Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1925-02-18


taxing Joan'E hand. ''You have
brought it to me, and am never going
70 lose 1t again. l am going to win
my tight against the drug, and then l
am going to regain all else that have
lost"
He seemed upon the verge of a reye-
iaelon, but he said no more. And now
the Gay was dawning.
You have made a splendid fight
Doctor Lancaster" she said. NOW
you shall have your hypodermic."
lie rose up eagerly, and she could
see the terrific strain that he was I'M
dergoing in the trembling of his limbs,
the eager look in his eyes. They went
back into the house. A light still
burned in the secretary's room. but
no sound came from it. At the door
or Lancaster'S room he stopped.
Miss Wentworth" he said, 81 have
something to say and something to
promise. / am not going to take that
dose. Tonight, perhaps, but not now.
II take it and free my body from it's
suffering, | lose my soul again ]
lose that hope which you have given
me. And-I want to give you this"
He handed her a little bottle of
morphine, three-quarters full.
1T is the bottle which you took
from the drawer of my desk yester-
day." he said. 81 stole it from your
pocket when you leaned over me last
night, when you told me l was win
nlng. | was thief-but am a peni-
tent thief, and l restore 1t intact"
| NO, Doctor Lancaster" answered
the girl, smiling as she took the bottle
from him. THAT has no bearing upon
your character; it was a symptom of
your disease"
wei, | didn't take any," said Lam
caster, with the transient flash of
humor lighting up his face 81 had
the hardest conceivable battle over
/ that bottle. / set it up before me,
and held my right hand back with
my left, and l said, 4 am winning, in
Joan Wentworth's name And at last
the drug devil was beaten. And no
more morphine until tonight"
Doctor Lancaster, you have been
! brave and wonderful cried Joan,
profoundly stirred. Remember that
| One of the Dravest men / have ever
known. Never tell me again that you
have lost your power of will. We are
winning fast"
He placed his hands upon her shout
ders and stood looking at her. Upon
his face was an expression OF indul-
gence, as if he was considering her
enthusiasm in the light of his expert
ence of life, so much deeper than hers,
so much the more profound. Then the
! look passed; the years seemed to fall
from him, and strength came into his
face.
God bless you, my DEAR" he said,
and bent and kissed her forehead.
She turned and ran upstairs. Her
heart was singing in her breast. The
| flood of sunlight that came through
the eastern windows, Illuminating the
dusty interior of the old building,
seemed like spiritual light, flaming
into this dark place where shadows
| had dwelt so long. She went into her
room and dressed for the day. She
had never felt so happy before. And
now the life in Avonmouth had be-
come as dim as dream, and she
cared no longer whether she returned
or not. A charge had been granted
to her, mans life put into her keep
ing; that trust she meant to fulfill.
She had saved Lancaster and she
would outwit Myers, and remove the
only obstacle to Lancaster's recovery.
She knew the man melted the doctor
to drug himself. She would have
known that even without the matron's
statement to her. But why should
Myers wish Lancaster to drug himself
to death?
He must be acting Tor others.
Whom? No matter. Once the drug
evil was overcome, the plot would be
revealed and overthrown.
AS she stood at her window Joan
heard footsteps on the path below.
Looking down, she saw the secretary
leaving the house, carrying a suitcase.
Her heart almost stood still. Surely
Myers had not acknowledged defeat
and taken Lancaster at his wordf
Surely he did not mean to go without
| another struggle?
She watched him cross the grass
beside the chicken coop to where the
weed-grown path Joined the winding
road. He was outside the grounds
| of the institute now, and he was still
going in the direction of the station.
He disappeared behind the hedges, ap-
! peared again, long way off, and van.
ished finally. He was gone, anc the
air seemed the sweeter, the day more
glorious.
Joan almost danced downstairs to
the dining room. Lancaster was at
the table, waiting for her.
"Mr. Myers has gone away!" she
cried. Doctor Lancaster, your evil
spirit has departed, suitcase and ALL"
Lancaster looked at her gravely. II
know" he said.
/ "Did he come to you? Did you dis