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Show I BMWM , 4CtDPROUSSf?rll1 1 I) BTN0P8IS. , Jonn Wentworth, a country clrl. I employed ns 1 a nurse In the Southern Hospital at ATonniouth. pro- , sided oTor by Dr. John Lancaster, n bully and n ' man ot loose character. She falats during her first operation, nod hu room to his house to bee to cct 1 her position buck. To her nstuiilhnicnt Lancaster 1 appenrs ltocethor different; ho Is raiinlfcslly 111. rind ncntlo wlUi hor. Uo suys sho needs a clinnh'o i and offer hor n temporary iot, while her cimo Is ( hclnc considered, nt the Instltuto In the hill country. I tl founded by his father with tho Lancaster fund. Jonn ) coes to Lancnutcr (tho nsmo of tho hill vlllnce) ll and finds n dllupldnted old bullrtlnc. with a colored i doctor. matron, nnd n cm zed woman. Mrs. Dnnii, who Is locked In her room. There Is n superintendent i named .Myer. whom Jonu dislikes. Next day eho Is ' surprised to see Umcuutcr como down to tho Instltuto. I " FOURTH INSTALLMENT. j jj joan and Myers clash. I . HTIHE two men went Into tho houso to-, to-, gether. Joan heard tho door closo bo il hind them. Sho was loft to ponder ver that Interview. Sho was conscious of two conflicting Impulses, Im-pulses, to leave and to remain for Lancas-, Lancas-, tor's sake. Thoro was something about tho l ! man's pltlablo condition that aroused all her ,' f sympathies. But thcro was something about jj the whole place repulslvo in the oxtronie. She must get allies In this blind fight j against tho secretary if she remained. Whom? Mrs. Frasor? That was impossible ; as yet. I At that moment sho saw Dr. Jenkins drlv- 1 ing up tho ath and went to moot him. The boy sprang to tho ground and raised , his hat. " Good morning. Miss Wentworth. How is the doctor today? " he asked; I "Dr. Lancaster looks very ill." she an- i. swered. " And, Dr. Jenkins, I want to ask . . you " I "Pardon me, Miss Wentworth. Can I see , him? " i ' "He is with Mr. Myers." , J Jenkins' face assumed an aspect of pro- ' f i found discouragement. " Then I'll como I I back this afternoon," ho said, preparing to enter the buggy again. iU But he found Joan intercepting his pas- A , sage. She had noted tho look on his face, l i V and sho felt the.', he understood much which , ' J could bo explained. v I "Dr. Jenkins," she said quietly, "Dr. Lan- y- caster is not well and I am his nurse. Will l . . you tell mo what Is the matter with him? " I j "Why, Miss Wentworth " stammered I the doctor. I " There Is no reason why you ahould not J ; , see him becauso he happens to bo with Mr. n Myers." "Woll, Miss Wentworth, you see, Mr. j j Myers is his secretary, and there's always a I i lot of business to be done." I " Dr. Jenkins, Dr. Lancaster is in no con- j I dltion to attend to business," sold Joan. I ( , "What Is tho matter with him?" ! j The doctor looked right and left, as' if trying try-ing to find some refuge. But tho girl was i standing in front of him and he could not enter the buggy without pushing her away. ' " Miss Wentworth, pleaso don't ask mo I ' about the doctor," ho said, 'j I do my best for him. It isn't in my power to do moro i than I am doing." "It is In your power to help him to bo master of himself. How can the most famous fa-mous surgeon h. tho south come here and i ; be at the mercy of a man like Myers? " "Why, Miss Wentworth, you've got that wrong," protested Jenkins. " Mr. Myers is I only tne secretary, jur. mycrs uoes an no can for tho doctor. We've got to keep tho institute togother, Miss Wentworth, and we'ro each doing our best. You see, the trust fund wasn't made over to tho doctor. He was only in chargo of it, and when the money was missing it worried him. And ' and " :v Ho stopped, as if he had caught himself ! babbling about something that should not i have been mentioned. Then, as Joan stood J aside, he leaped