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Show JUAB COONTY TIMES. NEPHI, UTAH .GG m WILSON W00DP0W AUTHOR OF "THE SIL, VER B U TT E R F LY," "S A SALT," "THE BLACK PEARL," ETC L-L-Y jpj NOVELIZED FROM THE SERIES OF PHOTOPLAYS OF THE SAME NAME RELEASED BY jjjjjjjljj j o PAT HE EXCHANGE, made tn qufte a matter-of-fac- t way, with an Irrepressible spice of elation In Esther'! carefully controlled tones, that he was about to be made head of the Sands Memorial, and that he had better come right over to discuss the details of his appointment with Mrs. Sands. True, the lady herself had made no such promise as that, nor had indeed bound herself In any way; yet, when the doctor arrived, stalwart and good to look at in his crisp business suit. and greeted her in that frank boyish fashion of his, she let the statement stand unchallenged. Her face lighted up with animation. and seating herself close beside him at a table, she rang for her secretary to bring ber the drawings sub- mmeu ny- - tne architect and com menced to aBk his opinion on them In fact she so monopolized the doc tor that Esther was practically ex cluded from the conversation. "I'll leave you to find out for your self, Mrs. Sands, that I spoke only the truth when I told you thut George Is exactly the man you need," she said lightly as she drew her furs up about her throat. Sylvia started slightly and made a courteous protest against her leavin but the manner of it was plainly per functory and with the closing of the door upon the wife, there came into her face an expression which could hardly be translated otherwise than as satisfaction. As she came back to the table and bent once more over the plans, her hand strayed with apparent uncon sclousness until It touched the doc tor's and rested against It Dut Dullard, Intensely interested In questions of drainage and ventilation and details of the sort, was too absorbed to notice and. after a moment she Jerked ber hand away with a flash of anger In her eyes. When he rose to leave and took her hand at parting, she did not Imme diately withdraw It from his clasp. "We shall have to see a great deal of each other fronvnow on, I suppose, doctor," she murmured, and then after a pause added, "for the good of the hospital." Dullard left the house with a seuse of danger. He was almost of a mind to throw over the position she offered him. put as he considered its advantages and what it meant to his career, he decided that be would be a fool to give up such a chance. Still it did not .Increase bis .equanimity to find J?stbcr, when be entered their living room at home, playing the some time, If I couldn't find a young chap to act as his assistant, and really run the show. A live wire like your of Fate. Puppets husband, especially with bis city ex perience, would JuBt about fill the bill. Doctor George Dullard, screw-drivDo you suppose, Mrs. Dullard, tliut the .and hammer In hand, stepped back doctor would consider an offer of that to survey the neat, sign kind?" which be had just afllxed to the side Esther dropped her eyes to conceal of the white cottage with Us vine of the gleam of eagerness in them June roues clambering up over the "I really don't know." She plaited door. her skirt thoughtfully between her The cottage was new so new that fingers. "How much would the' posithe frcRh, white paint upon it was tion be worth?" hardly dry. Even the doctor was new, "I'm afraid not more than twenty- as shown by the touch of boyish ex- five hundred dollars." The man spoke uberance with which he slipped his apologetically, never dreaming how arm about the waist of his brand-nenarrowly he escaped an ecstatic bug wife and drew her to him. 3ut the from the demure young woman beside sign was the newest of all. him. George had told her that they "Isn't It beautiful?" the young bride would be extraordinarily lucky if he breathed softly. took In $1,000 on his first year. llullard made no answer In words, She succeeded In concealing her feel but oblivious to the Inquisitive neigh- ings, however. bors who might be peering at them "That seems rather small, don't you from behind closed window-blinds- , think?" she murmured, and the upshot bent down and kissed her on the lips. of It was that she came into the house "Its like nailing one's color to the with cheeks flushed and eyes dancing masthead. Isn't It?" She clutched a with excitement.' ' bit excitedly at bis arm. "Oh, George, "Oh, George! Ceorge!" she exwe simply can't let ourselves fail claimed. "Was there ever such a now. We've got to make good!" stroke of good fortuue? You're going "Small chanqes of failure, with you to be offered the post of surgeon for to spur me on. This sitting down and the gas company at a salary of three waiting for patients is going to be thousand dollars a year." deuced tough on a fellow that was kept Esther was a proud and happy worn s as busy as I was at the hospital. an, and a proud and happy woman she " though remained throughout the succeeding A shrill cry of terror caused them five years of their married life. both to turn, startled, and they were doctor's auspicious start proved The horrified to see a pussing touring-ca- r no flash In the pan, but the tiring of golden-haireknock down a little girl a scintillating train which went leap who was attempting to croBS the ing on from success to success. treet. Dullard had commenced to special Almost Immediately the owner of ize as a surgeon. Even at medical to a had machine it halt, school he had been noted for the the brought and leaping out. caught up his little steadiness of his hand, and the skill Victim In his arms. He glanced about with which he handled the knife. Yet him wildly a moment; then as he no one at the old ! and S neither bis caught sight of the freshly hung sign precentors nor fellow students would upon the front of the cottage he hur- ever have dreamed of predicting an es ried forward. pecially brilliant career for him. "Are you the doctor?'' he questioned Steady, dependable, conscientious barply. those were the terms they would have -Why, yes." Dullard half hesitated, applied to him. How was It then, that "but I am Just moving In, and hardly at twenty-eigh- t he became known as In shape to look after patients yet. the author of the celebrated Dullard The hospital Is only about eight blocks operation, and chosen as the directing farther on, and " head of the great memorial hospital lie' halted as be felt Esther's band which Mrs. Sylvia Sands was proposIn arm on his eager protest. ing to erect to her deceased husband? "The doctor means." she Interrupt- Again, as the French proverb has it, ed quickly, "that It will take too long "Cherrhcx la fenime." In this case, to reach the hospital with an emer- "Cherchei I'EHther." for gency case like this. Here let me Ever she was on the look-ou- t bare the' poor, little dear." relieving some way to further his fortunes and the man of Ms pathetic burden, and advance his standing; so, when she saw In the paper that the great hostartlng toward the house. AlrooHt without knowing how It was pital fcr which James - Sands bad done, the doctor found hlniBdf In his left by will a portion of his millions, hlle Jacket, and all that he required was to be erected at bis birthplace, splints, bandages, cotton, hot water Mortentown, the suggestion at once at hand as he needed then.. came to ber that no one was so fitted .The little girl was too shaken and to take charge of the Institution as excited to tell clearly who she was or ber "doctor." where she belonged, but somehow. Esther had met Mrs. Sands during Esther, amid all her other services. cne of the latter's more or less Infre4ii an aped to obtain the desired Informaquent visits to Mortentown; for the tion, and then since the child still re- Junior of ber late husband by many fused to be pated from her, she car- years, the restless young woman bad ried It in her arms while the owner tf in bis lifetime bardly given the poor the car drove them carefully across eld millionaire a chance to draw a long breath, ac perpetually did she keep hlra on the go. Now, her brief period of mourning over. Mrs. Sands frankly raged at the harsh necessity which kept ber In staid quiet Mortentown. She was compelled to remain here fcr a year or more, and muddle her brains over a dreary old hcspital. She was dolefully bewailing the un4 welcome prospect one afternoon when Mrs. Dullard was announced, and snatching at any diversion, ordered her caller to be Immediately shown In. Esther made no secret of her mis sion but went directly to the point. "Mrs. Sands." she said with a charming naivete. "I have the most wonderful husband In the world, and the very man ynu need to take charge of this new hospital of yours and make It a tremendous success. He csn relieve you of all the bother In connection ' with the plans, and will give yon a thousand valuable Ideas and suggestions which nobody else would ever think of." Mrs. Sands stirred to a show of InLet us Talk Things Over. She Said. terest Hitherto she had never thought town and permitted her to explain mat- - of anyone for the vacant post out some eminent gray beard from one ers to the frightened mother. "Some doctor, that husband of of the eastern colleges, She had met Doctor Dullard, and nor. - the man responsible for the accident pronounced gratefully, as be like everybody else bad been most ii favorab T impresses wnn mm. drove ber back home. she reflected. "res." Esther nodded, Toctor Dal-lar-d might be rather amusing, to be so closely associated with a Is fint in an emergency." "You're Just moving to Mortentown, young, good looking man of bis type. "He has a national reputation, yoo ren t your the man turned to ber as If struck by a sudden Idea. "Has your know, as the author of the Dullsrd put In Esther with a little busband practiced anywhere else?" she responded, and touch of wifely pride, and that set"In hoped that she wss not stretching the tled It. Mrs. Psnds rose Impulsively from truth loo fsr. George bad done some outside charity work while serving aa the couch where she eat. come here "1 wonder If he could an Interne at the hospital. "Why?" "Well. 1 was Just thinking tf some- rleht sway, and talk things over with get hold of thing," ih man hesitated. "I'm the me." she said. "Can you toward the ufx'flntf ndent of the gas company, him?" waving her hand stand to a we have and telephone physician know, yod So It happened that the doctor, sit ot men. The old fellow look aft'-ho' gat the Job has kind of run to ting in his office, wss almost bowled and Its been wondering for over to receive the announcement FIRST STORY er black-lettere- d Per-kap- . I- J r .f back ' with 'a' exclama eant ba delayed, and aha will have tl tion. no other way." She was lying on the bed asleep In a He turned to the waiting nurse. pose that was characteristic of her, "Get her in on the table," he directher hands crossed upon her breast; ed. "I'll be ready as soon as you but even so, he had almost to look are." twice to make sure that it was really Ten minutes later he entered the she. so pale and emaciated did she operating room in hla white gown and look. mask, drawing on his rubber gloves aa The noise of his entrance had awak he came. Doctor Davie stepped forened her, however, and she opened her ward and surveyed him searchingly. eyes to stare half incredulously a mo "Steady as a rock." Dullard held ment. Then, with a glad little cry, his hand out for Inspection. "You need she sprang up and came toward him. have no fear of me." Good hcavena! You are 111!", he ex None of them but admired his wonclaimed. 'Why didn't you let me derful self control. Aa he stood there know?" beside the table, waiting for the anesWell, I didn't want to spoil your va thetic to take full effect, there was not cation," she panted. "I am going to examine you for from elephantiasis to everything housemaid's knee." ) Dut all the time that he was apply ing the stethoscope and putting her ee I through various tests he was gripped with a chill knowledge of the truth. There was but one hopo for her the Dullard operation. Tru going to send you over to the hospital, my dear." he added lightly. "An old family doctor would probably order a flannel bandage on you and dose you up with prescriptions, but there's a condition I have found which It seems to. me can be reached better by the knife than anything else." "An operation?" She looked up at hlra and paled slightly. "Oh, George, ' is It serious?" i f Not In the loast, with a man who understands his business. I shall wire I . for Doctor Davie of Doltlmore." naming an eminent specialist. He dispatched a telegram to Mrs. She Asked His Opinion of the Plans. Sands resigning hla position in cona not the slightest tremor a of muscle, nection with the new hospital. Two days later, within an hour of uneasy movement to betray that ha the time set for the operation, and was under any strain. From the nurse Dullard took the Just as he himself was about to start for the hospital. Sylvia walked Into keen, slender scalpel which she handed him and held it poised for a mohis office. Doctor." she said, plunging into her ment, while with the other hand ha subject before Bhe even stopped to fan- - drew the skin taut. Just at the base of loose her furs, "we Just simply can't the neck, above a plexus of arteries let that resignation of yours stand, and and bloodvessels throbbing underno personal question between you and neath. In that moment there recurred to myself can he allowed to serve as a his mind a sentence he had once used reason for It." Then ho told her gravely of his at a clinical demoustratlon of hla opwife's serious illness and of the ex eration. ."The incision must be quick, straight actions which her convalescence would and true as a rifle bullet," he had said. place upon him. "Oh, I am sorry!" She spoko with "Tho slightest bungling, the least devievery manifestation of shocked regret. ation from the line and the result is a She rose as she spoke, gathering up catastrophe." And suppose the unbidden quesher muff from the table where she had laid It. Dut as she moved toward the tion camo he should bungle or devidoor she turned as it on a suddeu Im- ate now? As in a flash he saw all the vexing complications in which he was pulse. she doctor." said, "why involved swept away; no bogie of duty "Listen, make this thing so conclusive? You standing longer in his path, but a clear say that after Mrs. Dullard has suff- road to all that his ambition coveted iciently recovered you want to take her and to Sylvia. Did the dazzle of the vision momento. California for four or five months. bis Yery well, do so; but that is no valid tarily obscure his eyesight, or didhjm-selreason for you to give up your post hand tremble? He never knew, He only knew that a second lawith the hospital." He hesitated a moment; then he ter be was staring aghast at the result of his handiwork, while Doctor shook his hu1. "'Oh, George," she pleaded, twining luivle thriiHt him hurriedly aside In her arms about him, "I can give you the fruitless effort to repair his blunall the world, I can make you tho dering. Tho next that he knew he found himgreatest surgeon of your generation self aimlessly wandering through a Don't let yourself be led into su'h a nacrifice. lton't stand by a decision wood about a mile back of the hostlmt you will repent all the days vf pital, and he Judged he must have your life. Come to cie! See! I am ut- lei n roaming about a long time, for be was wet to the knees from plowing terly abasing my pride. Come to me, when you will, how you will; only through successive drifts of the deep, snow, and shivering with the promise that you w I'l come. You can't slushy let yourself sink lo a level mili as cold. Slowly he awoke to the consclous-nex- s this." She swept tho small ofliro with vt what he had done, and in the a gesture. Then her head was of his misery there came to e depths delicate bis the breast, against she exhaled rose to bis noMrlls, him by some trick of association of and with it the old Infatuation whlrh Pleas a memory of tho bo thought he had cast o!f swept over instrument cabinet In his otJiee and o? him like a wave. His arms tightened the manner in which It had come to -. ;, .VfcV. ,. about her. and with a half articulate him. It was In the early days of bis pracJumble of words be kissed her passionand Esther, hearing him bemoan tice, ately. The moments paed unheeded. his lack of adequate equipment, had bad painsTime was forgotten.' Then their taken the money which she w oblivion w as broken In on by the Jan- takingly boarded for her inter wardHe Tound Esther Obdurately fret.. . robe and bought the cabinet without gling staccato of the telephone bell. knew It he had her old song. Then YouH Remember Me." 'almost before shabby all the With a low, s'arll'd exclamation. letting him know, going w word tn his arms. on the piano. Dullard stood back from the woman season through, yet ith never a "Good God!" he muttered hoarsely. of complaint. "We've landed It, George." she ex sljr-a at and jukk. glance inquiring That was Esther, he reflected alulted happily. "We've landed it. Aren't "Don't you understand? It is you 1 the clock. It was fifteen minutes past Dut " lie a (!(! always generous, ways you going to tell me again that I'm love, you I need! the for the operation. hour miserably. "1 am bound to Esther." always thinking of him instead of her your good angel?" he but the Again rang; telephone Mrs. Sands' gray green eyes nar self. And how bad he requited her deDut the half frown on the doctor's made no move to touch it. only staring votion? brow did not lift, and trumping up the rowed a little and an Impati'-n- t excla- at It If as durably, apprehensively, excuso that be had a patient to visit. mation half escaped her lips. Again remorse, black and bitter, enof the message that it bore. At him like a wave. "Iet us talk things over," she said fearful gulfed he hurried away. though, he forced himself with He started up from where be had "There's nothing more to ssy that I last, Nevertheless that little suggestion an rrTort to the Instrument that his wife considered herself the can see, he shmggei his shui'iers. from the deskpickandtip lift the receiver thrown himself down on the wet and linto 4n What the Is there situation of sogey ground and set off toward town, their guiding spirit partnership from the hook. half running like a madman. gered and rankled down deep In his create all this fuss about? If we love "Nothing dnic yet?" Mrs. Sands And so at last he burst Into his ofconsciousness, and Mrs. Sands did not each other, why shouldn't we tell each heard him repeal In surprise. "She other so and show it, too. tor that fice, and found Mrs. Sands there still fall to discover It. to go on the table, you say, until waiting for him. He had forgotten She managed to instill subtly Into matter?" demanded Mrs. Sands. I get there?" as Dullard at half her stared of Esther that she would probably be there, bad blankly. his mind the conception He paused a moment, then added: Indeed "Dut yofi forget that I am not fre," a rather self sufficient perno l who had foTgotten all about her. Dut " "Very well, til her I'll come at once never rightly appreciated him, while he stammered. now, as he saw her sitting there In one "Pout?" She diPiei of the barrier And setting down the telephone he of his office chairs carelessly puffing a she herself a woman of far wider ex up his greaterjat and hat. Strug- cigarette, his eyes dilated and be a fiitk of her riearette. "Sis with recogand higher mentality perience the sleeves pf his coat he lurched toward ber with something of into gling Reno settle will at months that." bis brilliant value nized at their true "Divorce'." he started at the sugges Jerked a quifk direction over his shoul 1 a snarl. powers and attainments. Mrs. Sands. "Wait here until der She gave a little shriek and, terrified The result was not hard to foresee. tion; evidently sorb a solution, had! "1 lo ha'k I nmt have a talk with at bis wild, disheveled appearance, him before. Then i Dullard spent more and more time in never occurr ti out. ,m ne n Tnen he hurried dashed away to cower from him on u!. iu the ennrenial and fascinating aoclety-- l ne ..noos nis n.fa i. i rvou" lie covered the Mocks from his the other side of the table. blow in the fare to her," he muttered, of Mrs. Sands. house to the hospital with racing Dullard stol staring at her with hie "Why, this thing is making you al- "1 tell you shell never consent." "I think she will." Mrs. Sands Hp speed. He wss Informed by Ioctor blood sJiot heavy, eyes, J most a stranger to me, George," said " "Go!" be croaked hoarsely, Esther laughingly one day. "If 1 were curled a trifle cynically. For her sake Dsvie and the two local men who were not so sure of you. you old dear, I you must go to ber and tell her the to act at his assistants that the paThen, as she hesitated, beld by ber should be turning Jealous of Sylvia truth; then for your own come back tient had at'soluteiy refund to let anyone but her husband operate. to me and your work." pallid" of fear, be half flung ap bis arm Sands" "Dut it is Impossible!" Dullard pro- as if still more emphatically to repeat Dullard started The next Not a suspicion did sh have, though, that there was really any cause for for Mortentown fully fortified by Mrs. tested, ' recoiling from the Very sugges- hte Injunction. . Dul the arm be raised stepped halfworry. Nor, to be fair to Dullard, did Sands' counsel and direction aa to tion. I would nevert dream of operating in a case where was so vitally In- way and fell helpless to hla sidethe the suegestlon cross his mind at any what he wss to do. He had purposely not wired the hour terested. Walt a minute" he i'srted arm upon whos skill and steadiness time thst in his association with the 1 will he had prided himself. Ills fate twistother woman he was the least bit dis- of his arrival, so it did not surprise toward the door of her room ed strangely, and the words be tried him that Esther was tt" at the station talk to her and see if 1 can't persuad loyal to Esther. i , to (peak becafce a tnera tuple in hi! Consequently neither of thetn was to meet him. nor yet that she did not her to listen to reason "! r Dut for on'e he found Esther ob- throat when he opened the In any way disturbed when it fell out come to With a stagger, he collapsed into a thst the affairs of the hospital required gate and walked up the path to their durately ef. and a!ir about ffteen ot fntile be rejoined chair, srtrltkert by a twdden paralysis, cottage. Dut wer he rriinu George to make a visit to New York and. by a similar coincidence, Mrs had soarched all over the lower floor the others with a shake Vf the head his brilliant career over and 'tints Sands was to be there at the same and failed to fnd ber, he ntan - and bis bands spread evl In surren- - written upon his record of erhies rnenta fitting retribution, perhspa. , ' grow a trifle msy.- Horriediy fce dr. time. But who was really guilty? Indeed. Esther sincerely regarded It mounted the stairs and pushed open j "There was nothing eTs hut to cos- ! END OP E1R3T BIOBf. aa a highly desirable arrangement. the door to her room; then stepped sent." he said. The operation simply d and when aha catted tip Mrs. Sands on the telephone to bid her good-band wish her a pleasant Journey, she added the hope that she plight see a good deal of the doctor during their Joint stay. Together Mrs. Sands and Dullard did New York thoroughly. Ten days or two weeks at the outside he had set as the limit of his stay, but again and again his departure was de layed by the necessity of investigating somo new method of hospital efficiency in vogue. At least that is what he wrote to Esther, although, oddly enough, he failed to' mention that on each of these occasions Mrs.'. Sands had arranged some .excursion. or. gay event In which he was scheduled to take part. At lust, though, he could defer his return no louger. He had been away from home now for two months and the excuses for his continued absence wore getting worn threadbare. The final evening Mrs. Stun! a and he had chosen to spend together, awny from their usual atmociuteg and com a delightful dinner panions, alone at one of tho up town hotels they w ent to the opera. Sylvia was undoubtedly at her best that evening- On the way .home she had brought. up. the question of th,e Interior arrangement for tho north, pa vilion of the proposed hospital-- 1 long a source, of stubborn' contention be tween thorn and had rather Intimated thut she was converted to his Judg ment, an opening which gave the doo-to- r air opportunity to dilate on one of his pet theories. He was still full tilt on It when the llmousino stopped in front of her hand some town house facing the park, and as one or two points he etill wished to make .clear to her be fol lowed her, almost as a matter of course. In at the door. .' The butler luid out a little supper ef chicken and champagne and then-witdrew at a word of direction from hr. "You need not wait up tunight. Rob " : erts," she said, It was ajl delightfully intimate and Informal and Dullard .Insensibly yielded himself to. tho spell of the seclusion' of hla surroundings. Doctor Dullard did most of the talking. Mrs. Sands' merely listened appreciatively Of her enchantl and wove ments as she loangcd In a heap of cushions, - ; "I'm too comfy to move," she said at mind tilling my length. "Would you ' glass for me,?!! Then as ho' leaned over to take her empty glass- ttie nearness of her af fected him like an intoxication, and 7 SV" X . and-afte- he-ha- ' - the-spel- ' f. per-fum- highly-equippe- , S -- -- t sl re-fus- s ca-ie- g . the-do-- ar-K- vine-covere- d t- - |