The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-02-25

Il snail SKIP nothing. The woman
/ was to have married left me tn,
evening before, and disappeared will
another man. Had he been free Il
marry her she would have had M
need to escape in secrecy. I gave VI
my work. l hunted them through the
Southern states. My mind was OBJ
sessed with the idea of redeeming my
honor. If had found them should
have killed him. They knew 1t, and
they fed before me. 1 gave them nc
rest. For five years 1 pursued them
running down every clue"
You'll permit me to correct your
memory on that point, john" said
Lawson suavely. For five years you
wandered among tramps and hoboes
to the scandal of your former friends
thinking that you were looking for
your fiancee. but actually doing your
searching in morphine visions. Such
decisions of phenomenal activity are
a recognized symptom of your dis
ease. De Quincy imagined that he
visited every corner of the earth while
lying at home in an opium stupor."
Il never touched morphine until you
gave 1t to me-" said Lancaster
''That delusion is Iart of your dis
ease. No, John, you may have
searched the suburban districts of
Avonmouth, but you can't have gone
far, because every few months you
would turn up at the institute, looking
shabbier and more disreputable on
each occasion, and more and more
morphine soaked. And every time /
tried to set you up and help you. l
was sorry for you, and you knew it
and traded upon my pity; l was
shamed by you, and you knew that
and traded upon my shame"
Lancaster hung his head; Joan I'd
her hand lightly on his, and after that
he continued to return Lawson's gaze
steadfastly.
Il went to you, Jim Lawson" he
said, because 1 had placed you in
charge of the institute when 1 elected
to head the other branch o. the t-ust
fund. the Avonmouth hospital. I had
given you the charge here because you
were"
Your illegitimate half-brother,"
said Lawson bluntly. 1--WE are not
mincing our words. Because you
robbed me of my own birthright as
your elder brother, by reason Of the
fact that my mother was not legally
married to our father. Yes, go on"
AT last, Joan, l was broken down
completely" continued Lancaster. 1T
was a monomania, that search of
mine, as 1 came to understand aft
ward, a perverted pride that had ed
en- into my heart and left no place
other thoughts. But did not becoI
addicted to morphine until this ms
urged it upon me, under the guise
medical care. And even then 1 cou
have broken of the habit at any tin
but had no heart to, and 1t gave d
relief from thoughts that torturl
me-"
$50 they all think" said lawson
1T was he who told me that CO,
never break II of, who urged me
continue the use of 1t with sophisti
which had not the enc
to oppose. I had been five years aw
from Avonmouth. The people at
Southern hospital believed me de
and did not undeceive them. / ne1
meant to return. When / came h
It was always by night, to this m
whom 1 believed to be my friend,
oh N tho q
IF Millville. Thus none ever saw
ogether, and Lawson and l resemb
each other as much as we do tode
more, 1 hope, john" sneered
,ther. "The life one leads tells as
Years 60 BY"
Nobody in these parts had seen
yince / was a boy. 1 had left no
,oung, and studied at Johns Hopk
md abroad. Lawson had taken
lame. The old neighbors had Sd
way, ind il any of the country 70
ave long memories, they have cl
ongues, too. The matron and Jenk
re both newcomers. 1 had pas
ut of memory.
"This devil saw his chance
rasped at It," he went on with
en vehemence. Here was the
nous Doctor Lancaster, broken m
n outcast, and believed in Avonmou
o be long since dead. And here "
he Lancaster known to Millville a
.ancaster village, at the head Of tins
lstitute. Why shouldn't he get me
D take his place here while he went
} Avonmouth and claimed to be l?
awson was ambitious. He wanted to
e something bigger than the superin-
,ndent of a little hill institute. And
e wanted to get his fingers on the
.ust fund at Avonmouth. Do wrong
OUT" he demanded. turning fiercely
pom the other.
mot in the least; you honor me-"
lid Lawson, with suave bow. Il |
anted to take the fund out of your
orthless supervision and devote it to
roper uses.
This must be stopped" shouted
yers, with a sudden interposition.
Doctor Lancaster, you are saying
IN os that Won will regret tomorrow !