Into the vehicle. ' " Good morning," ho muttered, raising his hat, and I drove away furiously, i She went back to the veranda. Sho wa. I resolved to reach tho bottom of tho mystery for Lancaster's sake; to prove her loyalty, l although ho had withdrawn his demand on j her. i As sho reached tho front door she , was ', 1 startled to hear her namo spoken in tho I matron's room. Tho speaker was Myers. "But sho knows nothing at all," Mrs. I Fraser was saying. " She knows a good deal too much," Myers answered. "What do you suppose the doctor doc-tor brought her hero for If not to try to publish his shame to the world? " " Ayo, his shame," repeated tho matron wttartv " Tt's hard work for thron nonnln tn Hj try to hold up one man, without a fourth coming in," " Well, is that his gamo? " demanded tho secretary. "Is It or isn't it? " " We want a nurse. You know we've often tried to got one. Mr. Myers, but -they won't stay hero. It's hard work taking care of tho patients sometlr-c:. when there's a rush." " Rush! " repeated Myers scornfully. " Who'd rush to this old place with tho doc-1 doc-1 tor's reputation? " H " They do come, and the pcoplo trust him," Hi said Mrs. Fraser. half crying. ! " Yea," scoffed tho other. " And tho doctor j still has his grandiose Ideas about building ' up the institution him that wrecked It." "Well, that glil knows nothing, anyway." i tell you she means to help the doctor in ni crazy pluu ot notoriety. She means to Hl undo all our work in his own interests," HI cried Myers vehemently. Joan walked away. She had overheard unwillingly, and enough to convince her that thero was a mystery, with Myers at tho bottom of It, and Hho had rightly sensed an BH j energy in hlra, a3 ho in her. Now her mind HH Vaa resoluto iu . maln and fight for Lancns- flj But sho had not passed the entrance when HH' tho matron's door swung open violently and B Myors camo out. Ho stood confronting Joan Hj with his Insulting leer. "Miss Wentworth," ho began, "when you and I had 9ur tulk this you hadn't seen tho doctor. You didn't know how things Were situated, and I don't blame you. Now you'vo seen thut tho doctor noods a guardian. guard-ian. Woll, I'm his guardian." " 1 do not think that Dr. Lancaator ncods n guardian, Mr. Myors," answered Joan, facing fac-ing him steadily; " Seo here, now, Miss Wontworth," said Myers, swallowing hard. "You don't get tho drift cf things, Just as I thought. You think I'm trying to stand in the way of your work, when I'm only trying to reach a sort of working agreement to keep things In running run-ning order. That's my aim. Am I right? " " I don't know whothor you aro right. I think you dro extremely uncivil. Take off you hat! " flashed Joan. Myers .emovod tho hard hat from his head and starei' at her In astonlshmont. He could not understand hor sudden Initiation of hostilities. "Well. I reckon that's my nature, and I'm sorry," ho said. Ho was trying to bo conciliatory con-ciliatory now. " I'm sorry if I got on your nerves., Miss Wentworth," ho persisted, "but 1 wasiA brought up to bo, a ladles' man. Howover, I know my Job, and I reckon you know yours. If you think I'm trying to swered him. As the pulso strengthened she lot her mind work upon tho problem again. Lancaster had taker, an immenso overdose, one lnconcoivable In the ordinary morphlno habitue And he must havo takon It during the brief porlod when Myers was with him; ho must havo taken it as soon as ho got back Into his room. Why had Myors pormlttcd it? At last Lancaster opened his oyes. HIa gazo fell upon Joan's face, at first without recognition, then with wonder. " Water! " ho gasped, aftor a few Ineffectual Ineffec-tual attempts to speak. Joan drew a glassful und gave it to him, and thon another. Lancaster gulped down tho liquid greedily. Presently ho sat up, stood on his foot, and groped his way to tho chair. " I'm sorry." ho