THE DOCTOR'S PROTÉGÉE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 503, 25 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 X.— {Continued >)

Where was i? Had the whole of that night journey in the storm been nothing more thun a dream? Yet that qould not be, for had it been so, and I had now awakened, 1 should have found myself in my own room, convinced that I had had a most remarkable and realistic dream. Then, putting that aside, I asked myself whether I had been wandering in my sleep, and whether, therefore, I was the victim of the vagaries and dangers of somnambulism, and someone finding me abroad had been kind, and had brought, me here. I had never walked in my sleep before, and I scouted the idea of having done so now. I was the more convinced of this when I saw my' own clothes —not the borrowed ones—on a chair close by, my gold repeater on another at the bedside, and the woollen slippers which had been placed at my disposal lying by my boots on the hearthrug. One thing was certain, that I was not in the room to which Maitland had led me, and it was small wonder, therefore, that I was filled with nlarm. The past night's doings came back to me in quick succession, and I was confident that they were all real. 1 looked at the nightshirt 1 was wearing, and it was not my own, and that confirmed me in the belief that there had been a real journey across.the country. My eyes ranged round the room again and again, and finally rested -on the window. Then 1 sprang out of bed with a genuine cry of fear, for there were iron bar's outside. 1 crossed the floor to be assured that my eyes had not deceived me, but there was no mistake. The bars were there, so strong and so close to each other that a man could neither force his way in nor out. Then I examined the door, and sought to open it, but it was locked on the outside. Gripping the handle and twisting it, 1 pulled at it with all my force, shaking the door vigorously but vainly. No answer came either to the noise I made in that way or to my own loud calls.

was cheerful with the dancing flames which sent forth a genial warmth.

Again and again I went to the window to look for any signs of life, but the park was still and silent, ancf neither man nor beast appeared. At times the breeze swept over the white surface and sent «up a cloud of Frosted snow, then once more sank back into stillness. After a while I tried to read. There was fiction of the best; history and travel; heavier reading still—something for every taste, but no volume took my fancy. How could one read when there was the ever-recurring question: "Why am I here?"

I turned and looked around, standing on the floor in the bitter cold. On the other side of the room was a closed door, and crossing to it I found that it opeaed into a bathroom, the window of' which was likewise strongly barred. I closed the door again, "for there was nothing in the room to detain me. There was food on a table near by, good and substantial, and ample for the hungriest man; but what of that? It was plain that 1 was a prisoner, that the hot soup I had taken was drugged, and -while I slept heavily I must have been carried to this room, where I was now a prisoner.

My only comfort was my pipe. It had for me some of that sensual pleasure and fascinating enthralment which De Quincey found in opium, and by its aid ' I usually thought out many of the hardest problems which came in my medical practice. lam bound to say that in this time of enforced solitude it served to soothe me and enable me to endure, the long and wearisome waiting for an explanation of this amazing experience. Once I rose to my feet and went to the door. 1 thought I heard footsteps outside, and, placing my ear against the keyhole, I listened intently. There was undoubtedly someone not far away, and I called aloud. No answer came, and I called still more loudly, but received no reply. 1 shook the door and made it rattle with what almost amounted to a frenzy, and the" only result was that the handle came off in my hand. Nevertheless, there was a chance of being heard which I would not miss, and I shouted incessantly, banging on the door with the loosened knob until throat and hands were weary. But all to no purpose. If anyone had come to see whether I was still in duress he was surely satisfied with the noise I made that I had not escaped, and so had gone away stealthily. It was growing dusk after the sun had gone down like a blood-red ball behind the snow-laden trees, when I heard a fairit sound outside. I listened, going on my toes to the door to form some idea, if possible, as to what might be doing there-. I heard the creaking of a man's shoes, as if he were stooping down, and his bending shoe betrayed him. Then came the scrape of what seemed like paper being pushed under the door. I looked down and saw a square, of white, flicked, it would, seem, with the finger-nail, and gliding across the dark-colored floor. It passed my feet, but I bent down and caught it with my fingers After that there was absolute silence once more.

It was out of the question that I should get back into bed; but it: was so cold that I must either do that or dress. I did the latter, trying meanwhile to solve the question of this startling experience Why was I imprisoned? Not that" I was to be robb-ed, for when I-put: my hands into rny pockets I found: my purse and mf pocket-book intact, although the papers in the latter were somewhat disarranged, and certainly not as I had placed fhem there. My. watch, the chain. th<studs, the costly pearl links, which I prized as my/•dead mbther's gift, were as I had jworn them-when L was called from home. Was my life in danger? I asked myself. If so, why had it not been taken, while I when I was incapable of resistance?

It was too dark to read, and, therefore, I struck a match and lit a candle; then by its aid 1 looked .'it the package for a lew moments curiously. It was was an envelope addressed to me, and when I tore it open 1 drew out a letter, which I read eagerly. It was short, and almost curt.

Sir,—A letter was placed upon the table in the room in which you are staying. Why have you not answered it? Let me assure you that an answer is imperative, and 1 shall expect it shortly.—Andrieno Telamone.

