Part 31 (1/2)

”Well, we can do that--if he isn't delayed too long.”

After that the time dragged heavily. Just before train time Raymond took a coach to the depot and there met the specialist and told his story as the pair were driven rapidly to the house.

”It is a purely nervous shock, undoubtedly,” said the specialist. ”I will first find out from the nurse what the other doctor has given her.”

He was soon in consultation with Martha Sampson. In the midst of this Doctor Bird arrived. The local physician was willing enough to transfer the case to new hands.

”I am of the opinion that she is guilty,” he said in private to the specialist. ”Mr. Case, of course, thinks differently. You can figure it out to suit yourself,” and he told exactly what he had done and then went away, not to return.

Doctor Fanning watched at the sufferer's side for over an hour, before Margaret roused up again. The girl was very weak and spoke disconnectedly, but always in the same strain. She went over the scene at the inquest several times, and spoke of the blood on the engagement ring, as if that was the crown of her misfortunes. Then she sat up suddenly and looked at the new doctor.

”Are you the judge?” she demanded. ”If you are I will tell you all. I am guilty--they proved it! I am guilty! guilty! guilty!” she repeated the words over and over again, until she fell back on the pillow as before. Then she became delirious and it took both the nurse and Raymond to hold her. The doctor speedily opened up his case of medicines and gave her a hypodermic injection in the forearm. Then he made an examination of the patient, lasting some time.

”I will be plain with you, Mr. Case,” he said, drawing the young man to another room. ”This is a serious matter--a very serious matter indeed.

I believe you think the young lady innocent of the crime of which she is accused?”

”I am willing to stake my life on it. She is raving now, that is all.”

”Um!” The specialist nodded slowly and thoughtfully. ”Well then, we can only hope for the best. I had better stay with her, at least to-day and to-morrow--there may be another turn to her condition shortly.”

”Do your best, doctor. I am willing to foot the bill, no matter what it is.”

”If I was certain she was innocent--”

”I am certain of it.”

”You have the proofs?”

”No, not that. But--”

”I understand your situation, Mr. Case, and I honor you for the stand you have taken. At the same time I feel it my duty to tell you something. It is about a case that came under my notice three years ago. An old man was murdered and his wife was suspected of the crime.

She declared that she was innocent and many believed her. But soon the evidence began to acc.u.mulate against her and she had the same kind of a shock that Miss Langmore has experienced. She raved and at last cried out that she was guilty--”

”And was she guilty?”

”It was never proven, although matters looked black against her. The case hung fire because the old woman kept growing worse. The doctors who were in attendance did all that medical science could suggest to bring the old woman out of her peculiar state. But it was of no avail.”

”And the end, doctor, the end?” questioned the young man eagerly.

”It's a sorry thing to tell you, but it is best to be warned. The old woman went mad and while in that condition she one night committed suicide by leaping out of a window. It is a sad case but it may act as a warning. Someone must be on hand to watch Miss Langmore constantly.”

A long conversation followed, and the specialist gave minute direction to the nurse, who promised to get another nurse to relieve her. Then the medical man mixed up several drugs and placed the mixture in a gla.s.s with some water.

The talk left Raymond in low spirits and the young man walked up and down in the parlor below in a thoughtful mood. The outlook was certainly gloomy enough. What if the shock should prove so severe that Margaret would never get over it? In that case it would matter little even if her innocence was established.

In the midst of his meditations he saw a man come up on the porch and he opened the door to admit Adam Adams and ushered the detective in the parlor.

”I understand Miss Langmore was brought here,” said Adam Adams, dropping into a chair.