Show ox n the blue 5 1 circle co ir cle Q Q I 1 0 II 11 by ELIZABETH JORDAN I 1 I 1 C by the th conjury co service CHAPTER VII continued 13 weve got to get a doctor here in ik jiffy lie he muttered and cant we stir up some of those servants ile he was interrupted by the lie appear fince of jenks who had knocked unheard and entered do to hurried to his musters masters side with an expression of acute concerti concern on ills his round face the doctor sir air he be said bald answering Ren shaws words worda before the latter had finished speaking 1 I will telephone to dainley at once theres a very good doctor there ive heard doctor morris then I 1 will get doctor stanley on the telephone unless theres something more urgent here air no tell the local man to bring a nurse if he can find one and get in touch with doctor stanley as soon us os you yon enn can jenks disappeared renshaw rendered to the unconscious roan man such first fild nl ns its his experience suggested when lie he had find done the little that could safely bo be done lie he turned to verity you better get into something warmer wanner lie he said gently 1 I will keep watch here she looked surprised then glanced down at herself and slowly flushed her feet were in low heelless slippers A light silk dress ing gown lind been hastily thrown over her sheer nightgown her black banck in two long heavy braids hung almost to tier her knees renshaw glanced nt at madame Ilvo calef whose general at ap pe aranco was similar to veritas Ver itys and the look included tile the foreigner in hla his suggestion both women hastened to obey it hurrying out of the room with a little flurry of self consciousness renshaw Renil mw sat beside the bed find and studied the patient lie he was in for a lall algil ile iio raised the closed eyelids of the old mail looked fagain nt at the congested pupils of the lie ties L ond and shook ills levad jenks stole into the room and renshaw was conscious of a feeling of infinite relief in the support of his efficient presence mentally for tho moment at least he held jenks jenka between himself and the storm as it if the tha butler had been nn an umbrella doctor morris will be here in less than nn an hour sir jenks reported and I 1 got doctor stanley too lie will start ns as soon as he Is dressed that ought to get him here before daj light ile ho drew nearer the bed what Is it sir he be added in a whisper A stroke im afraid so it looks like it better stir up james there may be things to to do 1 I liae have done so sir darta here too renshaw stared hart lie he repented repeated wo we left him in town tonn yes sir it was his unexpected return that got mo me out of bed hla his room Is in tile the ant garnge age and I 1 lind had the key lie he lind to cull cal me to get in ile he came out on the one thinking we might need him in the morning since you ou had sent ills his friend back to town toun renshaw wits was mildly aroused no doubt hart ins furious over oer the interruption ter to ills hla personal per business just the same it was a good thing lie had conic come back there would be nil all sr ts of things to do tomorrow well we Q may need him ini im glad hes bes back anything an thing more I 1 can do sir air the anxious meg eyes of jenks were on the unconscious face of ills hla master no chunks thi inka just be ready within re react fact yes sir jenks jenka left the room As he was about to close the door behind hm verity returned she was aa and and she wore a deep name flame colored garment simple but bu beautiful which renshaw vaguely classified as a ten gown he rose as she elio crossed the room and stood nt at his side bide tier her lips quivered as she looked down at the be mask on the ho pillow you tou dont think be will dle die do your you she fihe whispered no I 1 think be has bas a good chance to get over thle this ile iio was so happy at dinner ebe sald brokenly slie site leaned forward brooding over the sick alck mm man and renshaw watched lier her with growing sympathy cym pathy there was he knew a very beautiful relation ile between tweed tier her and her grandfathers grandfather i who moreover seemed the only prop in her life she would bo be lost loft without him even though she might be as she seemed too self sufficient to need a prop possibly she could go 0 on ra if tills this one were ivere withdrawn but she would mould certainly bulter buffer great lonell ness she turned and looked at him film it was a new look odd direct pad and for the first time personal shil she not only saw him she looked below tile the surface of him you have been very kind mr renshaw she said and added altu simply ply it Is a comfort to know you are liere here for a moment he did not answer lie ile could not the few words had 9 given iven him film a sensation adnew as the one no her look had arous aroused id under them tits his henrt heart grew warm his soul seemed to stretch its wings she had ceased to despise him site she was turning to him in her trouble and though she had despised him but a short day ago though she turned to him now only because there was no one else el be to turn to something deep la in the man responded it was merely the stirring of former impulses and ideals but it meant that there was convalescence for more than one sick man in that quiet room you may be sure I 1 will do all I 1 con can he staid sold at last and under the words lay the force of a new resolution at the end of forty minutes the sound of nn an approaching motor announced the arrival of the doctor from Wal taley almost immediately that welcome personage was in the sickroom sick room with a mere nod to fahe he two watchers he hurried to the side of his new patient doctor morris though a country practitioner appeared to be n man who knew his business nevertheless lie he was obviously rell relieved eved when he learned that another man the distinguished doctor stanley of new york on arrive nyrhe later to take charge of tile the case under its his core care the patient began to breathe more normally renshaw called refilled veritas Ver itys attention to the fact and tried to persuade tier her to go back to her room and rest but the girl watch 1 panted campbell take tak Ch charge argal 1 