Part 2 (1/2)

CHAPTER TWO

A STRANGE CASE

Two gloveless hands caught Dr Chester's as he entered his consulting-rooh hiitated, was thrust close to his

”Dr Chester? Oh, at last! Come--quickly! before it is too late”

”Pray be cal his visitor to a seat, but she threw back her head

”Coha”

”Pray explain yourself, madam,” said the doctor

”Oh, how can you be so cold-blooded? Man, I tell you that Robert is dying He must not--he shall not die Come--come!”

”But, o,” cried the visitor, passionately, as she drew him towards the door ”A terrible accident Coht have hesitated, but there was a strange netism in the eyes of his beautiful visitor--an appeal in the quivering lip Every feature was drawn by the agitation froencies--evidently some terrible crisis had arisen, and he felt it impossible to resist

He threw open the door, there was a faint gasp of satisfaction as he caught up his hat, and the next htly by his hand, he was descending the broad steps, perfectly ignorant of the fact that Aunt Grace was standing at the top of the first flight of stairs, watching intently

By the light of the gas laham drawn up at the kerb His companion said the one word ”Hoe, the doctor followed, and they were driven off at a rapid pace

The night was dark, and it was by flashes of the lali earnestly toward his He was conscious of the delicate scent e from the dress; the warm perfuic in the contact with her rustling robe, as they sped along the streets A wild intoxication seemed to have seized upon him in those moments, before he could master himself sufficiently to say--

”Will you explain the accident?”

”Yes, yes, as soon as I can speak,” was panted out ”I--I--ah--h--ah!”

The speaker lurched toward hi will led free

”Better now,” she panted ”Doctor, we had heard of you, I ca Oh, faster--faster!” she cried, and leaning forward she beat upon the front , there was a quick movement on the part of the driver, and the horses seemed to fly

”It was like this We were at dessert Robert was exa a pistol

It went off, and he is horribly wounded Dr Chester, oh, for Heaven's sake, save my poor boy's life!”

”With Heaven's help, madam, I will,” said the doctor, earnestly, ”if we are not too late”

”Too late--too late? Oh no, no, no, we cannot be too late! Quicker!

Quicker! These horses seem to crawl Oh, it is too horrible--too horrible! I cannot bear it!”

By a quick, impulsive movement the speaker threw herself forward, to sink upon her knees in the botto her hands to her ainst the padded cushi+on by the front hile, feeling strangely htly over her with his hands half raised, in the desire he dared not gratify, to raise her to her seat and whisper gentle words of comfort

At that tientleested it--to be handling a pistol at dessert All he could think of was the terrible suffering of his companion, and his attention was centred upon her as he saw the agony she suffered, while as yet he could do nothing