The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7880, 24 July 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

THE SOMNAMBULIST. Messrs Brief and Heal bail lunched ligl.llv. as they al»ays did, anJ ictun.cil slowly to their office in the hope o(a quiet half-hour. Amos GoodfeUow, however, met him »u the lobby. . , , , "Dr. Duriuns is here,' thcick-rk said. "He .v been wailing more than ball an hour. I placed my services at his disposal, but he preferred to wail for you, sir." He looked at Mr Heal, who shrugged hK shoulders and glaired at bis partner. "Just my luck »'' he said. " Why didn't he want to see you, Biici * Farewell to any hopes of forty winks now. Awl he's probably, come . about something utterly unimportant, and when we've arranged that he'll probably keep me talking for au hour or two about some new diseases of the nerves." Dr. Durrrans was a nerve specialist; a doctor who, but the love of the thing, never need have practised. He came of an ancient and wealthy family that was not titled because iover and over again they bad refused that distinction- He was rich beyond the dreams ol avarice, yet be absolutely slaved at his profession, and from early mora to dewy eve ministered to those whose nerves, from a multitude of causes, had -broken down. He was an enthusiast in the special branch of healing be had taken up, abnormally, overwhelmingly interested in it. Mr Heal knew, or thoughthe knew, what be was in for, and was very sorry for himself. Amos Goodfcllow threw open ibe door of Mr Heal's private room, and the lawyer entered. The great physician was sitting in a low chair, his bead had fallen forward on his breast „ite did not even'look up as the door closed. Mr Heal thought he had gone to bleep. He walked over to his own special chair, sat hown, rustled some papeis moved the inkstand and ruler noisily then, as Frederick Darrans showed no signs of waking, spoke "I'm afraid I've kept you waiting a long time," he said, "but you sriit was lunch time." Without a movement or any sign that he was startled, Dr. Durrans looked up. "1 just closed my eyes when Gqpdfeilow told me you were out," lie said, without an apology for not having spoken before. "1 alwav.s close my eyes when possible, the rest to the nerve centres is tremendous. If folk only realised it, I should not haw half the troublesome cases 1 do, and should get more rest, which I badly need, I'm proud, of course that I have such a reputation, built on such a practice, but the strain is horrible sometimes !" "And you've absolutely no need to do any work," Mr Heal returned. -I wonder you do, doctor , there are so ' many other men who would be glad of the work and the guineas. You are looking fagged." A new expression crossed the doctor s face ; if he had looked fagged before, he looked lei times more so now.

"I «n worried nearly out of uiy , life, Heal," he said, "ami I dim't know what to do. At first I thought Id go for a detective, but tlmdcd. at all event*, that in the first instance 1 would come lo you—vou may be able to help n». A very terrible thing tus happened in mr family; one member of it-I don't know which so far-has turned thief ' 1 suspect my wife ?" "Good Heavens!" Mr Heal said you can't be speaking seriously '" Dr. Durrans looked very grave i "i '2. *?■"*}* » s"***! on which I should be hMy to joke, is it "• be saud. "11l explain exactly what has happened, then you can form your own opinion. Six moiths ago n.) wifes only brother met wit* a business misfortune, which poetically rumed him. My wife wis very much upset, and begged me lo helj tarn. 1 did so to the extent of allowing hm three pounds a week up,,nwHch he could live in fair cot! Hs'taSi l ° * cl i,im »" ££,£.' «"< sa,d "I* would sell her ~r,£?■ ' Pom,cd oul l 0 her that all the most valuable jewels were heirlooms, and could not be disposed ri'.M ,° Wn pcrsoMl or 'auienls she could, of course, do as si* | iK eo

-be was quiet and moody for some weeks after that, ami I was hall in tear for the heirlooms, and yet I never thought she would touch them, though often I have lain awake at night worrying. Well, to make a fong «tory snort, so far as the heirlooms are concerned, the safe is almost empty. More than this, valuable bits of plate arc disappearing. 1 tlon't warn to make a scandal, but it is my duly to my sou lo find out what has heroine of these things and to redeem them." Mr Heal took up a pencil and beat it softly in the palm of his hand. "Have you questioned your wife'.'" he asked. "How can I ?" Dr. Durrani answered. "I have discussed the loss of the jewels with ner, and she seems as upset as 1 am; though, of course, it can only he pretended concern. She suggested calling in (he police and puts a very bold Iront unpn the ;>ilair, but, naturally. I could not .io that. What more 4h*n ever confirms We in the belief that she lias taken the jewels is this : her toother is set up in business again, and she—my wife—seems to have any amount of ready money. .Something must be done, the question is—what ?" Mr Heal considered the matter. That Mrs Durraus would steal, even for the sake of her 'brothel, sermon lo him absolutely out of the question. She was a proud woman-mure of an aristocrat even than her husband—it was the sort oi thing sin could not possubty sloop io. "Have you asked your wife where she gets this money from .'" Mi Heal asked. "I have asked her, and she lauded at me," Dr. Durrans returned, 'i shall know, she says, later on ; she is not allowed, so she say*, in ie we know yet. My own opinion is that she has pawned tiie jewels. and hopes, when her brother pulls himself together, to be able to redeem the. When, however, l have spoken of Iheir loss, she profcs>c: absolute ignorance. What am Ito do, Heal 7" "It is a very difficult problem,' he said, "but 1 caanol believe SI is Durrans is guilty. Are all the valuables gone'.'" "Oh dear no," Dr. Durrans an- ~ sweied. "ft would lake a long lime to get lo tlie end of our valuables. There is a set ol rubies f am very anxious about now. I have half a mind to lock them away myself; in justice to my son 1 think 1 oughi to, because, though my wife's brother has pulled himself together, inyi wife is spending money like water. It seems to have facome a mania, v craze with her, and when 1 speak lo her about it she only smiles. The jewels, of course belong to us only for fife. At any cost they must bA traced and redeemed." "I understand that, of course," Mr Heal said. "You would, I suppose. dislike the idea of a detective in your house?" A (rown crossed the nerve specialist's face. "I would nol consider such an idea for a minute," he answered, "but I'll tell y.m what I should ml object to. You have a nephew, he is a stranger lo my wife. Irl \\\\\ come and slay with us as a supposed assistant lome, and let him walcli my wife's outgoings and incomings N Once wc can catch her and make h»f j realise that a dreadful thing she is doing, all, I am sure, will be well.' The idea of .sending a nephew io *Py in the house of Dr. Durrans .was not very agreeable to Mr Heal. | Ik felt perfectly sure Mrs Durmas j ~ had nothing to do with the Iheils , at the sane time it was the best, I B«lap9, the maltrr should be clear-

"I Will lay tin.- matter before my nephew," he .said. "I will make liim pay you a visit, \t possible, though really 1 think a professional delecti\e would be belter. The missing jewellery is, of course, very valuable." "11 is insured for one hundred thousand pounds,'' Dr. Durraus relumed, "and in the circumstances I cannot, of course, make any -application for the money. No, the thing must be done quietly and secretly." j (To be Continued.)