said, looking at Joan with ' a whimsical expression. " I should havo told you." " Dr. Lancastor, I am ashamed of you," said Joan. " God knows I'm ashamed of myself," ho burst out fretfully. " Miss Wentworth, in tho third drawer qf that desk, beneath a pllo of lotters, you'll find a bottle " " No," said Joan decisively. She know by tho wholly unnecessary sqA crecy In tho concealment, characteristic- of tho drug habitue, that Lancaster had gone a long way do i the declivity. " Miss Wentworth. you misunderstand me. It's an antldoto for alkaloidal poisoning. I was experimenting with a new drug." Joan found herself sobbing, and she was astonished. It was the wreck of tho man's moral naturo that was unbearable. Sho saw tho latent fineness In him, and It was as if tho needless lie was tho voice o' morphine mor-phine devil that spoke through his lips. , Lancaster looked distrc -ed. " Miss Wentworth, Went-worth, you had better leave me and go back to Avonmoulh on tho next train," he r " I ought never to havo brought you here. It was 4.uro solilshi.ess on my part. Miss Wentworth, pleaso don't cry. Go away now, and wo'll talk it over before you start for the statloi.." " If I go away," wopt Joan. " you'll tako another hypodermic." " I pledge yoii my word of honor no," said Lancaster, with almost Ingonuous candor. " I am really not accustomed to such a thing; that .s why it knocked me out. I havo been suffering from Insomnia, and I tried a now alkaloid not morphine, you know, but a derivative for tho benefit of my, patients." "Your word of honor!" said Joan. He leaned back in his chair and looked at her with amusement. " Miss Wentworth," ho said, " you aro a nurse. Surely you aro aware that I am not to bo trustod, that my word of honor Is worthless? That I am essentially devoid of honest and decency? Don't you know that this accursed thing " he pointed toward the bottle " robs mon of their honor and self-respect, self-respect, and lowers them beneath tho beasts? " " That does not refer to you," answered Joan. " You asked mo to help you in tho biggest light of your life. Woll, I am going to help you in that fight-" " It is too late," said Lancaster. "Never!" replied Joan valiantly. "You don't understand, Miss Wontworth. That's the mistake all people make in trying to euro us. Don't you know that a man or woman nover becomes a victim to a drug except from sleeplessness, or physical pain, or under stress of montnl anguish? If you could euro mo tho old trouble would still bo there. I should fall a victim again. Life Is worthless to mo, Miss Wentworth," he ond-ed, ond-ed, quite simply. " For happiness, perhaps I don't know. Eut not for duty. Your life in to bo used. Dr. Lancaster, for tho sako of tho pcoplo, and I am going to help you uso it. Your wonderful skill " He groaned at tho words. Joan saw that, though suffering physically thoro was somo mental troublo which hor wordB had evoked. " Dr. Lancaster," sho said, " tho first thing you havo to do is to uso your will. And I am going to givo you your first test, a little one only. It will lost thirty seconds. Can you put forth your will for Just that length of tlmo? " He fixed his oyes anxiously on hers and noddod. Yot sho saw them waver toward tho botllo. " I am going to cross (.ho room," sho said. " Don't stir ... finger till I return." Sho had hoard Myers In tho hall, and, going to tho door, sho turned tho koy. Sho heard Myers halt near her door. But sho had no time to think of him. Sho wont back to Lancaster, whoso hands wero strained hard against tho arms of the chair. " Well done! " sho said. " Miss Wentworth, I must havo that hypodermic hypo-dermic now." " I want you to wait Walt'half an hour, Dr. Lancastor." "I can't!" ho cried, starting up. "I tell stand between the doctor and you, come and see him right now," " I have no. complaint to make, and I havo made