The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-10-01

OCu, Sic Hdu CUTIE over III JIl6 Qdy-
time for a chat or for a game OF
cribbage. Tonight everything was
as usual: books and photographs,
chairs and rugs and lamps, but she
sensed this rather than saw it, for
her anxious eyes were instantly
fixed upon the man who lay painting,
propped in pillows, in the wide,
comfortable bed. The worn, deep
lines of the disillusioned face were
accentuated now by his violent i'll
ness. He smiled a CHASTITY smile
as she came in, and stretched his
lean hand toward her.
THAT dope seems to have quieted
things down, Doctor" he said in a
hoarse whisper. To the amah who
was now moving about the room DR..
Cudworth turned and said sharply:
"While I was out of the room no
body came in? Nobody touched any
thing on that tablet"
The woman shook her head; she
looked half sick with fright and be-
wilderment.
"That's all right them" said the
doctor. "Bime-by nurse come. You
stay here, watchee all time"
II not CO." the amah said.
II was pretty near done forbid
he tell your" Spencer whispered,
holding to Vicky's hand. He ig
nored Serena, looking away from
her with a frown.
"You had a bad upset." Vicky
said, looking down at him, trusting
her face did not betray her appalled,
thoughts.
''I'll get through this, won't I,
Doctor?" the sick man whispered.
81 would be wrong to deceive you,
Mr.. Morrison" the old doctor said
solemnly. you're already sink
ing, sir. The absence of pain and
the pulse both show it. It's no
time for me to say anything else to
you. If there are affairs for you to
settle"
"Vicky, can't you get hold of
Quentin!" Spencer gasped.
"He's coming, Spencer. He was
at the hospital, but 1 left word.
What did you take?" Vicky demand
ed, in sort of wall.
81 didn't take anything She gave
it to me. I want you both," Spen-
Ger said painting, ''to remember
what I say! She tried-a week ago
she tried to double my sleeping
stuff; she brought it to me. I've
not been taking it lately; I've been
sleeping better. She told me I'd
better make sure. She knew I was
going back to England; she didn't
want to go, and I told her she'd
take care of herself if she didn't
come! That drove her crazy. I
saw it-she's been half crazy any
way, lately. l told Amah to watch
everything ate, and she did, but
today I was asleep when she
brought me up my lemonade. 1t
was there when woke up; ought
to have thought that Serena'd been
at it"
Serena, whose face was CHASTITY,
looked from one to the other.
"That's not true!" she whispered
sharply in the silence. And abrupt
ly she left the room. Spencer strug-
gled to speak.
Quite suddenly, out of the night
mare, Vicky was awakened by a
step she knew sounding on the
stairs, voice out in the hallway.
"Quentin's here!" she said. DR..
Cudworth turned quickly.
"You stay right here, Amah," he
said. "You watch master!" He and
Vicly went out into the hall, and
when she saw Quentin, pale and
shocked, but strong and big and
adequate and infinitely comforting,
Vicky experienced one of the good
moments of life; fear turned to con-
fidence, peril to safety, and the
horrors of the black night seemed
less black.
whats the matter with him?"
Quentin asked. Serena began a
frantic explanation; the other doc
tor brushed her aside.
Hes taken poison" he said
bluntly.
"Suicide?" Quentin whispered,
with a glance toward Spencer's
door.
Nothing of the kind" Cudworth
answered sharply. "The man no
more wanted to die than you do! He
told me that he'd p1anned-he told
me that he'd been much better-I
tell you, / can't sign it, Doctor"
he interrupted himself to say agi-
tatedly. "You may if you like! But
there have been things going on
here that are against the laws of
God and man, sir! I'll not do it,
my professional honor forbids It'll"
Quentin, evidently trying to grasp
the situation. looked from face to
face.
"Who suggested poison?" he
asked sharply.
mo one!" Serena said, on a pas
sionate breath.
doctor, the man himself told
me-" the village doctor said, his