Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1925-03-11

beside her bed. There. fearless. but
shaken with her grief, she poured out
wild prayer for the lost soul of the
man. This was worse than ANYTHING
she could have OWNED. Better by far
that he had returned as on that earlier
day, drugged and possessed by the
morphine spirit than in the chains of
this devil. Better that he had died.
For Lancaster even when the shifty,
false, lying drug fiend was in control
OF him, had never been vicious and
vile like this before.
And yet this was the John Lancas-
ter of the Southern hospital. 1t was
the traditional Lancaster in his hour
OF relaxation. He treated women
shamefully, as gossiping nurse had
said. Joan had never been in fear of
physical harm as she was now. She
rose from her knees, looking wildly
about her. Then she heard footsteps
outside, and she sprang back across
the room.
But 1t was only the matron. Mrs.
Fraser cast scared glance at her and
ran forward. what did be say to
you" she cried.
Il am afraid of him. / dare not
stay here. Where shall I go?' cried
Joan, losing all self-contrOl
In the midst of her terror Joan sud
denly realized that the look upon the
matron's face was the same as on her
first night when they had held brief
conversation in the same room.
For moment Mrs. Fraser did not
answer her. The women drew togeth-
er, listening. They were having sup
per below, conversing in boisterous
tones and laughing loudly. Joan heard
her own name spoken, and renewed
outburst of mirth followed.
Mrs. Fraser" said Joan, "the Doc
tor Lancaster whom l respect and
honor is not in that mans body. ]
am going away. l am going at once.
| shall ask Doctor Jenkins to protect
me until tomorrow. He is a gentle
man; he will do So"
You can't go through this Storm"
exclaimed the other, and, as she spoke
Joan realized that the wind had risen
TO a hurricane, and the boughs
creaked and snapped like pistol shots
you must stay here tonight Stay
with me, and I'll swear he shall not
hurt you. Look at this"
She pulled a revolver from beneath
her apron and handed it to Joan
1--WE kept that ever since the last
time he came back like this, when he
went raving among the patients, mad
with liquor. That was the end Of the
institution. He frightened a sick girl
almost to death. Use it on him if you
must-use it, because it won't be him
you'll kill, but the devil that's got
him."
She was almost incohereDt with fear
and excitement Joan took the re,
vOlvcr and slipped it into the pocket
of her uniform. Oddly enough. she
felt that the Lancaster of that eve
ming had so grossly wrOnged the Lam
caster of earlier days that to kill him
would be to avenge an intolerable out
rage. She hated him with all the
intensity of which her heart was
capable, hated him for the wrong he
had done himself, the outrage on their
love; and under the hate the flame
of the love she had borne burned pure
and clear.
1t was long since dark, but the maid
had not lit the lamp outside Mrs
Dana's door, near the head OF the
stairs. The moon had not yet risen.
The women crept cautiously along the
hall.
Lancaster and the secretary were in
Myers room. The door was open.
Joan heard a cork fly with bang
and the gurgle of the champagne in
glasses Their voices were raised
high and there came the sound of a
scuffle.
"Sit down! ~ the secretary was cry
ing. "Do you want to be a fool and
spoil everything? Leave her alone
until tomorrow"
"T'm id if do" cried Lancaster.
"Walt a minutel Listen to me!
You agreed TO come back here and put
her out Why don't you do it nowY'
Lancaster laughed cOarsely. BE
cause she's too d-n pretty, Myers"
he answered
CTO BE CONTINUED)