none," said Joan. " Como and see him," persisted Myers. "You're tho nurse, and I guess it's up to you." She looked at him, dismayed by his expression. ex-pression. " Is Dr. Lancaster worse? " she asked. " Well, nothing that I didn't oxpect, but he might be better," said Myers, sneering. Ho walked toward the door of Lancaster's room and opened it. Through the aperture Joan saw Lancastor stretched out in a large chair, his head bent forward on his breast, his limbs immobile. Sho hurried Into tho room. But Myers preceded hor to Lancaster's aide. Ho raised tho limp arm and turned up the alcove. Joan saw that tho skin was densely scarreJ with little punctures. Lancaster Lan-caster was breathing heavily, and bcsldo him, upon a little table, vas a syringe, and near that a ilttlo bottlo containing a few drops of a palo fluid. Joan drow In hor breath quickly. It was what she had feared, " Morphlno," said Myers. " Ho always does this when ho comes home. Now you understand what I wan trvlnir in trot fit thin morning, Miss Wentworth. I'm responsible for him. It's my Jpb to keep him straight If I can. Whon I can't, I try. Now you see, perhaps, vfhy he's lost his will power, and why I havo to keep after him llko a dog following its master. And I guess you won't think I'm trying to sot him against you." Tho bully In tho man was coming to tho surface again. Ho thrust out his head toward to-ward Joan. " Because, if you do, I may as well say, Miss Wontworth, I'm the boss here. Understand Under-stand that? " ho contlnuod, with a blustering air. " Tho doctor hires all sorts of peoplo when he's llko this, and it doesn't mean nothing. He can't pay out no salaries unless my O. K.'s on tho vouchors, Wo want a nurse, and if you like to stay on you can. But If you stay you help me so far as tho doctor's concerned, and you do what I tell you. That's straight Is it clear or Isn't it?" Joan looked at him Indifferently. " Help mo put Dr. Lancaster on tho bed," she said, "and then run and, got mo a hot water bottlo." Ho scowled furiously, but ho obeyed her. and all tho whilo Joan eat at Lancaster's side watching him, her mind ran over the questions that wore puzzling her. She sat for hours beside tho sick man, conscious sometimes that Myors had como in and spoken to hor, but sho never an- jou I must have it. After an overdose ono must have a smaller one. It will sot mo up nicely. Just half tho quantity. Miss Wontworth." Wont-worth." " In half an hour," said Joan. Ho sprang to his feet, shaking and furious. furi-ous. "Givo mo that bottlo at onco! " ho cried. " In half an hour." Lancaster sat down. " Confound you, why over did you come here? " he asked. " Suppose Sup-pose that I dischargo you?" " I shall not go, Dr. Lancaster. We havo covered that point In our conversation already." al-ready." Then, seeing his distress, sho went on rapidly: " Listen to me, Dr. Lancastor. You brought mo here upon an impulse becauso you had no ono wTom you could trust. You wanted to fight and you wanted me to light with you. Well, I am going to do It, and wo aro going to win." She took out her watch and laid it on tho table. " In twenty-flvo minutes you shall havo half a doso. Then wo shall havo won tho first skirmish. O, Dr. Lancx-Ur. flcht like a man nnd help us win! " :R..e witii o .iiacn earnestness that sho kindled his enthusiasm. " Yes. we'll make tho fight! " ho cried. Kwith blazing oyes. " If only I had had you long ago. Ho was in the full reaction from his ae-spondency. ae-spondency. Ho struck his list emphatically upon the arm of the chair. " I'll bo a man again! " he cried. " If you knew overythlng, Miss Wontworth, you might understand how a man can bo caught in a snare of his own making. But I'll win, with your aid, and I'll be my own master again." " You aro your own master now, Dr. Lancaster. Lan-caster. Always think that and remember it." " My