The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-12-17
The Truant Soul

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uncomfortable in the ordinary morphine
habitue. And he must have taken II
during fhe brief period when Myers
was with him; he must have taken 1t
as soon as he got back to his room
Why had Myers permitted lit
At last Lancaster opened his eyes.
His gaze fell upon Joan's face. at first
without recognition, then with wonder.
"Water!" be gasped, after few In
effectual attempts to speak.
| Joan drew glassful and gave IL
to him, and then another. Lancaster
gulped down the liquid greedily. Pres
emily he sat up. stood on his feet, and
CROPPED his way to the chair.
I'm sorry" he said, looking at Joan
with whimsical expression. Il
should have told you"
Doctor Lancaster. 1 am ashamed
OF you" said Joan
God knows I'm ashamed of my
self" he burst out fretfuIly. Miss
Wentworth. in the third drawer Of
that desk. beneath a pile of letters,
you'll find bottle"
NO. said Joan decisiyely.
She knew by the wholly unneces-
sary secrecy in the concealment,
characteristic of the drug habitue. that
Lancaster had gone long way down
the declivity.
Miss Wentworth. you misunder-
stand me. It's an antidote for aka
loidal poisoning. l was experimenting
with new drug"
Joan found herself sobbing. and she
was astounded. II was the wreck Of
the mans moral nature that was IN
bearable. She saw the latent fneness
In him, and 1t was as If the needless
lie was the voice OF the morphine
devil that spoke through his lips.
Lancaster looked distressed. Miss
Wentworth, you had better leave lie
and go back TO AvsAmouth on the eSe-
ming train" he said. Il ought never
to have brought you here. 1t was pure
selfshness on my part Miss Went
worth, please don't cry. Go away now.
and we'll talk it over before you start
for the station"
IF l go away" wept Joan, you'll
take another hypoderD1ic-"
Il pledge you my word Of honor no.
said Lancaster, with almost ingenious
candor. 81 am really not accustomed
to such a thing; that is why it
knocked me out. 1 have been suffer
ing from insomnia. and / tried new
alkaloid-not morphine, you know, but
a derivatiye--for the benefit of my
patients"
The words came from his lips so
glibly that Joan was almost con-
have been. had not the
first lie been different. She hesitated.
She had no intention of leaving the
room, but she turned away.
Lancaster misunderstood her action. I
With incredible swiftness his hand [
shot out toward the little bottle. He 1
had uncorked it and plunged in the I
syringe before the girl could snatch I
il away.
your word of honorI" said joan
He leaned back in his chair and
ooked at her with amusement.
Miss Wentworth" he said. you are
/ nurse. Surely you are aware that
am not to be trusted. that my word
# honor is worthless? That l am
essentially devoid of honesty and de-
ency? Don't you know that this ac-
ursed thing"-he pointed toward the
men of their honor and
and lowers them beneath
he beasts?"
He spoke as If at clinic. and quite
there was the shadow
t a whimsical smile about his lips.
7hich twitched. nevertheless. with
ain.
THAT does not refer to you" an
wered Joan. You asked me TO help
GU in the biggest fight of your life.
Veil. l am going to help you in that
ght"
1T is too late.' said Lancaster.
"Neverr replied Joan valiantly.
You don't understand. Miss Went
orth That's the mistake all people
lake in trying TO cure us. Don't you
now that a man or woman never be-
Dmes a victim TO a drug except from
or physical pSin, or IN
or stress of mental anguish? If you ,
,uld cure me the old trouble would
i'll be there | should fall a victim :
.ain. Life is worthless 10 me. Miss !.
'entworth." he ended quite simply. :