THE DOCTOR'S PROTÉGÉE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 502, 21 September 1912, Page 2

THE DOCTOR'S PROTÉGÉE.

(All Rights Reserved.)

By ALBERT LEE, Author of " The Baronet in Corduroy," " The Key of the Holy House," King Stork of the Netherlands," " The Black Disc," &c.

Published By Special Arrangement

CHAPTER IX—{Continued.)

"Will you be seated," I said, standing on the hearthrug, with my back to the fire, and wondering what this caller wanted with me- He did not speak until he had removed Lhe woollen muffler from his fdce, so that I had an opportunity of taking stock of him. He was a finely-built man, with a military uprightness about him, broad-shoul-dered and wide-browed, with strong eyebrows which covered dark eyes. His face was heavily bearded, hiding the mouth completely, while his straight nose gave him an air of distinction. I thought that many a day had gone since I had seen one so handsome as this stranger. He had the bearing of a gentleman and there was culture in his speech. "I must apologise for coming to you at such an hour, but I really had no choice," said he, looking at the scarf, which was wet with the melting snow. "I am a stranger to you, having recently come into the neighbourhood oY Bristol. My name is Maitland, and I have taken a house called the Bartons — do you know it?" I bowed, for I knew the. mansion

I had brought one of the lamps I saw that the man was dead.

By this time the horses were on their feet, and the two men were busy cleaning the snow from the clogged hoofs. They were astounded at the news I brought, and wondered how they were to get on to the Bartons. The problem more difficult of solution when it was found that one of the horses had gone dead lame, and had been badly cut at the right fore fetlock. So far from being able to pull, it would be a hard task for the poor creature to get to the end of his journey. We stood in a group in the blinding snow and took council. The prospect of a walk in the teeth of the wind was unwelcome, but it was imperative, and the conclusion to which we came, and the only possible one, was to leave the carriage with the dead man in it where it was, shut the door, and lead the horses home.

well. It had been empty for many a month, and whenever I drove past it I pictured the ruin that must come to the beautiful gardens after such long neglect, for no gardener had been left in charge- Only in the preceding afternoon I had passed, when driving out into the country to see. one of my patients, and noticed that the great boards which stood here and there above the park walls, announcing the place as being to let, were taken down.

The struggle through the snow was terribly exhausting, for the wind was blowing in our faces, but at last we reached the stable-yard. The groom was on the look-out for our coming, took charge of the horses, and thence, without going round to the hall door —to reach which one would have had to climb a broad flight of stone steps, now treacherous because they were completely blocked with snow—we entered the house.

Mr. Maitland went on without delay. "My wife, who arrived last night, is alarmingly ill, and I am come to ask you to ride back with me to see her.'-'

To a doctor all thought of a wild night and its discomforts pass, sirtce he must needs ho'd himself in readiness to be of service when called upon. Mrs. Dawney, who came when I rang the bell, fussed about, saw that I was prepared for a cold ride, suggested a double pair of stockings, insisted on airing my muffler, and wanted me to drink some hot cocoa, which was soon placed on the table. I drank it, and asked Mr. Maitland to. take some; but he seemed impatient to get away, and before long I was sitting in the carriage, and we were moving across the square. It was then that Maitland introduced me to his companion, Mr. Herbert Berens.

"You had better get into some dry clothing", Dr. Carson,'- said Maitland, when we stood in the hall. "There is a change \all ready for you in one of the rooms. " "That is very thoughtful," I responded; "but the question which seems to be of first importance is the condition of my patient. .Would it not be well for me to see her at once?"

"It is very kind of you to say so, Dr. Carson," was Maitland's rejoinder; "but the housekeeper says that she sems easy just now, so that you had better come upstairs first, of all. My man shall bring you something hot to take to drive out the cold, and then I hope you will be at our service. lYou must feel exhausted."

The two men proved to be excellent company—the latter in particular; versatile, travelled, capable of telling what they had seen, and telling it well. They knew many corners of the world, and the ways and doings of the people they had met on their travels. Our talk beguiled the journey, which was necessarily slow, for when we rode across the Durdham Downs, the snow came down more heavily, and in the driving wind which swept over the open country, the white flakes rushed by, spitting against the window panes, and blinding the horses and coachman alike. When we left the Downs behind us, and were some distance on the Shirehampton-road, there was a sudden stoppage, and a frightened cry from the driver. Maitland dropped the window on his side, and leaning out, saw what had happened. "By jove! the horses are down," he exclaimed, and, throwing the door open, he leaped into the snow, followed eagerly by Berens.

It was true. I had had a most trying day, and now felt dog-tired. I could easily have thrown myself on a sofa, to be asleep in a minute or two; but I made light of that. My professional instinct was superior to bodily fatigue, and, mentally I was alert and fit. Still, it was advisable to get into dry clothes, for, not knowing the condition of my patient, I might have to be on the watch for hours; so that when Maitland asked me to follow him, I went at once.

"Good heavens!" cried the latter, standing for a moment to look at the struggling animals trying to regain their footing, but balking each other in the attempt. "The driver's all among them—the kicking brutes!" With that, he hurried to the horses' heads to do what he could to quieten them. I had not been slow to leap out of the carriage, but when I had floundered in the snow for a few moments I saw in the semi-dark-ness what made me turn sick with dread, used though I was to dealing with accidents and the sight of blood- The driver had been dragged from his seat on the box, and had tumbled among the horses. Numbed with cold, or stunned with the fall, he was at the mercy of the plunging creatures, and when I caught sight of him he had slid over the body of a horse that was lashing out furiously with his own snow-clogged hoofs. Maitland took the man by the foot, and dragged him away at much risk to his own safety; but quickly as he had done so the horse kicked once more, and crashed his iron hoof into the driver's face.