own master? Whon that hound follows fol-lows me " " Mr. Myers Is your servant." Lancaster laughed harshly. " By. lea'on!" ho cried, " I'll toll him so. Miss Wentworth, givo mo' that doso now. so that I can feel llko a man again and havo tho strength to send him about his business." " It will givo you strength," she answered, " but it will not mako you yoursolf, your bottor self. You will no longer want to send him about his business." Lancaster stared at her. "How do you know that? " ho asked. ' " Aro you a witch? It's true. But I can't wait any longer. I have waited fifteen minutes. Half an hour next time. Miss Wentworth, tho third drawer " As her oyes went toward tho desk ho snatched up the bottlo and hypodermic from tho table. Joan caught at his wrist But Lancaster had already plunged tho syringe into tho fluid, and he was upon his feet. Ho tried to freo his hand, he fought furl--ously, but Joan succeeded in knocking tho bottlo from his grasp. It fell upon tho table. Lancaster righted It, and suddenly dartod toward tho desk. Joan caught him. Ho flung her across the room. Ho had got tho drawer open when sho grappled with him again. Ho struck at hor with his right hand, beating her about tho wrists, but sho would not lot go. Sho would nevor lot go, not though ho struck hor In tho face. Ho tossed her this way and that, but she never unclasped un-clasped hor hold. At last ho dropped into his chair oxhaustod and covered his faco wli his hands. ' "Twelve minutes more," said Joan triumphantly, tri-umphantly, looking at her watch. Thon sho realized that all through tho struggle thoro had been a hammering at tho door. Sho got up. " Who is it? " sho called. " Miss Wontworth, unlock the door, 4 pleaso," camo tho frightened volco of Mrs. Fraser. " In a few minutes," said Joan. v ewiworin, wnat aro you aoing to Dr. Lancaster? " " I am taking care of him." " Mr. Myers says you will kill him. Ho has got to havo his morphlno; you can't stop a man abruptly llko mat. Mr. Myors understands under-stands him " "Mr. Myers can como In In fifteen minutes," min-utes," said Joan. All tho whllo sho spoko she. had never taken her oyes from Lancaster's Lan-caster's face. Lancastor was suffering acutely. The sweat streamed down his faco, and ho wa3 looking at her with the eyes of a suffering, animal. Yet it was not until tho watch hand was on tho hour that Joan took tho bottle from tho desk. " The whole bottle Is a normal dose," said Lancaster through his teeth. Joan drow one-fourth into tho syringe. "You must give mo all, Miss Wontworth. That little quantity is useless." Ho was lying about tho strength of tho dose, and he knew that Joan knew. She did not answer him. He extended his arm, and sho plunged the noodle Into tho wrist. Then she corked tho bottlo and put it Into tho pocket of her uniform, having provlously added the small quantity in tho bottle upon the tabic. Tho hammering at tho door had begun again. But the girl waited until tho spasms of pain disappeared from Lancaster's faco. Ho rose. " Miss Wentworth," he bogan gratefully. Then, catching sight of her bruised wrists, ho took her hands In his. " Did I do that? " he cried. " Not you, Dr. Lancastor," answored Joan, snatching her wrists away. " Your enemy our onemy who is now worsted in his first field of battle." " Miss Wentworth, 70U seo now what I am. I can't hold you to your promise. You must leave me. Who's that at the door? " we snail see, answercu juuh, unu unlocked un-locked it-Myers it-Myers was standing outside, white with rago, and with him was Dr. Jenkins, looking uneasy and embarrassed as his eyes fell before be-fore Joan's. " Tell her what you told me! " stammered Myers, besldo himself with his anger. " Miss Wontworth," faltered Jonklns, " indeed in-deed you don't understand what you aro doing. Dr. Lancaster " " Is a mighty sick man," burst out tho secretary. " And