Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1939-02-17
CHAPTER 4

around so that 1 could scarcely steer.
/ got some water and bathed my head
and tried again but after mile or two
I went straight into the ditch. was
close here then butt was no good my
trying to drive the car. I tried to get
here on foot and I was sitting within
sight of the where I had to climb a
gate. That's the last thing / remem-
ber."
= "Tell me, what were you bringing
to met"
"Just a letter-rather long one
and a portion of it typewriter. 1t
was wrapped up in piece of oilcloth."
did the man on the road get away
with it?"
"He did not" was the fervent an
swer. "You will find the letter in
my inside pocket. am only praying
that you will take it away with you"
81 will do that" Matresser prom
ised. After ALL" he added a little
more kindly, "the final test-espec-
tally in our sort of works whether
you bring it off or not. Your job
was to bring that letter to me and so
long as you have done it the few
little slips you seem to have made can
be forgotten"
The man smiled gravely.
Would you mind?" he begged.
1.-THE doctor said might have a drink
if I woke up. 1t is on the table
there" said Fergus, the badly injur-
ed stranger.
Matresser poured some water into
glass. The patient slipped it greed
lily.
That's better, sir" he sighed. 81
am beginning to see things more clear
Iy. You are Lord Matresser, aren't
you?"
Quite right"
Il wonder, would you mind going
over to my coat and helping yourself
to the letter. It's in the inner pocket"
You're in hurry to get rid of it,"
Matresser remarked good humoredly.
The man on the bed raised himself
slightly and clasped his head with
both hands.
~Of course" he acknowledged, 81
am half crazy. know that. But
everything seems to have gone so
queerly with me since I got that knock
on the head. This evening I was
sleeping quite peacefully and SEEM
ed to have sort of dream. There
was woman-not the old lady who
put me to bed and sponged me when
was brought here, but younger wo-
man-dark. I thought saw her lean
over the coat and / suppose made
a noise. She came over to the bed
and Its awfully hard to explain!
One moment the woman was looking
down at me with great angry eyes
and then she seemed to float away
] felt prick in my arm. I opened
my eyes and she was still there, then
I slept again or dozed until just now
when you came in. Godl How the
room swims!"
Don't talk any more" Matresser
enjoined.
It seemed needless command, for
The man had closed his eyes and was
breathing heavily. Matresser crossed
The room, picked up the Norfolk jack
It and thrust his hand into the pocket
which Fergus had indicated. He
brought out two strips of cardboard
:ut through the middle and a sheet
If oilcloth cut into four squares. The
place where the letter had been was
clearly indicated. But there was no
etter.
Matresser stole back on tiptoe to
he bed. Fergus had closed his eyes
md seemed to be still DOING heavily.
his visitor stretched out
ais hand, stopped, picked up from the
carpet a sinister looking small object
which seemed to have rolled an inch
,r two under the bed. He turned it
over between his fingers. It was
clinical syringe, curiously shaped. He
looked at it more closely. After all,
t might be harmless. Suddenly Fer
gus spoke thickly, eagerly-but there
was a sort of film over his eyes and
his voice was indistinct.
"You have it all right, sir?"
Matresser thrust the oilcloth, the
cardboard and the syringe into his
pocket.
Everything is all right, Fer
gus" he said. "Try and drop off to
sleep if you can"
The man on the bed drew sigh of
relief. His breathing became more
regular. He slept.