The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-15
CHAPTER II-Continued

B.
Her skin was very dark, brownish-
olive, her hair blue-black, very abun-
dant and wavy, and the surrounding
white Of pillowcase, sheet and night
dress set off the richness and depth
of her cOlOring to the greatest adj
vantage.
Where the quality in her face lay
that gave it that strange, weird, I'M
earthly look, even now in quiet SUM-
her, could not decide. The features
were bold, rather than fine; the brows
and lashes very heavy, and the nose
broad at the base, the lips full and
rather wide, though not protruding,
the cheek-bones high and prominent.
But this analysis left me no wiser
than before; it failed utterly to ac-
count for that strange different look
her face wore. There was no negro
blood in her veins, even in a remote
stage Of dilution. The fact was as
obvious as it was that she was not
Caucasian.
"There will be no trouble about
identifying her." Doctor Reinhardt re-
marked, and agreed with him, think
ing that he referred to the strange
quality Of distinction I had noted
about her face. But it was evident,
the next moment, that he had some
more definite mark in mind, for he
took up one of the passive hands that
lay upon the coverlid and started to
strip back the sleeve of her night
dress. But the movement was ar
rested by an imperative gesture from
Doctor McAlister.
Looking up at him, for the first time
since we had stopped beside the girls
Abed, saw that his eyes were shining
with an unaccountabie excitement. He
bent down over the pillow, his ear not
six inches away from the half-parted
lips. Then we saw that the lips were
moving, and, in the suddenly enforced
! silence, caught the sound of queer,
} droning chant. 1t only lasted min
ute. Then, with the sudden, lazy mo-
ton of one deep asleep, she turned on
palm, and the chant died out in
sigh.
Doctor McAlister Strengthened up
suddenly, walked away three or four
PAGES, then wheeled and came back.
Ashton and watched him curiously.
"You started to show me her ARM"
he said to Doctor Reinhardt. SIS there
a mark there?"
With a nod, he pulled up the sleeve
and showed us, high on the forearm, a
queer little bit of tattooing in red and
blue. 81 know something of tattooing,"
he said, "but that mark and the way
it's executed puzzle me as much as
her language does"
Doctor McAlister merely nodded.
He had understood the language;
would almost have taken my oath to
that, from the expression his face
wore as he bent over her, listening. l
wondered if he understood the mark,
too.
you say you've been trying to wake
her, and haven't succeeded?"
Eyes, and confess I'm puzzled, be-
cause there's nothing trancelike about
her pulse or her respiration"
Doctor McAlister made an examina-
ton on his own account, but it was
very swift, and 1 should have called
1t pcrfunctory, yet it was clear enough
that this queer patient had, only a
moment before, excited his keenest
interest. But he did one thing which
think must have surprised Doctor
Reinhardt as much as it did Ashton
and me. He turned back the bed
clothes and examined, rather minute
ly, the girls feet.
swell, Pm much obliged to you for
bringing me out for look at her." he
said to Doctor Reinhardt, as he
Strengthened up and prepared to leave
the ward. "She's been that way, you
say, ever since she was brought in?"
eyes"
"She's in hypnotic or subjective
condition of some sort. I'd be very
glad if you'd keep me informed, over
the phone, concerning her condition.
II there's any radical change, I'd like
to come out and see her again.
IF you don't mind my suggesting it,
believe it would be good thing to
take her out of the ward and put her
in a private room where she could be
under constant supervision. If she
says anything, in any ineligible Ian
guage, it might be well to make note
of It."
18th that and brief word of good
strobe away, and Ashton and
49, $50