Kneeling in the snow beside the senseless body, I bent over it. The man was breathing heavily and groaning, but much as I sought to

Passing along a narrow corridor, the walls of which were panelled with dark oak and closely hung with portraits, we came fo the great hall, where the master of the mansion left me while he entered one of the rooms. Awaiting his return, I looked round. The hall was Elizabethan, and I found myself wondering what it must have looked like in the days when the Virgin Queen controlled the destinies of England. Before me might well have ranged the long tabledown the centre, which daily groaned beneath great rounds of beef and jugs of Old October, to %ay nothing of the immense flagons of sack, and .venison pasties and larded capons, I walked across to the old oak chimney-piece, in the 'Open fireplace in which lay quaint brlass fire-dogs, which had borne the vpeight of Yule logs at bygone Christinas festivals. The Lord of Misrule had warmed himself before it many a score of times in the mansion's long' history. Over it were great deer antlers, spoils of the chase, hunthorns, and trophies -of arms, which had seen service in fights, when Drake was daring so much,, were ranged about the walls. The sound of Maitland .'s feet on the tesselated floor broke in upon my fancies, and we we nt forward, ; accompanied by a man servant, who ! brought on his arms a change of' clothing, which would indeed be most welcome; for I w; is wet to the skin, and feeling chilJe id. The room to which I was being taken lay at the end of what ,'O/as called the China 'Gallery, <and judging from what I saw by the light of the solitary « candle Maitlz ind carried, the name s approf iriate. Old swords, weapons, and b. its of armour were ' n ung here and thert, but the low «er portion of tl le panelled walls w; is lined in plac« -s with shelves, on which were s< it pieces of china th /at were without . a doubt rare and c ostly. On the flook *■ were bowls and dishes; upon tfne shelves were r? mged specimens of Wedgwood, Crr jwn Derby Orienfa'll

inglv ugly. "It is in their ugliness that their beauty is supposed to lie," said Maitland, as we went along, for he noticed how I gazed about me curiously. "You will be comfortable here. Change at your leisure, and presently the servants shall bring you something warm." We were now standing within a great bed-chamber, in the fireplace of which a huge fire was blazing, causing the shadows to dance like black ghosts on the walls, and across the floor. A moment later, Maitland, who seemed ill at ease, was gone, and the man, when I told him that I wanted no assistance, retired also, pulling the door after him. And then came the luxury of a rub down with a rough towel, and of getting into warm clothing, which the man servant had placed before the fire. But for hunger, I felt fit, although the warmth made me feel somewhat sleepy. Indeed, I had almost dozed as I sat in the cushioned chair which was drawn up before the grate, but the entrance of the man with some steaming soup awoke me thoroughly, and I began to eat in full enjoyment. "Mr. Maitland will come in for you in half-an-hour, sir," said the man, while he stood at the halfopened door. "He bade me say that the mistress seems easy just now, and is sleeping, so that you have no need to hurry."

ily, and covered the bleeding face. The only chance was to get him into the carriage, and I accomplished the task with difficulty; but when

"All right," I answered, contentedly, going on with my meal. But that, while hearty enough, did not last long, and so that I should not fall asleep with this sense of warmth and comfort I rose to my feet, and looked about the chamber, which, I thought seemed somewhat ghostly. It was panelled with richly-carved oak, and had a fine cornice, while the walls were hung wilffi valuable and beautiful tapestry. Over the ornamental mantlepiece was an old picture, so dark with age that only by an effort of the imagination did I convince myself it was Venus waiting in pain while Cupid extracted a thorn from her shapely foot. It might have been that, but it was just as likely, looked at in the semi-darkness, to be a subject quite foreign to .what I supposed it to be. > The furniture, like the panels, was of oak, which had almost gone black with centuries of wear. A dealer would have rubbed his hands in glee if he had had the opportunity of purchasing the straight, highbacked chairs that were ranged along the walls, the old cabinet by the now heavily-curtained window, and the table on which Maitland had set the silver candlestick. In a deep recess stood a richly-carved canopied bedstead, looking most inviting to one who was trying his best —as I was —to shake off the sense of drowsiness, knowing that there was serious work to be done.

I remember sitting on it for a few brief moments, for my limbs were heavy, doubtless after the toilsome journey through the snowstorm. I watched the flames in the fireplace, and thought that they grew less and less distinct. Then the whole room seemed to grow dark —and I knew no more!

CHAPTER X. K PRISONER. When I came to myself it was broad daylight—as broad, that is to say, as a winter day with a leaden sky could be. The curtains were drawn back from the windows, and through the diamond shaped panes I saw the country resting silently beneath its white covering. The snow no longer fell, and there was that stillness which belongs alone to a district after a snowstorm, when neither man nor beast is seen, and even birds are loth to fly, since nothing comes in the way of food, in payment foi their trouble. For a little while I lay and pondered. Where was I, and how did I come here? It was not my own room, and for the moment my mind was a blank as to what had transpired. After a while I began to recall the doings of the night-—the summons to the Bartons, the jouiney through the storm, my meal in the fine old oak-decorated bedchamber. Then came a blank, and what followed the strange sense of sleepiness when I sat on the bed in sheer weariness and heaviness of | limb I could not recall. I rose on my pillow and looked around with an increasing surprise, which presently gave place to consternation ; for I was no longer on the carved and canopied bedstead on which I last remembered to have been sitting. Now I was lying on a plain iron bedstead of modern make, without hangings, and this rtot in a deep recess, but thrust into tfte corner of a much smaller room, the walls of which were hung with a few pictures of inferior merit. There was no tapestry hanging from the ceiling, no carved oak panelling, no cornice, no handsome and quaint fireplace. That supposed picture of the suffering \enus was missing; so were the high-back chairs and other furniture.

{To be Continued,.) D.P. 8.