Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1932-05-06
NINTH INSTALMENT

He had heard Diana's car drive up,
but had merely thought it was one Of
his own returning from the village to
which he had sent his chauffeur with
a message.
The dining room was ON the far
side of the house, and the heavy oak
door was shut, 50 he heard nothing
more till Diana's terrified scream rent
the silence, followed by that piteous
cry upon his name.
Donald -. |"
Rathbone was out in the hall al
most before it had died away, but ev-
en- then, for an instant, in the dim light
he could hardly understand what was
happening.
Servants were rushing from other
parts of the house, but it was Rath-
bone who dragged Nero away, almost
throttling him in his iron grip, Rath-
bone who, throwing the dog aside in
to someone else's custody, lifted Di-
ana in his arms.
"Oh, my-God"
She looked up at him, her eyes half
mad with terror, then with a little
convulsive gesture she put her LAGER
ated arms around his neck, cinging to
him desperately for one heartbreaking
moment before she tainted.
He carried her into the study and
laid her on the couch; his face was
gray, and his breath came tearing from
him as if it were he who was suffering,
and not she.
The chauffeur was in the room now,
and the housekeeper, a middle-aged
woman with a quiet, capable face; and
seeing that for a moment at least
Rathbone was utterly unnerved, she
fetched water and brandy and gently
bathed Diana, face and bleeding
arms. !.
1t seemed an eternity to those
around before she stirred a little and
then opened her eyes: eyes still so
terrified and wild that it was almost
unbearable when she started up, cry
ing and moaning afresh:
donald 80. Donald :. Save mel"
He went on his knees beside her.
Its all right -. I'm here -. don't
be frightened ... you're quite safe
it's all right =. I'm here -.
you're quite safe with me-"
He put his hand over her eyes for
an instant as if to wipe the last ter
rible moments from her memory, but
she pushed him away, crying out like
a frightened child
"He tried to kill me -. he tried to
kill me -. oh, why didn't you come?
He tried to kill me -" And
then, with a shuddering sob:
"Oh, my arms .. look at my arms!"
1t was a relief to them all when she
slipped back into Inconsistencies, but
when Mrs. Farmer tried to force
brandy between her lips Rathbone pre-
vented her.
mo, leave her alone"
He dressed and bandaged her arms
while she lay unconscious; he was as
gentle as a woman, thorough and ca
pable, but the sweat was standing in
great beads on his forehead, and his
curious hard breathing alone broke
the silence.
When at last he had finished, Mrs.
Farmer gave a little sob.
THANK God her face isn't touched,
sir"
Rathbone said nothing. He stood
looking down at Diana with a queer
blank look in his eyes.
Mrs. Farmer spoke again, hesitat-
ingly:
Shall we put her to bed, sir?"
He turned then.
"Here?-in this house? -. No, I'll
take her home"
When they brought the rug ne
wrapped Diana in it and lifted her in
his arms, carrying her out to the car
himself.
He laid her on the seat with a cush-
ion beneath her head and let down the
windows to the cool night air.
Drive carefully" he said.
The car moved slowly away.
Rathbone sat opposite Diana, lean
ing a little forward, his hands grip
ped between his knees, staring at her.
1t was like some monstrous night
mare from which he could not free
himself.
How had it happened? Why had she
come? Why, in Gods name, had she
come, alone and at this time of night?
The car stopped at Miss Starling's
cottage, and the chauffeur came to the
door.
Rathbone got out. Don't touch
her." he said briefly.