The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-11-21
The Truant Soul

h0u tdhcu dn hutueuSc OtcFuOoc. Ono
uncomfortable in the ordinary morphine
habitue. And he must have taken 1t
during the brief period when Myers
was with him; he must have taken it
as soon as he got back to his room.
Why had Myers permitted it,
At last Lancaster opened his eyes.
His gaze fell upon Joan's face. at first
without recognition. then with wonder.
Water" he gasped, after few in
effectual attempts to speak.
Joan drew glassful and gave 1t
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 a 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 fretfully. Miss
Wentworth. in the third drawer Of
that desk, beneath a pile of letters.
you'll ind bottle"
NO" said Joan decisively.
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. was experimenting
with a new drug"
Joan found herself sobbing. and she
was astounded. It was the wreck Of
the mans moral nature that was un-
bearable. she saw the latent fineness
in him, and It 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 me
and go back to Avonmouth on the eve
ming train," he said. 81 ought never
to have brought you here. 1t was pure
selfishness 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 go away" wept Joan. you'll
take another hypodermic."
Il pledge you my word Of honor no."
said Lancaster, with almost ingenious
candor. II am really not accustomed
to such thing; that is why it
knocked me out. have been suffer-
ing from insomnia, and l tried new
alkaloid-not morphine, you know. but
derivative-for the benefit of my
patients"
The words came from his lips so
glibly that Joan was almost con-
vinced-wouId 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.
With incredible swiftness his hand
shot out toward the little bottle. He
had uncorked it and plunged in the
syringe before the girl could snatch
ii away.
your word of honor!" said Joan.
He leaned back in his chair and
looked at her with amusement
miss Wentworth" he said, "you are
a nurse. Surely you are aware that
Il am not to be trusted. that my word
of honor is worthless? That l am
essentially devoid of honesty and de-
cency? Don't you know that this ac-
cursed thing"-he pointed toward the
hottle-"robs men of their honor and
self-respect. and lowers them beneath
the beasts?"
He spoke as If at clinic. and quite
impersonally: there was the shadow
of a whimsical smile about his lips.
which twitched. nevertheless, with
pain.
"That does not refer to you," an
swered Joan. you asked me to help
you in the biggest, fight of your life.
Well. am going to help you In that
fight"
st is too late" said Lancaster.
"Never!" replied Joan valiantly.
"You don't understand. Miss Went
worth. That's the mistake all people
make in trying to cure US. Don't you
know that man or woman never be-
comes victim to drug except from
sleeplessness. or physical pain. or I'M
der stress of mental anguish? If you
could cure me the old trouble would
still be there. should. fall victim
again. Life is worthless to me, Miss
Wentworth" he ended. quite simply.