The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-03-01

it was a very different DR.. John VINO
came back. I have seen him worry
his way through some rasping or
deals but never showing the least emo.
ton. Now, however, he was so agttateo
that at sight of him I cried out, us 1t
as bad as that?"
tits bad" he said. Man, it is so bad
and so unexpected that for the first
time in my practice I can't even pre-
tend to know how to act; let me be Tor
a minute" He paced the floor, digging
his gnarled fists into his eyes, a way
he has when in pursuit Of a problem
as If the blackness thus created helped
him to see better.
There is one of two things that must
be DONE" he said, land I have got to
choose, but the responsibility Is very
terrible" I waited, thinking he was to
take me into his confidence, but, In
stead, he Just stood staring in a kind
Of wonderment at me. I began to as
sure him that every help I could give
would be forthcoming, and at that ne
gave a Earring laugh. I was offended,
but he was at once contrite and asked
for my advice.
we could get Mistress Lindinnock
and the young lady to come down." I
suggested.
mo, we could not" he said, so sharp
ly that I stiffened again. He put the
matter right, though, when he told me
the two courses he had to decide be-
tween. for what I had proposed was
one Of themnamely, to confront the
poor sufferer with the two ladies, which
he called the kill or ure step. The
second course was to go canny for a
few days in the hope that the hallucin-
alton might pass of itself. She might
even wake up on the morrow without
it, which at the worst would be a more
gentle Weakening than the other. He
asked me, not like a consultant, but as
one who needed a stronger man to lean
on, which line of action I would prefer
to be taken if I was in Christilly's place,
and on consideration I admitted that
the first one seemed to carry the o
grievous shock.
After some discussion we decided to
give the softer plan a short trial. I said
there could be no harm in it, at any
rate. He said. very worried, indeed he
was shaking. that there might be great
harm in it, but that he would risk it.
We agreed that, as on all subjects save
the one, she was as right as I was,
it would be best for me in u daily
intercourse to be just my usual, but
not to talk to her as if I knew she was
possessed by an evil spirit.
AS the doctor was anxious she should
be kept from brooding I also agreed
to a proposal from him that her broth
er, Laurie, who is at present at a loose
end in Branders, should pay a visit to
the manse for a few days, ostensibly to
brighten her, but really of course to
watch her on the quiet.
This gives small promise for the time
being as a comfortable manse; but
what is running in my head even now
is that tomorrow afternoon I go, be the
weather what it likes, to the Grand
House to see Miss Julie Logan again.
It will be the last day of the year, but
Laurie should be here by then and
Christilly will be safe in his care.
Today I am keeping an observant eye
on her myself. She has brought up my
meals in her old exemplary way and
we have exchanged a few cautious
words about household affairs, but her
face is sore begrutten, and if I try to
be specially kind to her she knows the
reason and there is more than a
threatening of a breakdown. Poor
woman Poor woman, it is like to be a
sad New Years eve to her, and for DR..
John also, who has known her from
youth, and left the manse, very broken.
AS I let him out I said, 1T is as if the
spectrum had come padding back to
the house."
"Wheest. man." he said.
TX. THE END OF A SONG.