Evening star., 1923-10-19

ldHu, the ldSl VI
the coppices and hedgerows
which had once covered it
Gtood isolated bushes. Pcrrett skill
fully followed his quarry across the
waste by means of these. and ar last
saw him approach one OF the cottages.
and, after a tap at the door, enter
without further ceremony. And then
Mr.. Perrett began TO wish that he
knew what was going on inside.
II he had been inside he would only
have been surprised, for the cashier
was visiting the cottage on an errand
of mercy. 1t was an old-fashioned
Gotta ge-one of three or four which
had been left among the fields by the
riverside when the great colliery was
made-and when he lifted the latch
he walked into a raftered living room,
with an open fireplace wide enough
for half dozen people to sit in. At
that moment. however. there was no.
body there but Il woman of rather
over middle age, who, at Stead's en-
trance. rose and made him curtsy.
We'll, Mrs. HErdacre.' said the
cashier, with 4 voice and manner
which Phillipa, had she been there.
those which had been recently used
in her presence, and how is the pa
tient tonight? Better"
The woman came nearer the table
on which Stead had set down the
basket containing his purchases.
why, Mr.. stead" she answered.
hes neither better nor worse. The
doctor, he's been in twice during the
day-he was here not an hour ago,
and gave him something, and he's left
.,.rl,N E-, l,t
and, of course, he says, does the doc
tor, that the broken legs nothing,
and the broken ribs not so much
worse, though he doesn't like them.
cause of possible complications, as
he calls them, but neither leg nor
ribs bothers the doctor much"
What does bother him, then?"
asked Stead
Hes that restless" replied Mrs.
Hardacre, nodding in the direction of
the stairs. ME and the nurse has
line time with him now and again, l
can tell you"
Never been delirious, has he?"
asked Stead.
Never what you might really call
deeleerious," answered Mrs. Hard
acre. "Eo-shouts in his sleep now
and then. but that's natural to broken
legs. / remember that when my poor
mother broke her leg-you'll not rec
Ullect her, Mr.. Stead, you being too
good mother wouId--she used to talk
and chatter in her sleep something
curdling to the blood. It's the pain
as makes EN- do il, sir
You've never heard him say any
thing?" asked Stead. THAT is, any
thing defnite?"
Nay, sir-they never do. It's
naught but humble, humble. or q
sudden shout" answered Mrs. Hard
acre. "They shout and call out, sir,
when the pain tweaks en-
Stead looked round the cottage. Il
suppose the nurse is out?" he said.
YES, sir; she's gone up to the VII
lage-she knows some people there.
But she'll not be long" added Mrs.
Hardacre. It's her turn to sit up
tonight-it was mine last night
Stead began to unpack the contents
Of his basket and to lay them on the
table
well. here are the. things that We're
wanted, Mrs. Hardacre," he said.
Here are the chickens to make the
broth, and here are the meat extracts
and the jellies. and those are the
groceries you said you could make
him some light puddings from. and
L think that's all. Oh, here's the
YOU were not to use that except IN
case of any fainting or collapse
"Oh, know. sir-we know what to
do, me and the nurse" Said MIS-
HardaCre,
Stead, she's younger nor what 1 am,
and she has the newfangled ways;
but we get on very well, sir, ana
we've had no disagreements, thank
goodness
NO, that's not worth WHILE" said
Stead. He put his hand in his pocket
and drew out some gold. Well,
here's q pound or two to be going
on with, Mrs. Hardacre," he contln-
ued, handing 1t over to her. That 8
In
Thanking you kindly. sir and
you're very generous" said. Mrs.
Hardacre Depend upon it, sir, the
poor gentleman shall have all the
attention [ can give him"
stead picked up the bunch of
grapes, half showing from its wrap
pings, and glanced at the stairs. II
wonder IL he's asleep" he said. Il
should just like to see how he is"
why, you'd do no harm by step
ping up and seeing, SIR. said Mrs.
Hardacre. He does a deal OF doz-
ing, of and on"
The cashier stole up the staircase
as softly as a cat. Just as softly and
bedroom door and, entering. closed
it behind him. Mrs. Hardacre, in this
living room beneath, heard no sound
from above.
tered was of considerable size; 1t
filed, indeed, the whole of the upper
story of the cottage. The floor of
plain wooden planks was bare OF
carpet or rug save In places, but
was as scrupulously clean as soap
and water could make 1T. The walls,
color washed in, pale lilac tint,
we're destitute of picture or orna-
ment save for a few texts printed
in the midst of floral designs on
strips of cardboard. The furniture
was plain but neat. There was a
scent of lavender in the room. which
seemed to add to its homeliness.
But Stead was noticing none Of
these things. He tiptoed across the
floor 70 the side of the bed. which
stood between the door and the win
dow, and looked down. Seeing that
the occupant was asleep, he remained
perfectly quiet, watching him with
speculative eyes.
The man who lay on the bed, NUT
tering incoherentiy in his uneasy
slumbers, was apparently OF middle
age and of over medium height. His
head, we'll formed and handsome. was
originally dark in color, was now
thickly shot with gray. His beard,
somewhat thin and struggling, was
also rapidly grizzling, and had here
and there a white hair in it.
The face was thin, especially about
the nose and temples; and the eyes,
around which We're many wrinkles.
were deeply sunk. AS for the fea-
lures, they were finely modelled and
intellectual One hand, which fay
outside the coyerlet, was long and
shapeiy, with the slender, tapering
fingers OF the artist or the inventor
OF delicate mechanism.
Stead remained at the bedside IN an
attitude of perfect quiet, until the