CHAPTER !XI

AN ULTIMATUM

The mystery deepened because there vvias every token of care. Food was at hand, and the materials for a fire were within reach also, for when I looked at the grate I saw that nothing was needed but a match. There was a Box at hand, and coal sufficient for two or three days, even with a prodigal usage. There were books likewise on the hanging shelves, out of which, if 1 must needs remajin a prisoner, I could find means for passing the time. Whoever was the provider of my needs, he had cared for my comfort, for he had placed cigars at my disposal, and a pipe and tobacco in plenty. But there was the startling fact that made me discard all this care for my comfort — I was a prisoner, and. in spite of all my anxiofijs thought, I could not suggest any reason for the imprisonment. The more I endeavoured to arrive at some reasonable explanation of this mystery the greater was my perplexity- f grew hungry at last, and., going to the table, ate some of the food that was there. It was substantial, and as goiod -is if Mrs. Dawney had been providing for me. It was abundant also, so tha: for two or three days, and

I sat down in confusion, my heart beating quickly, and my brain seemingly on fire. Here was, in some sense, the key to this mystery, and I could not repress a cry of anguish for Teresina's sake. What cared 1 for any danger to myself which this imprisonment might threaten, when 1 felt that I had been decoyed hither so that Andrieno Telarnore might get at her and do as he willed with her, while I was locked up like this powerless to aid her in any way ? The thought was horrible. She might at this moment be lying dead .—the victim of that fearful vendetta w'hich slays love and every kindly fet'J'ing so relentlessly. Fearful as the desire for vengeance was, it was p' a ' n to me tllat tnere was one other motive stronger still —the desire to" gain possession of the little sealed package which Teresina had entrusted to mv care, and which was now in the safe at the bank. Had Te tamone discovered that I had been entrusted with it? If so, probably I h ad been decoyed to the Bartons" inoorder. r der to be searched, and if nothing' were found on me while I lay drugged, then to come to terms with m'e under compulsion. I rose from the rJiair and went to one of the tables t.o search for this letter which I had .overlooked; but there was not one .there. I took up everything that wa'S on the table singly, but without fir.'ding a letter. Going to another table under the window I looked there also, but that also had nothing in the shape of a missive. That was strange. It was scarcely v.UvU- *Mt nnvthirg so important

Had it been on one of the tables it could not possibly have escaped my notice. 1 stood and deliberated, and coming to the conclusion that Tc-lamone, or Maitland, or Berens whichever of these last two might prove to be Telamone in disguise —had been under the impression that they had placed a letter on the table, but had forgotten to do so while eager to secure my detention, I took up the candlestick to look for writing material. Pens, ink, and "writing-paper were on the shelfclose by, and these 1 placed on one of the tables, intending to write a letter, saying that 1 had received no communication such as Telamone referred to in his curt note thrust under the door.

When I sat down to write a sharp and angry letter, my feet touched something soft, and looking down I saw that it was a heavy woollen table covering. Drawing it aside out of my way, I saw something white fall out of its folds, and heard the quick, sharp slap upon the polished floor. It was an envelope, and as I bent down and picked it up, I saw that it bore my name in the same handwriting as that which was in the note I had just received. Tearing it open, I read it through, and now I learnt why I was held a prisoner.

Sir, —By sortie evil fortune you have been drawn into rny priv'ate affairs, and have become acquainted, not only with my wife, but with the fact that I have sworn a vendetta against her. You have chosen to espouse her cause, and consequently there is no alternative but for you to accept the inconveniences that follow. It is true that when 1 was lying at the Porcupine at Marly, 1 took an oath to forego the vendetta, but I have since withdrawn the oath because it was extorted from me. To have refused, and then to have been handed over to the police, would have placed me in danger of extradition, and ultimate death at the hands of the Italian Government. You see the (orce of my contention? An oath extorted under intimidation cannot be binding. Whether you recognise the reasonableness of this or not, there is the fact that unless Signora Telamone surrenders to me a small package in her possession, the vendetta will hold good, and 1 shall pursue it relentlessly. Where she is hiding at present I do not know, but I have spies on the look-out, and they will not fail me. Of one thing I feel assured. She will have taken you into her confidence concerning what is known as the Scarlet-Cross package, the possession of. which is of such importance to me. I venture to suggest that you know of its whereabouts, and I therefore ask you to apprise me of the fact, or take such steps as will lead to its being placed in my luinds. Should you refuse, the consequences may be clearly defined. You will be detained here until you give the required information. At present you have food sufficient to last you for a few days; but I must tell you that when that supply is exhausted you will receive no more. As for any contemplated escape, do not rely on any assistance or sympathy from this household. There is no one within the place where you are detained who is not interested in the possession of the .package to which I refer.

I shall give you seven clear days to consider—should you decide to remain obstinate for so long a time —and then (for I will put the matter clearly) you will be left alone in the Bartons to starve; and as for my wife, if, when I discover her, .she refuses, to surrender what I am seeking, she will also die, a victim of the vendetta.

Andrieno Telamone

There was no mistake as to Telamone's intentions, and the issue was so clear to my mind that I fully realised that I had practically my own life and Teresina's at my disposal. A word vyould set us both at ease. I could walk out of the Bartons a free man, and Teresina, now in hiding, with her life in perpetual jeopardy, could come into the free light of day, and walk the streets in security. But I recalled the look on her face when she showed me the letter which Daniello Tarsilla had brought to me for her own reading, and I remembered what she had said in answer to my words : "Then you will not send the package to Andrieno Telamone?" "No. I"will never break my promise—never!" Anyone who had seen her face when she spoke would have known that she was resolute, and. would accept death rather than forego her resolution. I sat and considered the matter, and wondered as to the answer I should return to this uncompromising epistle. {To be Continued.) D.P.—9.