The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-01-30

did heidi he inject morphine int
me?" -
mo, Miss Wentworth said Jen-
kinsss unable to hold out. 1T wasn't
morphine. 1t was curare-the stuff
that paralyzes the motor nerves with
out destroying consciousness" His
face grew, somber. ut doesn't leave
traces, as morphine does, and that
devil had put, it into morphine bottles
and made the doctor think he was
morphine fiend. They hoped to kill
him more quickly, but somehow he got
used to it, and guess they were
at their wits ends when you came
along. But I'll call the doctor, Miss
Wentworth"
When he was gone Joan lay back
on her pillows, looking out into the
mountains. She knew what had oc-
CURED that night; in her drugged
state she had seen the whole dread
full picture: Myers unlocking Mrs.
Dana's door and leading her to her
own room, where she had obtained
the revolver; her journey to Lancas-
ter's room, bent on her dreadful mis-
sion; the murder Of Lawson, in the
room opposite, instead, for reasons
which would never be known, but
were certainly providential.
She saw further, by the same in
tuition which told her that it had been
Mrs. Dana's body wrapped in the blan-
ket upon the lawn. Myers, knowing her
to be drugged, and believing Lancas-
ter dead, had waited in Mrs. Dana's
room and given her the matches, on
her return, with which to start the
fire, hoping thus to make sure Of his
victims and cover up his tracks. And
he had fallen into the trap he had
baited. Strong as he was, there must
have been a stronger Power fighting
him with Mrs Dana's arms that night,
when she turned the key in the lock
and left him to die as he had willed
Joan should die.
But Joan knew that no word of this
would ever pass between Lancaster
and her. And indeed, as she lay back
and looked across the fields toward
the mountains, she felt that something
had turned that page, so that 1t had
become not only Of the dead past, but
unreal in way, and only the present
peace existed.
She heard a quick step without.
Lancaster stood in the doorway, came
toward her, kneeled at her side and
took her hands in his. And with that
even the memories of the past became
tenuohs, half forgotten.
"Dear, it has come true" he said
tenderly.
She lay happily in his arms, look
ing out all the time toward the sunset
on the hills. There was so little to
say, because their lives were only be-
ginning.
II don't want to go back to Avon
mouth" she said at length.
Nor /, Joan. This is our country"
1T must always be our country
But-but the fight, John?"
II have stolen a march on you, my
DEAR" he answered gayly. II have
fought out my fight while you were ILL.,
1 have resigned from the hospital; me-
body guesses anything there; and !
have convinced the trustees here, by
my appearance, and by the presenta-
ton of certain papers happily discov-
cred after the fire, that l am a re-
sponsible, moral person. honest enough
to head the new institute which we
are going to build-guess where!"
She looked at him. Then
"That village in the mountains
she cried happily. Where our lives
really began. / could not wish for
anything better"
"And the patient is going to be our
porter. And Doctor jenkins will be
house surgeon, resident with his wife
Joan, he didn't tell you about Mrs.
Fraser? Jenkins! Jenkins!' His
voice rang through the little house.
"Come in at once and face the fire
like man, instead of sinking away
into your consulting-room, you ruffian-
ly young benedict!"
1.-THE ENID