It's my Job to prevent him : from being killed by mcddlors. He picked this nurse up somewhere, and she's trying to got rid of mo and have tho chargo of tho doctor. I won't stand for it," ho added to Joan. " I warned you twice today, and you paid no attention to mo. Now you can pack up and leavo the Institute. Isn't that right, doctor? " ho added, to Lancaster. To Joan's stupefaction Lancaster's old irresolution had already returned, and more; he seemed to ally himself with tho secretary. The morphlno, which had restored his body, had lent him its own false personality. "Woll, you seo, Miss Wentworth means well," ho said slowly, " but she doesn't realize real-ize conditions. You seo," ho addod. turning in Tnan htit not mnntlnt? hfir nvis. "nnn hn.q to tapor on! very slowly in a desperate caso like mine. I'm very far gone, and measures aro useless." right- Now toll hr u go." said iu . " Ye3, Miss eniworth, I really don't believe be-lieve that you can do any good hero," said Lancaster obediently. "It was a mistake. You shall be paid a full month's salary. Ask Mr. Myers to make out your check." " Sho can drive back with Dr. Jenkins now," suggested Myers. " Sho can drive back with Dr. Jenkins," agreed Lancaster, and Joan saw tho secretary's secre-tary's Pale face blazo with triumph. " And you might got mo a fow moro bottles bot-tles from tho storeroom," whispered Lancaster Lancas-ter to Myors. "I'm very shaky. I must havo enough on hand In caso I walco up in the ,nlght. You understand my needs, Myers," he continued, with a catch of self-pity self-pity in hl3 voice. Joan did not hesitate a moment Sho slipped between tho two mon and ran to tho storeroom. With a muttered oath Myers ran after her. Tho girl was Just in time to slam tho door In his faco and lean against it lasldo, bracing her foot against a plank and using the whole weight of hor body. She heor.d Myers breathe heavily as ho tried to force his entrance. He dashed himself him-self madly against it, but Joan know that sho would dio rather than yield. " Open that door! " shriekod Myers, in un- -Iwgai controllable fury. "Open at once, do you vHB hoar mo? " 9H Joan looked hastily about her. Somo in- stinct seemed to tell her that the caso of 5k1h! morphine bottles was hidden under tho linen "im pllo In tho near corner. By stretching out 'wlllc ono hand without giving way in tho least InE-il Joan could just reach far enough to toss Jwly away tho napkins.. Thoro were dozens of ilultS tho tiny bottles In the packing case beneath iwSS enough to kill a herd of oxen. 'V'sSrlvS Joan heard Jonklns' protesting voico out aide, and tho irrcsoluto tones of Lancastor. ; S9PP Tho matron was speaking, too. Tho girl did WfK not know what they wero saying to Myers, i Bjjal beyond tho general sense of their oxpostula- ( gj tionet but she felt her will rido high abovo tho storm of conflict- A hammer lay on th ehelf. Joan took it in her hand. i " Llstenl" she cried to those outside. "I M'-Tl havo tho morphlno and I have tho hammer. W jjj And I am going to break every bottlo in this ilj room " . ',?YV Lancaster cried out pitifully at her words. )'' "Miss Wentvorth, you will kill mo if you -' doi" r;. " Unless this caso passes into my posses- f Tl" Blon. I am going to have the storeroom I, H-fj key, and I am going to tako charge of Dr. j', Lancaster, who has employed mo for that i: i&ii- especial purpose, during this month." $ Vf h Si tai The sllonco of stupofactlon outside was :'. jj complete. Joan flung tho door open boldly j Ciiate and Btood before the group, tho hammer in , jfe hor hand. Sho saw Lancaster, with oyes mi bent Inquiringly upon hers, the matron and -Wma Jenkins, mute, and Myers, leaning against ut,U the opposite wall of the passage, regarding :. &Jdae her with venomous impotence, ' " Well, what do you say to that, doctor? " j,?0 he sneered. ; " It Is not