New Britain herald., 1930-10-25
f@THE ROSE MSx ROY SsxE5s
 IN THE DARK

ters mind a strong recollection oi the trap-mouthed lawyer and thc snug cleric who would take Socks place as censors of Lester's matri- monial choice. No, Lester would do nothing to upset his broth, CTS mental balance. Not yet, any how.
 Lester returned to thoughts O. Hallie. Something in Lytton's man. ner had rammed home the astound. ing truth that Hallie, loved by z man as beautiful as young zoe and rich and sought after, yet pre-. ferred his blind and impoverishe j and elder brother.
 It was early evening. It occurred to him that he had not seen his brother since the disaster 10 his eyes and that Lytton had not spe officially forbidden a visit. It would not be bad idea to present him. self in the study.
 He left the drawing in which he had been lounging most oi the day and sauntered across the hall. Garfield, the butler, was com ing from the study and, to Lester's faint contempt, had tears in his eyes. He removed them and apolo- gized.
 Such q terrible thing this about Mir. Grannock's blindness, sir After all our hopes." He dropped his voice to whisper. And all due, take on the part of the-the night nurse"
 Evidently, thought Lester, Lyt- ton had had the sense to leave the full story untold to the staff
 And I'm sure,' continued Gar field, T should be the last to dis turb Mir. Grannock in any little, one might say, delusion that he may have about the young lady. trust you're feeling better today, sir"
 Got a head. Garbage. Got a rot ten head. But 1 see you've removed that old stand that used to be in the corner over there. That's mak- ing me feel better, a whole lot bet ter"
 I'm afraid you must have stum- bled against that yourself, sir, last night when you came in. You don't recall crash of any kind, sir? The plant stand was in pieces this morning. I'm afraid Mir. Grannock will be displeased when he sees it D
 When" echoed Lester, mean ingly.
 Garfield glanced at him - the glance he might have given to a defective but lovable child. Lester passed on and into the corridor tlat would bring him to the study. How short it was. He remembered carrying Hallie along it only in the other direction--last night and fearing that the distance would be
 
 And then a curious thing hap pened 10 Lester Broom. It was gwen to him to believe that along this corridor, one day, he would walk to his doom. The door at the end-the door of the study-would open for him and shut behind him and that would be all. The shut ting Of the door would be the last sound his ears would hold and tha tunnel of the corridor would be the last picture stamped upon his fad ing mind.
 He stopped in his stride. He was trembling, sweating. sick. His eyes were upon the door and it was opening. He felt that he was going to scream. But instead of scream ing he was laughing.
 "Oh, please, MT. Broom" snapped Nurse Casey. She had come softly through the study door and now barred his passage. "Mr. Grannocl> is dozing and he must be allowed to rest. Dr. Lytton was very par ticular about rest"
 Lester went on laughing, but softly. Lord, what a fright this dumpy, earnest little creature had given him. At least, he supposed it was her fiddling with the door that had started it all.
 Tt won't disturb my brother If just have a look at him. he sug- gested. He took out his handkcr- chief and passed it over his face Haven't seen him for couple O. days"
 "Mr. Grannocl asked for you yes- terday but you had gone in town." " Nurse Casey still refused t1 meet his smile or to step aside: indeed her voice was definitely hostile. My Instructions are to allow MT. Gran neck no visitors she added.
 And you're in charge Of him, are you?"
 "Yes, Mr. Broom. I'm in charg. or him all day and-now that there is no night-nurse-all night"
 The black mood grew in Lester So this fat little fool knew the origin Of all that scandal about Eiallie' His smile grew more sc- rene
 "'Fraid l shall be turning in early tonight" he said and, as the tears sprang to her eyes at the in suit and the blood scorched he. face, he pushed her gently asid and went on into the study