THE DOCTOR'S PROTÉGÉE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 506, 5 October 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," See.

Published By Special Arrangement.

CHAPTER XlV—(Continued.) I lay and thought for a while, and gradually recalled the doings of the night when I had escaped through the lattice window. I remembered meeting Berens. and the subsequent flight into the road, the dreadful companionship in the snowed-up coach, the accident in the quarry, and the treatment I had received in the cottage. But no more. There was, of course, the trumped-up story of my madness, which would account for my being detained in durance, and afterwards chased. Probably that was a story told to explain matters to any possibly unreliable servant at the Bartons, who might have been asking awkward questions as to why I was held a prisoner. It would serve to explain the situation to the woman's husband, and when I lay unconscious I quite believe that he slipped out of the house, and gave information which would bring Andrieno Telamone and Berens to the cottage, in order to get me away. I looked around as I lay on the couch, into which I sank as if it had been a bed, and saw that I was in a choicely-decorated and ex-quisitely-furnished cabin. Nothing was lacking in the way of comfort, and there every indication that the owner was a man of wealth. It was a gorgeous saloon on a small scale, the seats ranging about it being richly upholstered, the panelling beautifully carved, and displaying by its delicate colouring the skili of a decorator whose work commanded a great price, The rich Turkey carpet on the floor, the chairs which were invitingly easy, the ottoman, the lounge, and a hundred accessories, combined to give one the impression of a luxury which was rare even with the wealthy.

to greet him with upbraidings, Finding that I made no reply, he switched on the electric light, and, having done this, bent over me and spoke again, somewhat anxiously. Possibly he had thought me dead or insensible, since I lay so still; but having satisfied himself on this point, he stood and looked at me. I saw now that his face had suffered considerably from my rough treatment when he grappled with me in my endeavour to escape from the Bartons. It was discoloured because of the blows I had rained upon him as he lay beneath me, and although it was possible that he would extort payment for every bruise with interest, I could not help but feel glad when I thought that he had had to suffer considerably from haying taken any part in decoying, me from my house. I did not answer, and silence followed so far as speech on either side was concerned. I heard in the moments that followed the swish and wash of waves against the sides of the yacht, the clank and rattle of the engines which drove the vessel onward, the restless shuffling of feet on the deck, the hoarse voice of the captain on the bridge as he shouted his ordto the sailors from time to time.

Then Berens spoke again, repeating his question; but I had no answer for him, my whole attention being centred on the man at the -door. The sudden blaze of light which filled the cabin had dazed me at first, but gradually I began to see more clearly.

He was now standing so that I knew him to be none other than Telamone.

CHAPTER XV.

THE MAN WITH THE MUTILATED FOREFINGER.

But I was in too much pain, and far too -weak, to trouble myself about my surroundings. I was even careless for the time being as to whether I was imprisoned or at liberty to go to my home at my pleasure. I merely wanted to lie where I was, idly; and if I had a wish beyond any other, it was to have something cooling at my burning ankle, and a fresh bandage about my head. My sense of weakness was so great that I could not bring myself to attempt the task of rising into a sitting posture, so that I might examine my foot, and exercise my medical skill for my own advantage. An intolerable thirst aggravated my position, and I would have welcomed the aid of the roughest sailor that ever trod a ship's deck, if he would have bathed my swollen foot and thus have afforded me some relief. Apparently I was left to myself to suffer to the full unaided, for hour after hour went, until the pain and thirst became intolerable. Now and again a wintry gleam of sunshine came thotigh the cabin windon, shifting its position continually, until even that light failed, and the dusk of evening set in. I think, what with hunger, thirst, and pain, I must have grown somewhat delirious, for occasionally I had the fancy that Teresina came in and sat by my side, saying nothing, but by her reproachful looks upbraiding me for deserting her, and leaving her to take her chance, and probably to lose the Scarlet-Cross package through my betrayal of its whereabouts. More than once, when I was in that state, my position seemed to be more than I could endure. To receive her reproach when I deserved her praise made my helplessness unbearable, and I protested, believing her to be at my side, that I had been true, and had done my best to safeguard her interests.

"You are Andrieno Telamone !" I burst forth indignantly.

"And if I am?" he responded insolently.

"Then I declare you a perjurer, as well as the would-be murderer of your wife," I replied, hotly, raising myself on my elbow. "The fault is your own, Dr. Carson," came the answer in the same tone he had used before. "You interfered in my concerns, and when you held the whip hand, I had no alternative but to swear to an extorted oath, which I hold to be worthless. Now the actva ntafe is mine, and I hold myself at liberty to deal with you as I choose."

Before I could retort, he . put a Question to me.

"Where is my wife?"

My reply came instantly': "I refuse to answer such a question."

"You did so before wlten, at the Bartons, I wrote you a letter. Let me bo candid with ycu, Dr. Carson. You are as much in my power here, on board the Vallauris, as when we had you locked in the room at the Bartons. It is true that the sailors on board are not in the secret, but they know enough to treat mv endeavour on your part to extort information with profound indifference, and as for aic ing you to escape, a reward of jftv pounds is oflcred to any man on board who frustrates your attempts to get away. It is believed by the captain and men that you are a madman, and that when we found that you had escaped we deemed it necessary to bring you here when, wc were told that you were lying; in the cottage near fie quarry."

