The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-10-08
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

She went over and chung to Quen-
tins arm. He disengaged her hand
without seeming conscious of her
presence and turned to Victoria.
why did you come here, dear?"
he asked in concerned, tender
voice. ut will only distress you
horribly. You don't belong in this!"
Spencer asked for me, Quent."
Vic raised her eyes to his and saw
Serena, pale and tense and watch
ing, looking at them. And she felt
an odd twist Of something like pity
in her heart.
Nonsense or not" little DR.. Cud-
worth said inhexibly, II couldn't
professionally l could not ascribe
this to a natural illness"
Serena faced him down.
"You could mind your own busi-
ness!" she said with hiss on the
last word. "If you don't want to do
it, knowing, as I told you when you
got here, as everyone knows, that
he's been a sick man for years,
say that if you don't believe that a
man who takes no exercise, and is
not strong, could eat something, or
take an opiate, that would make him
desperately i'll, you're fooll You
oughtn't to be practicing medicine.
It happens all the time! Men die
every day of acute indigestion cou-
pied with heart failure, and if you
won't take the responsibility of say
ing so, DR.. Hardisty will"
"That couldn't be done, Serena"
Quentin said quietly. II have never
had this case. But Pm positive-I
don't believe - know - DR.. Cud-
worth isn't seriously suggesting"
"You may do as you think best,
Doctor" the other doctor said
abruptly. 81 would have entire
faith in anything you saw fit to do.
But 1 personally must decline the
responsibility"
II have nothing to do with it,
Quentin said briefly. Serena turned
on him.
Spencer had acute indigestion,
and he's got bad heart" she said.
"But believe me, if there's any in
vestigation, if there's one word Of
talk, you're in this, too, Quentin
Hardisty! I'll not stand it. TN not
face a coroner and be questioned,
while you are quietly enjoying your
self over there on the lawn with
your wife, laughing and carrying
the children into the housed"
81 don't think that'll happen"
Quentin said. But Vicky saw that
his face was pale. II wish you'd
called me earlier!"
GLOW do you know what'll hap
pen!" Serena said. II know. I
can tell you! We had coroner's
investigation when Gita's father
died. I know what it meansl You'll
have to sign that death warrant,
Quentin, or I'll have to drag your
name into it. You and I've talked
of what we'd do if he died; you can't
deny that, if they put you on oath!
Everyone knows what we've been to
each other; you had motive for
giving me something that would
put him to sleep. He told DR.. Cud-
worth here that wanted to get
rid of him."
"Vic, do you want to stay?"
Quentin asked in an undertone, as
the breathless voice died to silence.
"This isn't your sort Of thing"
''No, Vic won't co." Serena said
at white heat. "You don't think Vic
doacpsf Ly,o1x, ~, 81 wa, 1oxyo mo fb Of
you've been following me, making
me presents, writing me letters"
Quentin looked at Vicky, looked
away; he spoke quietly.
''Vicky knows just how badly I've
treated her, Serena" he said.
"She's always known, from the be-
ginning. I'm not trying to wriggle
out Of that. If you were really fool
enough to give Spencer sleeping
powders or anything else, I'm in it
with you. There's no question that
you can drag my name and my
children's names in the mud, if you
want to. You can take those let
tiers into court"
Letters saying, If it weren't
for Spencer >" Serena inter-
rupted him.
Letters saying everything"
Quentin said in low voice, with
a level glance at her. Letters
saying everything!" he repeated.
"But one thing isn't true" he went
on slowly. eve never loved but
one woman in all my life; never,
no matter what I said or wrote or
did. I've always loved my wife, al
ways, always held her in a place
by herself"
Vicky went over to him and
dropped her hand into his, but he
did not glance at her or seem to
know that she was there.
"How NIGEL" Serena said. $50
pay, the bill alone. How very NIGEL"
mo, you and I'll both payl"
Quentin said. "And she'll pay, too.
1t means disgrace for us ALL"
There was sound at the door of
the invalid's room; the amah came
out with an agitated face, shaking
her head. Serena gave short ejac-
ulation and, turning, went across