Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1924-12-31

she answered, looking at Lancaster IN
growing astonishment, mixed with a
little fear.
And you have sympathy for the
unfortunate? You-you said soma-
thing like that just now-about wish
ing to be of help to others. Are you
loyal and staunchY"
1 hope l am" said Joan uneasilv
II one is loyal to others. one does
not fear ones own misfortunes." said
Lancaster. "They rise out of some
1ault or weakness-if one follows the
trail far enough back into ones self.
I'VE learned that, heaven knows! Miss
wentworth" he ended suddenly.
would you consider a temporary DO
sltlon while your case is under inyes-
tigation by the board?"
But they meet in a day or two. and
| then"
Would you consider It," repeated
Lancaster, IF you could be of greater
service than you know? Suppose I
SAID TO you as l am saying now, that
you seem to me the best suited. nv
| loyalty and good will, to help, of all
the nurses know, would you accept?'
Then, Doctor Lancaster" cried
Joan triumphantly, "if you have that
opinion of me you have no excuse for
not getting the board to reinstate me-"
The man faltered as she looked at
MIN. He was no longer terrible to
her. He seemed to have put off some
hateful armOr that he assumed. and
revealed weakness that none had sus-
pected. Pity for him, a vast and
heartfelt pity whose cause she was
unable to divine, began to stir the
girls heart.
Il pledge you my word to do all 1
can for you," said Lancaster. "But
you must help me in turn. / need you
for this purpose. l want you to go
into the country for a month. 1t will
rest you, too, and you are run down.
Have you ever heard of the Lancaster
institute in Drexham county,"
Il think So" answered Joan, rather
doubtfully.
at is a hobby Of mine My father
established it twenty-five years ago
for the hill people, but the funds be-
came squandered, and 1t is not In
good shape. However, it does some
| good, and it is the only place of It's
kind within score of miles. Doctor
Jenkins is in charge, and IL run
down there every now and then to
keep him up to the mark. There is
matron there. The cases comprise
little light surgical work occasion
| ally, an alcoholic or two after pay
days for the mining element, pneumo-
MIA in its season, and-yes, there's a
demented woman there, but she won't
come under your care. It's in the hill
country. How would you like to go?"
Il don't know what to say" an
swered the girl
But you have no attachments In
AvCnmouth?" he asked, looking hard
at her.
Nobody. But, Doctor Lancaster,
all my thoughts are bent on my re-
| instatement."
"Pll do my best for you if you will
help me out with this case" he an
swered "And you will get strong
in month and take up your work
| again with a light heart. You will
| have a small remuneration, and your
fare, of course. You'll goY'
''I'll go, them" answered Joan.
"Then listen to me-" ne said, again
| speaking with lowered voice and
glancing back in apprehension toward
the inner door, Il shall not see you
| before you start, but l rely on you.
| You must leave on the nine o'clock
train tomorrow morning. And you
must speak to nobody about this I'M
dertaking."
81 shall say nothing, Doctor Lam
caster. And 1 have to thank you with
| all my heart"
| He frowned at her. And the curious
| indecision in his manner, the furtive-
ness of the man, which still disquieted
the girl, was in extraordinary contrast
! to Lancaster's appearance in the
| theater that morning to everything
that she had associated with him She
was utterly bewildered.
| AS she rose Lancaster came very
close to her, and now his voice was
| little more than a whisper.
| 'Pll wire to Mrs. Fraser, the ma
tron,' he said, "and I'll have the
buggy meet you at the station-Lan-
caster station, Miss Wentworth. And
l wish"
But the door opened, and the white
attendant slouched into the room. He
stared insolennS at Joan. Doctor
Lancaster" h~ began.
''Tn see you when l am alone,
Myers" answered Lancaster.
Doctor Lancaster, will you please
| give me few moments Of your time"
said the man urgently; and under
meath the plea Joan seemed to see the
insolence and contempt in his heart.
Suddenly the idea came to her that
this must be the man whom Lancaster
had berated in the consulting room.
She went out, and as soon az she
was in the passage she heard the at
tendant begin to address Lancaster
in excited tones. Then the inner door