That mental aberration was only temporary, for I soon came bacjc to realities, and set down those reproaches and the visit as the dream of a fever-stricken man. But the thought of her presence set me thinking- about her in my saner * moments. Had she not been the wife of Andrieno Telamone, I confessed that I could have loved her beyond all that words can tell; but she was not for me, since she belonged to another, although he was so unworthy. Again and again I strove to put aside all thoughts that carried my hopes beyond friendship, and in place of that I began to busy my mind with the possibilities of helping her into safety. Trouble in achieving such a task should count as nothing.

It was the same story foqre as oil shore. The man at the cottage heard it, and believed it, and rather than have a madman at large—even while he seemed to be a gentleman, and helpless because of his injuries—he had slipped away w r hile I lay unconscious, and gave Telamone information which placed me in his power again. It was the word of one against two, and any protests I might make would onl. r serve to convince captain and men alike that they were the protests of a madman, who might be treated indulgently, but was in need of the keenest surveillance. The most plausible story I might tell would not induce them to slacken their vigilence; for when once the stigma of madness is attached to anyone, onlookers can never, apparently, be induced to consider the matter* and go so far as to think that there is either some terrible blunder or that an abominable conspiracy is working its way.

When it was growing dark two men entered the cabin cautiously, as if they deemed it possible that a sick and injured man might make a bid for freedom, and in some way give them trouble. I lay still, and when one of them, whom I recognised as Barens, stepped forward, while h's companion halted to close the door and drive in the bolt, I gave lfim no greeting, nor did I answer* his question when he asked me I fared. My pain and weaknps seemed to rob me of all

"Ihe captain and crew will not believe in my madness when they see me on deck," I answered, with an attempt at self-assurance; but in my heart I felt myself completely overwhelmed and at the mercy of two unscrupulous men. More thin that, I had lelamone's answer, which instantly dispelled any hope I may have had of convincing someone on board that I was as other men.

"You will not be allowed on deck, Dr. Carson. \ou will be kept here night and day until we have decided on measures which you may iconsider drastic."

Italian's face while he spoke, which did not escape any observation. I felt that the detention in that cabin was one from which I was not likely to escape alive unless I fell in with Telamone's terms, namely, to tell of Teresina's whereabouts, and to say what had been done with the mysterious package. ©

"You will send me some food at once?" I said, as if to intimate that the interview need not be prolonged, "and either tend to my injured ankle or send in someone to do so.'.'

"Will you consider the questions put to you, Dr. Carson?" asked Telamone, impatiently, but my answer came as sharply. "I will consider nothing until I have had food, and until my injuries have received attention. I suppose you must be unspeakably anxious to worm out this secret from me?" I added, scornfully; "and believing that, and knowing, too, that if I die of starvation you will never discover the whereabouts either of the signora or this strange package, I assume that it will be better for you in every way to keep me going. Send me some food at once, for you will get no word from me that will be of service until I find knvself on the way to bodily comi fort."

Startling as my position was, matters seemed to assume a new phase while I .held these men in conversation. I felt that they could no afford to let me die, or to kill me, if the recovery of the Scarlet-Cross package was of supreme moment to them. And concerning that there was no doubt, or why these extreme measures which they had taken? Telamone, hearing my words, turned on his heel, drew the bolt, and presently he and Berens left me alone.

A few minutes.later a man entered bearing a tray, and setting this on the table he went out again, returning almost instantly with water and bandages. I glanced towards the door while he was so engaged, and saw that precautions were taken against any possible rush from th'j cabin on my part. Berens was there, filling up the doorway, and, in a somewhat ostentatious fashion, playing.with a revolver, whose barrel gleamed in the electric light that fell upon it. The curious smile on his face as he glanced at me while he stood there was meant, I suppose, to aggravate me, but I endeavoured to maintain the appearance of an indifference which was by no means felt. The door closed in a few moments, and I was left alone with the man who had come to attend to my wants. A cry of surprise escaped my lips, for he was an Italian whose face I had seen before. It was Daniello Tarsilla, the messenger who once came to me from Telamone, bearing a letter for Teresina. Weak as I was with hunger, feeling ravenous, indeed, in spite of my pain, I exclaimed : "You are Daniello Tarsilla!"

The man seemed somewhat confused for the moment. "No, signor."

"You need not lie," I exclaimed, indignantly. "Look at your forefinger. How many men are there with the right forefinger cut off at the first joint, and working for Andrieno Telamone? I noticed : t when you came to my house with a letter for the signora. Does Andrieno pniploy other men with mutilated forefingers?"

"All right, signor. lam Tarsilla. But what of that?"

"No matter just now. Sec to my food, and then look to my ankle."

While I sat up and ate, with an eagerness that surprised me, the man dealt skilfully with my injured foot. Now and again I gave hini instructions, which he followed, but he was clearly an adept at his task, and speedily gave me ease.

"Shall I stay, signor?" he asked

presently, rising to his feet

"Not if there is a bell within reach."

"There is one at your elbow, signor. See."

> I turned and glanced at the spot to which he pointed, then waved my hand for him to be gone. His presence was no pleasure to me ; nor was he, when I looked at him, likely to be of any service to me in securing my escape.

CHAPTER XVI

A TERRIBLE ALTERNATIVE

For several days and nights I was left severely alone, but for the periodical visits of Daniello Tarsilla, who came to bring me food and dress my ankle. Usually he was merose, never speaking, unless spoken to, and when replying- to my questions, only answering in monosyllables where possible, or with a conciseness which made me wonder at him as a man who could put an immense amount in the fewest words. The curtness of his answers was equally apparent, whether I referred to mv imprisonnent or to the most ordinary matters. He would give me no information, and the keenest cross-examiner in our Law Courts would have set him down as an unsatisfactory witness.

(J<? be Continues'-.) O,P, —12.