mustn't stay here g. in this house !"
won't you come over home with
me-" she said, "and wait for father
there till we can think this thing out
| together?"
| Her sweetness almost broke him