The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-11-26
CHAPTER III-Continued


You're a fool You don't know
when you are well off. tell you,
wash my hands of you. This is final
Joan could not help but hear. And
as she emerged into the passage, all
the time hearing the sounds of the
Quarreling voices. Myers came hurry
ing past
He did not see her. He ran to the
door, flung 1t open. and rushed down
the steps into the street. AS he went
along the passage the girl saw him
staring right and left; then. as she
came out he saw her and went toward
her. She knew that 1t was she whom
he had been seeking.
what was 1t Doctor Lancaster was
saying to you, Miss Wentworth, before
/ came in?" he asked in his rasping
tone.
Joan stared at him in astonishment.
Now she realized that she had mis-
taken him; he was not a servant, but
apparently a member of the doctors
household.
'WIll you let me pass, pleaseY'
asked Joan, as he blocked the way.
II want to know what the doctor
was saying to you," repeated the man
doggedIy.
Are you going to refuse me pas
sage" demanded the girl, flushing
with anger.
He stepped aside with a sneer and
q mock bow. 20. very well, If that's
your attitude" he answered. II shall
find out"
Joan turned swiftly upon him. 81
don't know who you are. but shall
complain Of you to Doctor Lancaster"
she said
Myers looked at her and sneered
and chuckled. Then, without word,
he went back into the doctors room.
And still the voices kept up their
quarreling dialogue
Joan found herself In the street in
the twilight, and now the unreality of
the absurd interview struck home to
her. She tried to puzzle 1t out. Be
fore she reached the boarding house
she thought she had her clue.
That Lancaster, the terror Of the
nurses. should have been unable to
promise immediate reinstatement, his
evident goodwill, his indecision and
illness were applicable only In one
way. The man Myers must be rel {
tive, the third man perhaps a nephew. {
lancaster had been supporting a {
worthless pair In idleness, and had /
urned ON them in evaporation. That I
vas the meaning of his look of illness, d
lis preoccupatloD-the shock of some s
Domestic discovery.
At any rate she was satisfied with 4
ONE sucn solution. And she was GER a
ain that. If she pleased him with her b
Mysterious mission. her reinstatement @
,ould follow. She went home happy, v
nd Mrs. Webb read the news in her a
ace the moment she opened the door.
Il knew 1t, my DEAR" she exclaimed 81
18th pleasure. Il knew that you could W
visit that old devil round your finger NJ
you tried hard enough" NJ
MRS. Webb. 1t was nothing of the n
ind" said Joan. "And Doctor Lam h,
ister Is one of the kindest of men. O
e . 6Oth6 ~ W " nave HIS utClSlOu lie
versed. and-Mrs. Webb. he is send dl
g me to a sanitarium, on a case, In re-
e meantime"
She checked herself. suddenly re- in
Lancaster's caution But ST
rs. Webb took the girl to her wide ii,
som and kissed her. h,
''You little humbugi" she said.
Mrs. Webb" cried Joan, scandal a
ID. III you knew"
But when she was upstairs she sat
wn suddenly and faced her con- wi
ence. What impression of herself 70
she given In the consulting room? to
She did not know. This scene, like hi
It Of the morning, had become UT
rred In her memory, and time had
,un to flow very fast after the slow ha
IS Of her twenty-five years Ger II
!, = stranger things had happened he