The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-12-12

Rc4ACu a&uAAHt TIC tVph "a LIE AkAtN
A bird awoke and called; another an
swered her.
"But this is hope" said Lancaster,
taking Joan's hand. "You have
brought 1t to me, and j am never going
to lose it again. l am going to win
my fight against the drug, and then
am going to regain all else that Ihaye
lost"
He seemed upon the verge of a reye-
lation, but he said no more. And now
the day was dawning.
You have made splendid fight
Doctor Lancaster" she said Now
you shall have your hypodermic.y
He rose up eagerly, and she could
I see the terrific strain that he was un.
dergoing in the trembling Of his limbs
the eager look in his eyes. They went
back into the house. A light still
burned in the secretarys room. but
no sound came from it. At the door
Of Lancaster's room he stopped.
Miss Wentworth" he said, Il have
something to say, and something to
promise. am not going to take that
dose. Tonight, perhaps, but not now.
If take it and free my body from lite
suffering, lose my soul again. ]
lose that hope which you have given
me. And-I want to give you this"
He handed her little bottle Of
morphine, three-quarters full.
st Is the bottle which you took
from the drawer of my desk yester.
day." he said. Il stole it from your
pocket when you leaned over me last
: night, when you told me was win
ming. / was thief-but am pent
tent thief, and I,restore 1t intact"
mo. Doctor Lancaster" answered
the girl, smiling as she took the bottle
from him. "That has no bearing upon
your character; it was symptom Of
your disease
well, l didn't take any," said Lam
caster, with the transient flash of
humOr lighting up his face. Il had
the hardest conceivable battle over
that bottle. set it up before me.
ana / held my right hand back with
my left, and said. I am winning, in
Joan Wentworth's name And at last
the drug devil was beaten. And no
more morphine until tonight"
Doctor Lancaster, you have been
brave and wonderful" cried Joan,
profoundly stirred. Remember that
One Of >the Dravest men have ever
known. Never tell me again that you
have lost your power of will. We are
winning fast"
He placed his hands upon her shout
ders and stood looking at her. Upon
his face was an expression of indul-
gence, as If he was considering her
enthusiasm in the light of his expert
ence Of life, so much deeper than hers,
so much the more profound. Then the
look passed; the years seemed to fall
from him, and strength came into his
face.
! "God bless YOU my DEAR" he said,
and bent and kissed her forehead.
She turned and ran upstairs. Her
heart was singing In her breast. The
food of sunlight that came through
the eastern windows, Illuminating the
dusty interior Of the old building,
seemed like spiritual light, flaming
into this dark place where shadows
had dwelt so long. She went into her
room and dressed for the day. She
had never felt so happy before. And
now the life in hvonmouth had be-
come as dim as dream, and she
cared no longer whether she returned
or not. A charge had been granted
to her, mans life put into her keep
ing; that trust she meant to fulfill.
N She had saved Lancaster, and she
would outwit Myers. and remove the
only obstacle to Lancaster's recovery.
She knew the man melted the doctor
to drug himself. She would have
known that even without the matron's
statement to her. But why should
Myers wish Lancaster to drug himself
to death?
He. must be acting for others.
Whom? No matter. Once the drug
evil was overcome. the plot would be
revealed and Overthrown.
AS she stood at her window Joan
heard footsteps on the path below.
Looking down. she saw the secretary
leaving the house, carrying suitcase.
Her heart almost stood still. Surely
Myers had not acknowledged defeat
and taken Lancaster at his word?
Surely he did not mean to 60. without
another struggle?
She watched him cross. the grass
beside the chicken coop to where the
weed-grown path Joined the winding
road. He was outside the grounds
of the institute now, and he was still
going in the direction of the station.
He disappeared behind the hedges. ap
peared again. long way off, and van
ished finally. He was gone, and the
air seemed the sweeter. the day more
glorious.
Joan almost danced downstairs to
the dining room. Lancaster was at
the table, waiting for her.
"Mr. Myers has gone awayr" she