Lancaster Standard and County Advertiser. — 1905-12-29 (Lancaster, Lancashire, England)

CHAPTER 11. tit this happy turn was a long time ist ifenning. For weeks the invalid hovered between tile and death, and when an last be was ses far recovered as to ask tor a& looking;daft, he stared in astonishment al the spectrut figure he presented. Qusenie sat by his bedside, half leatthieg, half-citying. wholly joyful that he had tamed the coaster and would soon no longer rmairsi the tender ministrations of herself and her mother..  He sant back on the pillow and closed Ms eyes, and she. thinking he would sleep, took up a book, though indeed reading was • nun pretence. " You ibe not even know my name ? Wllll the sudden sernark which made her start. " And yet you have both nursed me as iII had been yous dearest friend." At this Queenie blushed most vividly and unaccountably. " Now lie will, and don't talk I" she said with as muchmiug froid as she could assume. " But I must talk. lam quite well ewe"now, and I want to explain all, and to thank you for your great kindness." " We don't want any explanation or any thanks," she said gaily. " Then I do, and I cannot rest without the former." .  " Hush ! Tllere is the doctor." "So much the better. Now, doctor " turning to the door—" will you kindly tell 'me why, instead of the bloodthirsty couple whom I found in my house on my return. I now sea so one but these two ministering angels and their brother ? "  " Your house-.! My dear sir, do not agitate yourself I" The invalid smiled feebly. " Please don't imagine I am still queer in my head. I am Roger Aylesbury, and 'Woodside' is my property." Dr. Nash stared open-mouthed, but seeing that his patient must speak, he let him go on —,hich he did, as follows: " My father. just before his death, bought this house, thinking that the climate would suit his complaint. But he died before the ' date fixed for his cooling. and I took a dislike to the place in consequence. Griffith Shrewley, who had been a chum of mine at Oxford. happened—as usual—to be in very low water, so I suggested that he should live here rent free for a year or two, while I went off to the Antipodes to seek my fortune. True. I even then had a fair income for a bachelor. but I might want to marry some day and should need more." . . . .  His eyes here rested for an instant on Queenie, who. unable to bear their glance, moved softly over to the window. 'One day, out Oere in the bush, a poor consumptive-looking tramp begged me to give him an old suit of clothes, which I forthwith did, quite forgetting that some letters from Shrawley were in the coat pocket. About a month later I happened to Lind out, quite by accident, that the man had died and that the news had been sent to the Shrawleys because of these same lettcrs. I was just getting homesick and i thought what fun it would be to drop in. upon t;riffith and see how he would look when lie oiscovered that I was not dead after all. Certainly his surprise quite equalled my expectations. but his welcome lacked warmth, and I was almost sorry I had come. They were just finishing their tea. and Mrs. Shrawley insisted on making some fresh for me. I foolishly began boasting of the pile I had III:/ C Out 111 Australia. and I remember slappin,; my pocket as if I carried troy rolls of banknotes there. As I did so. I drained a cup of tea to the dregs, and at the same moinent glancing at Mrs. Shrawley caught such a look of fiendish malignity in. her eyes at made me shudder. I started up in genuine alarm, but found that I could not stand. Ine room seemed to reel and I fell to ti.. • ground ; but before I completely lost consciousness I felt a terrific blow on the side of my head. Then I remembered nothing more until I awoke to a sense of, overwhelming pain and to the knowledge that kind I4CCa were around me. Afterwards, again a blank. But you believe my story ? "—he glanced alyeaihigly at the doctor. " Most assuredly I do I The villainous pair had Titled your pockets alter attempting to murder you. Probably the woman had not enough of the drug in the house to finish you off altogether :Ina was atraid you would come to yourself before tne:• hi 1 mule good their escape. Ilse pooce 5.0 hear LC: