| Show By By- I THE CASE OF DR FRANCIS FRA X HARTON I WILLING ING Tho room was big bi and anel square with i lofty doorways s 's and windows I ample corners even tho tim bright ht light of a U. red shadowed sl lamp lam and tho blaze of o a wood tire left unlimited Heavy Ie lark red curtains hun hung at tho the windows but hut were vero not drawn am and through the i I I casement night streamed out of oC tho the darkness It I w wa was s tho the eu cus- cus t Hom tor of ot tho thE house and arni to those who stumbled In haste up lh the Hits chestnut chesnut av- av cube It was wa like Hc a beacon bencon ns as they karno mc to t find his master masLer the te well wel wel known know doctor of ot Guildford Jt It was for or this that the lam lamp stood I on the table noar the window windo a a. table covered te with heaps of 01 papers which wih I had been pushed anido t tp admit a tr tray on which glittered a a decanter and a awater a awater water jug It I was WS a wot weL wet chilly chHy night in earl early earb December Drawn around tho urn fro were three men whose easy pasy attitudes attitude betokened that they had dined The host sat st between bet hI his hiI guests his big bis burly frame exhibited plainly bi by by the slight chair on or which he ho wa was wasI 1 I astride resting his arms on Us Its Is back Harwood had a n marked ph t easy to criticise e about abou which ordinary words of oC praise pl-lse inapplicable inapplicable et full fun of oC power Hit hIi swarthy H color the curl of his I hair his blunt wide wido Ide features and UI rut ful rul lips Ups seemed almost almos touched with tho the stigma of ot mixed blood but a fineness I In La tSa the wide nostril a shapeliness in the I general contour of or tho the faco face and head put speculation again at fault faul His guests were tho opposing typo ot of male humanity One slight a cl I with wih a high Intellectual forehead and light blue blun eyes Ces filled fled with wih an n spirit the other 51 slight ht framed also hut but wi with th an nn air all of or buoyant health helt on hl tanned ruddy cheek and young young- vigorous grace in iii his ls attitude c There had been a l moments moment's pause in fn the Hood flood of oC their taUt talk talt and it 1 was wa Harwood who broke c i it This Is a n red letter night nigh t he lie said sid to to have c a you both bot together together the tho tW two i bent friends I T have havo o. ha arid and ant only friends J i I have In the tho world P We C mu mutt must t drink n H n toast toast boys bos bo's what sh shall tn it be lie c To Toi next meeting i our Wayne a ne iho tho younger OUI CI of or hi his t tw two WI guests broke broko into a light hearted laugh in Ilk Macbeth have Tho The witches been heen before u ti us ho lie said shall haH wo we three meet again agin in il thUU ll light light- and In rain rainS rainS' I. I The The eyoB Ct of or grew SleW 1 merry err r I Vo o arc are the next thil thing to 10 witches I lit hi ht answered rJ Vc We 0 ore are trl itle 1 K ri Ir ralf 11 thre i or f doctor t doctorS us in practice L Lot Lt t iu us f ti a and bachelors every Vt I one Ole 1 1 to our wives and to our wedi wed wed- cd- cd i- i ln r Wayne Wayne- shook his hig head emphatically Not ot I I. I for or one oue he h returned I tIle te toast tot I r shall think think many woman times limes J before Core I saddle myself lYlei tu To fl p f I You arc are a bu buy yet answered ans i strange but Halo Harwood o an and I are arc getting set get ge- ge tins ting on He's Hes thirty four four I 1 boat beat him by a 0 year ear or more more T I f always W S 'S date from college Its It's Is I's ten years car since we coee parted he went uru on un scrutinizing Harwood Har- Har I wood Weve both bolh changed o nf of course but you ou G George Gorge there Is tl something I i 11 miss You are arc In tim tha prime of manhood and you ou dont don't look old but your our laugh laugh lush lush-ad a d your eyes eyes eyes- what Is there in the thc ten tn years ean we e have ha A talked of to change your ur eyes yes 0 Harwood Hat was wa silent client but turned his hi hist t black eyes full ful on his hio questioner You You ou see see Wayne Wayne- Wayno Lestrange turn- turn d to the man mn whom h he e addressed e Goorge and I were boys together went ent through college and ad our medicals and afterward abroad together a year then I got my chance in Florence it my health and wo we w. w went cut to Broadwood For ten tn years r we haven't been cn able to reach other Ive I've Ive written te f but hut but buthe he ho turned to Harwood you you IU were wre a poor por correspondent George corge Harwood leaned toward the fire fe I un anti and knocked the ashes off his cigar u I 1 wrote to no on one he said sald sid Did you forget went ou on his hig friend Did J I gro grow a rusty memo memory I should hate hat to think that I bother bother- cd i my y friends frends with so gO many stories of ot you OU that they thought you were too good to bo be true tue Too good raised hi his brows with a a. laugh moral returned I dont don't mean too to L smiling though you ou never broke th the ten rn commandments commandments that I 1 know of ot George Grorge I n In answered his hia host Well el 1 have heva very since every overy one broke Lestrange Not ot the Into a a laugh latsh unless It I was waz- wazan an accident ac ae- ac- ac of the profession lon Not tb the sixth sith surely ho re repeated To- To or 01 would I stand here herc un- un UI- UI hung The decanter olter is empty empty nu you you are a a. a boon companion worth having Dan Robert there la Is lz no at hn all al on 01 au an cv l like o this this va a a log log on the fire fre while I go and ant lill tl this this said sd he leaving the room There here was ta-s wa a momentary silence silence- Lo- Lo strange settled ic d his slight figure In the big armchair dr lr in which he Kit raL Ft and fixed his 1118 ethereal e eyes es on his companion companion What hat a a magnetic creature Har- Har 11 la is tf he be said Dont you feel fecI It It The fhe air all is alwa always s 's charged with ith clec- clec when h hes he's about about ITo no makes malC life j a a. n thin thing of or passionate sensation ho he gives 2 z 2 fillip to the Imagination of oft uri any woman woma Ill I'll Il be bound and even t stirs a a mans man's moro more sluggish blood I 1 always turn m myself inside out when I Iam garn am with wIt him and he wont on aa hl his I ho host entered und and in return for all ul I my confidences what havo have you OU told me ITne n c 3 George Surely you ou must mus ha have more mOla than a growing income to tell tellof tel of Harwood placed the c decanter on tho te I table an and coming to the tho to fre fire stood it near ner i. i Principally other people funDan fun Dan nin he saul said sald Ive 10 had thrilling things 5 happen but they were all aU Ca cases and their contingent nt troubles 1 L Lestrange range caught him by ly the arm am with a laugh lauSh Not ot a bit bl of or It I. I he cried ced I I 1 s see e it writ large large on you You ou ouI I 1 I havo have been In some mischief who was 3 she hc Harwood shook his head Ive Ie liked 3 j s. s good many women a. a a little but buta a doctor doesn't fall faU In love easily o you YOl think tInk no so IO nobert He lie turned to toi i the younger man man whoso whose light hazel haze I C eyes studied his two companions He lIe sees fe too much of ot human nature nature na- na ture ture he be agreed He uHe admires admire women I but they dont don't attract him hini that l is 1 If he I Is more men mental taT than tan animal there animal there ra Is Js the other t type pe To Ulo which thank God Gal I dont don't be bc- bc long Harwood grimly though mo moat mout t people think I 1 am somei some some- 1 i thin thing of a brute at first sight 1 n o shook his head Confess Conte something or Cr I 1 shall believe beleve its it's very cry black indeed he be l persisted his hia shoulders What at shall I 1 say sy There al' al arc aro two tWI i charming alters living not far tar awa away I 1 who ho think an un unmarried doctor fal lair fall tamo rame They Thay cant can't see how ho hoWan Wayne Wan am amI and andI I can ca escape their different o of but they dont don't know knoY u us W Vo Vor r tare Me are wary Robert and I. I I have been at t it It so Jon Ion long that I should bo be adroit I Iby by this time i Wayne sot got up and stretched hi his slender stender frame 1 WI Well 1 ho said r I must go round t tI to toI I the he- Wr Wrights but Ill I'll Il b be back Ho ne turn turned d to Lestrange I will wi leave loav love loveI I lyou ou to unlock his lips Ups and discover what what you ou Cl Jan dan lie 10 ended with wih a no nolo nod nor to lo both oth men ren and aIt went out A mom mom- mont later ater they heard him whittling Ins down the tho steps in the rain Il he r ran n to t 4 t Harwood stood lood looking out into int th tb darkness then with wih a b gesture turo toward towar the tho the nl night ht outside drew rew near his friend What hat do you yot make mal of or my assist tant t- t ant ant Dan he lie asked Estrange Lestrange knitted his brows bro His 1 face c Is II curiously f familiar ho he answered Where did dir you fall CaU in with wih him Harwood slipped down Into th the chair near nea the lire I I lie He turned up a year cr ago aso at the hotel here und and was s called upon suddenly sud sud- ud- ud denly and when I got th there ro later we wo fraternized I found h he lie was looking for work 1 he e Itay stayed with wih me mc for fol a awhile awhile a while an and I persuaded him to nettle hero bore Ho flu 10 got rooms room and In a way has ha been like lee my Q assistant over since Ho To is an nn excellent SU surgeon eon quick n at dl diagnosis and perfect with children children- steady gentle and finn He lid le studied in II Edinburgh and anel London and has lived In Pails Taris I 1 have havo become attached to him him He sends s my moodiness Hying Hy fly- Jy- Jy log Ins he Interests me mc I cant can't make him out He ta says nys frankly there's theres something he elo does 8 not want wan to talk Tk of so we wc both light t shy hy of ot our pasts There is an a ind Indefinable charm about him which delights me mc As Harwood ceased speaking there ther fell fel a n silence on the two men and l tho ho crackling of or the lire re was heard hearel plainly y yin in tho tim Quiet room h The pauo pause was a along along long Jong one OHO and their thou thoughts ht had time Ume timeto to travel tra el a distance when ho he spoke again Dan he began hegan 11 slowly a al l staring In Into Into In- In to the blazo blaze you asked me for some som of or my ray stories and I 1 am n going to tell you Jou on one though I I-I I I am mu in a I sens sens' breaking confidence enco in lEt doing so You lie le stopped and anel looked into th theother the tho other mah's mahs moh's lace face then turned turne to the tho fire fre again You were always alwa's safo estrange jammed his han hands s Into Jno his liis pockets pocket and nud he also watched tho the logs Joss burn grave I r am he answered safe mc as a the Harwood Harwoo gave him one ole st steady ady look 0 1 and turned to the contemplation of or orthe the lire fire lre I 1 1 was ws In never In-never 11 10 never mind where whore whereon on a consul consultation never never ml mind iW when when and when when-tc ho tho oth other r doctor a u younger man tol told me this story and und asked my Ad 1 advice I said but ald ald but you u can cn tell me mo what tat your opinion would have havo been bon when I ha have hav lone done In the town to n where he lived was WWi wasi u a. i woman wife of oC th the other doctor of at tho the llao a nina man fOlt live forty l C an and ff fifty She Sh W was youn younger er say ay thirty or thereabouts The hc to town was big hiS nough to employ both men and arll ane their thal were wel friendly very ery cr friendly Of course CO C I T kno know the people I have been een to their house a big place The rhe other othel doctor not riot my 13 we friend i land we will rl call cal him hint hint- hll- hll ho he helta hel- hel ta tat xi Call Cl him Julius aid said J I sc fC that Co Caesars Caesar's wife jfe Is not ot above c i I woods liar color had ha deepened In l the lot hot firelight Very CI well veli ho answered J melc ed Wo We will wl call cl him Julius Julus Doctor Julius ulius Julus spent his ils mone money on horses and such things S j was wa He was pretty little JUlo with rith ith his wife yet shu sho ol Describe her said Mil Lestrange I t 1 like to know the outward and visible igns Harwood leaned back ac and folded his hia hi arms on his bin che L She was as not tall tl he lie answered slow slowly lowly rather slight but but rounded too oo hatred Fali h Fh lle lair falI e eyes e lair fair fal gether ether She was rag a pure good creature with wih no thought of evil 11 vil but her temper temper tem tern per wat lf quick flushed flashed into lire fire fir and died lied and left lef her patent patient tender tender- tender tender-O lie Ho lo stopped Lestrange bent bont for var arl l and rested his is hand on OIl s knee Dont Don't Dat dont don't go on he lie said eaid with this tills flimsy dl disguise Of course Ot c I 1 know that you 01 are aro ro tho man why man why not nol be bo frank frnk with me 10 Harwoods Harwood's eyes mot met his u-ith u a t strange rne f flash h Frank with wih you you frank frank with Kith you ou to Ine le repeated Well Vei then I will wl be be I but ut remember you ha have brought this thi on n yourself What I will wl toll tell tel you I have told toldo no o man It isn't pleasant plent to hear her nor noret nory y yet et t to tell tel but lately lately lately-lately- lately he heated hepa pa passed e hs h's hand over his hie e eyes I cI I have ha been pos possessed ed by fand fancies s Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps Per Per- haps you can C e exorcise the spirit I Iam Iam am om afraid of oC turning turninG too often to tiLls this ready ever redy Iwer-redy friend he friend he touch touched d the ho glass slaB near him him u and amI if I do matters maters will wJ go worse with me mc not better etter hetEr But to go on to l be 0 e frank with you you that that's it I. I isn't it it I. I Dan He ite topped stopped and fixed his eyes on his friends friend's face Lestrange nodded Well won then began again r T 1 was as telling you jOl about Mary lar how open p passionate slona she sho was In every overy ely feeling eeling and how 1 loved her bel for slowly lowly It I came to that I went often to o the tho to house saw sw her about and I II II I- I I lov loved d her L eyed him with a very ver gentle gaze Foolish George Georgo he said aid Harwood mOt met tho the softness of his eyes with wih a a. a faint smile Emie Foo Foolish h Georgo h he repeated and went on I can tC see ECO the living room Iii ht n her house now It was vas full ful of her presence of her charm I found out that she sho was unhappy and in Jl a little while shw she she-she she told mo mc why wh Doctor Julius Julus of ot course interjected inter inter- Of Ot course answered Harwood She had married him out of a u sort sor of or gratitude and a n hope of or protection and kindness s It I lt took her Just 21 t hours to repent repent It I was n not only that hi ills his love 10 was of the m meanest an t. t poor poorest Bt kind that ho he rapidly cooled toward her iier that that he ho was waa unfaithful to lo her but that In living with him she felt she b was wa gradually learning learning lifo life as he saw sav sw It It H. 10 losing her purity url hor her trust trust When I met h her bet l' l she sho had bad been heen married mar mar- marI I ned ried two yc ar and her heart was broken broken nd broken and and he hesitated and anI Lestrange Lc- Lc strange finished his sentence And Ail you OU undertook to mend it No o el answered slowly lowly To give gl e her hel another In exchange exchange- my own which I |
