The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-01-09
byV ictor Rousseau
copyrishr by ". 9. Chapman
CHAPTER XContinued
,....ish. A. VIC h.nm,n


SITS the drink In you. She isn't
better-looking than any average wom-
an In Monmouth See here, are you
going to bust up the game or are you
not?"
.Tll show you!" shouted Lancaster.
breaking from Myers grasp and rush
ing from the room.
He met the women at the foot of
the stairs. His face was flushed his
hair disordered, his manner maniacal.
"You sneak, what are you butting
into this show for?" he demanded of
Mrs. Fraser
The matron, cowed by his violence.
trembled. She tried to pull Joan to-
ward her room; then caught her eve
and made the slightest gesture indica-
tive Of shooting. Lancaster raised
his first threateningly.
The matron did not lift finger to
defend herself. She stood quite calm
~. awaiting the expected blow; per-
haps 1t was some atavistic trait In
herited through generations Of poor
ancestors; and yet, servile although It
might have been, the look on the wom1
ans face was almost heroical.
The man let his fist fall; he seized
the matron by the shoulders and
pushed her back into her room. He
turned the key in the lock and put it
In his pocket.
That's settled, reckon" he said
with satisfaction.
Joan's hand went into her pocket.
Her fingers closed about the revolver
handle But at that moment the Sec
rotary, who had come out of his, room,
went up to Lancaster.
"See here. now" he began TO re-
monstrate, "have little sense, doctor.
II you're bent on busting everything
up. you and part company"
The other turned on him with so
menacing a gesture that Myers flung
up his hands in despair and went
back into his room. Joan stood fac
ing the doctor alone. At that moment
her decision was nearly ripened. and
she felt conscious of no fear OF him
at all.
If he attempted violence she knew
what she would do. But he did not
lay 4hands on her. He stood leaning
against the newell post at the foot Of
the stairs, watching her face.
Joan was searching his eyes for the
least sign of the man she had known.
and he broke off, scowling and wincing
under her stare Above his words
was the sound of the beating rain. the
flashing wind; and from within the
matron's room Joan heard Mrs. Fra
ser crying in prayer:
20 Lord, save her!" she walled.
"Save that girl this night! o Lord.
from the devil! Save her! Save her,
O Lord!"
6 Maybe / got you wrong" continued
the doctor. But If did. I ask you,
who's to blame? Didn't you come to
me at my house in Avonmouth and
ask for your job back? Weren't you
as sweet as sugar when you wanted
something out of me? And didn't you
agree to come up here TO work for
me? Well, what's the inference, then
You can have your job back If you
want it. But I can do better by you
than that You're too pretty for a
nurses job, and l told you so that
day you turned on me in the theater
like a wildcat. Now. then! It's up
to you! Your move. partner!"
Joan tried to push past him, but he
remained at the foot of the stairs.
blocking her way.
LET me pass, pleased" she cried.
"Tm going to leave the institute at
once"
..Without your hat?" he sneered.
''Let me pass at once!"
swell. / reckon I can't stop you"
he reioined. 'Just one word more,
though. Do you realize your situa-
ton? DO you know what people will
say when you go to them with crazy
stories about me? Nobody will think
Won came down here to the notorious
John Lancaster after he'd fired you
lust because you were such wonder-
full nurse that he couldn't do without
you. What sort of reputation do you
expect to have in Avonmouth? You
can go, but you won't go there. Not
back to Avonmouth. understand that
well. I'll hound you out of the town,
you little double-crosser!"
For the first time Joan felt her spir-
II begin to shrink from the ordeal.
She was cowed, she was almost as
helpless as If he had used physical
violence toward her. And through
the baneful dream she was aware that
Myers had come out of his room and
was watching the scene from the end
of the hail. wearing SNUG, compla-
cent smile. Myers was getting his way
and having his revenge in one.
And becaucs the situation was toe
horrible for belief, Joan could remen-
her only the Lancaster of the yester.
day. She ran to the man and caught
him by the arms. and looked into his
face with pathetic earnestness.
M =