shook her head she had taken her grandfathers left bond find and though he had find not yet opened his eyes ees lie ho seemed subconsciously aware of the human contact when it relaxed lie he was restless its renewal quieted him doctor morris suggested that while it would be wise for liliu hint to remain in the house he could to do with a bit of steel sleep if they would lend lead him to a room somewhere near jenks jenhs who had followed him into the sickroom sick room acted uron upon the suggestion with his usual efficiency and threw in a drink and a 3 light repast warmed by these attentions the doctor retired optimistically the sickroom sick room grew very quiet renshaw roso to ease veritas Ver itys position from time to time ime it was at one of these intervals that the old man opened his exes for a long moment he stared without intelligence at he 1110 two young faces bending over him then very slowly recognition crept into hla his gaze it fixed on verity with a look of content next on renshaw with a growing expression of strain and anil ety ills ells face puckered like that of a 8 child about to cry ile he struggled to speak and persisted in the attempt when the secretary begged him to cease twice the th words he wished to utter died on his stiff lips the third time they came out thickly but distinctly the result of a supreme effort watch I 1 panted campbell take cb charge a rge I 1 he held the secre gaze with his own till he be knew the message had been understood yes air said bald renshaw very dla 1 I will do exactly as you yoa the drawn lines in the fine old face relaxed the llda lids fell over the congested eyes the patient showed utter exhaustion combined with the content of one who has carried out a vital purpose chapter vill the vigil what did he mean it was verity who asked the question half an hour later when it became clear that the old mans soul had a again 9 aln drifted far out upon some uncharted sea but lie he was breathing more naturally and the drawn lines of his face had almost disappeared 1 I dont quite know ive been thinking about it Ren shaws absent tones proved that he was still thinking about it it was natural enough for him to ask you to take lake charge that to Is what he would do verity spoke with proud humility but what did he menn mean by telling you to watch renshaw looked at her with a throb of pity she was wag no longer a self belt contained and slightly arrogant young person she was merely a girl in deep trouble she should have no suspicion he decided of the sinister un der currents at taano ker it perhaps he suggested a subconscious association madame leather leat lier case you all rather anxious until that was safe her face cleared at once that wite waa it I 1 think it roust must have been he hod had felt a sense of responsibility we all hod bad yes slig she was thinking it out as she spoke that must have been it and of course the responsibility in over now renshaw reminded her how much did david campbell know what had happened in that room before he fell had he be heard beard the thing had bad it perhaps extended its activities to campbells campbelle wing of the house had he seen the blue circle and was waa hla his present condition the result of the excitement tol following these causes or was it only the result of some physical condition due to the old mans age renshaw wanted to think that it was wag tt it was so natural a theory and explained everything so satisfactorily and yet that warning warn 1 that gasped poignant warning stammered in such agony by those stiff lips the secre reflections hit having swung around a circle were buck back at the starting point only two things in the whole queer balsness buls buis ness were certain he be renshaw would watch and he would tabb charge he experienced nn an impersonal relief as he recalled miss campbells attitude in the matter she had heard tier her grandfathers command whether or not she eventually resented it she would almost almos certainly obey it its ita only effect might bo be to make her dislike renshaw Rens linw more which he firmly fissured assured himself would be an unimportant detail in speculating about her possible future attitude he had forgotten tier her actual presence now he rose ant and went to her side miss campbell he be sold said in an urgent undertone 1 I wish you would go to your room and sleep you have been under a big strain and you are beginning to show it pleasa go it if only for a few hours I 1 will watch here of course and I 1 promise to call you if there Is the slightest change she looked as if she wanted to protest but had not the strength draw your hand away very slowly and gently he be suggested he may not notice it she began an almost imperceptible wl withdrawal of the fingers held fast in campbells shrunken palm but at the llie first suggestion of a movement in them the old bond closed on the young one like a vise she actually winced under the force of the grip then she looked up tip at Rens linw there was an expression in tier lier eyes he hod had never before seen there though he be had seen it in the eyes of other women the tha look made up of alarm pride and tenderness that womba war when the men they love are suddenly dependent upon them you see she breathed yes yea but release your band and I 1 will give him mine possibly he wont know the difference veritas Ver itys beautiful upper lip curled a trifle there was a strong suggestion of her former halt balf careless scorn in the side glance she gave him but he had bad put his left hand on hers here and was gently drawing the latter away simultaneously he slipped the first two fingers of his other hand band into the sick mans groping hollowed palm the palm settled over them an instant then rejected them with att ad almost fierce gesture and groped for the small hand it bad held lie back in your chair tor for a moment anyway renshaw orde ordered redl relax your muscles while you have a chance then well see whether he really wants you that groping and gripping of his hand may be purely reflex she shook her head with a lingering I 1 hint of scorn la in the gesture but she ehe lay back as he directed wincing visibly over the protest of her tortured muscles TO ba an |