what Dr. Lancastor says," an- j Jfffi swerod Joan. "It Is what I say. Mrs. jjjjj Frasor, pleaso givo me the storeroom koy." Tho woman, looking askance at Myers, lot E&ij hor hand slip down toward the bunch at her ipaji side. 1 i "Tho key, please," repeated Joan, and re- Jy-ft colved it. Quickly she locked tho door and 1 ftSo put the key in tho pocket of her uniform. lEiJ " Now," sho said, " I want you all to un- ' jjaJj dorstand this situation. I am employod by wfehSfi Dr. Lancaster. I am undor orders not to go until the month is ended. I am in charge flipi of him. Until ho is responsible for his ac- ,iE- fictions fic-tions I shall remain in oharge, under D.r. Br Jenkins. Dr. Jenkins, is it your order that iltfj Dr. Lancastor is to receive a whole dose of Jmvt$ei morphine overy few hours, or the amount ho has-been taking? " 5jmrt)' "Why, Miss Wentworth, I never ordered that," protested Jenkins. "You see, Miss IBF- Wentworth " mk " Until you do," interposed Joan bluntly, j m " I shall continue tho treatment as I learned m I it in Dr. Lancaster's hospital at Avonmouth. C And If the storeroom is opened by any one I but myself I shall take legal action to pro- tect Dr. Lancaster's Interests." M I " Miss Wentvorth! " cried Myers, " you B I am mnltlnp n trnirorlv toVit- nnnn avIi-tK mt H Nobody wants to harm the doctor. Wo all ft I havo ono sole thought, to help him. Don't W" I we, doctor? ho continued, addressing Lan- m 1 castor. m M " You are all very kind to me," Lancaster W P mumbled, p " There, you soel " said Myors, turning to- w ward Joan again. " There may exist differ- m, t ences of opinion," ho continued in a facile M1 manner, "and maybe I've expressed mysoll Mk'S too forcibly. But we're all at ono in wishing the doctor to get well as quiokly as ho can." Pf"$ He was almost fawning now, but Joan lfliv rcmalnod inflexible. She knew that If sho tiffin relaxed from tho nervous tension that was llSRi upholding her sho would become hysterical. bW; The group dispersed. Myers followed tho KF( girl out upon the veranda and stood for a flfiV long timo near tho door, watching her as she hUcI sat at tho further ond, trying to compose S?? herself. At las: he camo up to hor. Kfiiji "Seo here, Miss Wentworth," ho began Em lmpotuously, " I've come to you twico and spoken fairly to you. Maybe you seo now EJP that you would havo boon wiser to havo met Wri mo jn tho samo spirit. Come, now, are we to work together as friends or not? " "1 have no objcotlon," answered Joan. kIia " but my dutv concerns nobodv but th- .cm you won 1 coupiu.i watn ma Mi( 111 saving him from himself 7 " Ho looked at her with sullen chollcngo in his oyes. kJ.T " I do," said Joan. Myers thrust his hands Into his pockets. frSSif "Right!" he said. "Three times Is onough. ito I understand. And that's the last you'U g&L't hear from mo about it." jejuni 1 He went away, and Joan sat staring oul across tho darkening hills. How had sh Mh managed to fight this blind battlo of hers to fe&Vl a successful issue? She did not know; but, ! -if jf-e whatever tho hold might be that Myers had rldj over Lancaster, she felt that Myors himself was in dread of Its discovery. 3?" Presently she saw tho matron come cau- 1 tlously out of the house and hurry toward Ft? hor- Ife "How did you do It, Miss Wentworth?" iat'l she asked in awe. "You did what none of iffiT? us would have dared to do not me, nor Dr. Mst.1 Jenkins." YFu'r Why not," asked Joan. "Mrs. Frazer, pgi of whom aro you afraid? And Dr. Lancas- 'Mir-' -' ter? It Is not of that man Myers, whom ho '.r could send about his business at any tlmo rP whon ho found strength of will. Who is it? " $ "O. Miss Wentworth, I don't know," tho 1'. matron sobbed. "But save tho doctor! O, xJItoP do savo the doctor from that man who Is , trying to kill him! " v, "TMgf . I TO BE CONTINUED. .. jf3?4& fOoTrf.vu lata. w cxwmumj jryj |