The Argosy, December 1905 — page 120: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

98 packed; your suit-ecase and bag are ready; you were going yesterday. I will be frank with you, Ramon. Gossip is afoot already about you. it is said you owe a great deal of money and that your creditors are pressing you. Betty told me that one man came to dun you yes- terday.” Burress winced under this, but made no reply, only wetting his dry lips and turning his gaze away from her up- turned face. “ Listen to me, Ramon—you must not go away. I—I have a little money. You shall take it all—I will lend it to you. Don’t be offended, dear friend. It is only a loan I suggest.” He regained some control over his features, and looked down at her once more. He spoke solemnly: “There is no need of my going away to escape my ereditors, Leslie. Solon Burress agreed to pay them, and now that he is—is dead, his administrator will obey the mandatory provisions of his will.” “Then you will stay, Ramon? You will stay?” : “As long as I may,” he responded huskily. “I will make Seymour my first care, and I will not spare myself in his need, so help me God!” He disengaged her hands tenderly, turned toward the office, into which he stumbled blindly, groping before him with outstretched hand, and closed the door between them. By the love she knew he bore her, Leslie had begged Burress to devote himself to the afflicted Lloyd—to care for and succor his rival in her affec- tions. And this, too, was but further re- quital which justice demanded for his ermme. CHAPTER X. PERJURY. OGLETHORPE promised to return in two days to advise with them again, but dear old Munhall agreed to remain the week out, if he could be of any assist- ance to his suecessor. He had known THE ARGOSY. Seymour Lloyd since his childhood, and was deeply interested in his welfare. Burress saw that the old doctor was greatly broken; he seemed to have shifted the responsibility for the health of the community upon the younger practitioner’s shoulders with vast relief, and was loath to take it up again. Forty-odd years he had dwelt here in Barrowsvale, and had ushered into the world, and sped those departing for an- other sphere, with kindliness. Every- body loved him, but in many things Munhall was hopelessly behind the times. Burress saw that, without the pro- fessor, his old friend would have been of little assistance in planning his fur- ther treatment of the patient. Munhall knew how to make Lloyd take nourish- ment, but he was all at sea upon the more scientific phases of the disorder. Burress had sworn to remain by Lloyd and devote all the energy and knowl- edge he possessed in the endeavor to re- store him to his old mind. At least, he - must watch and care for him closely until the unformed consciousness of the patient should become used to the con- ditions of life which confronted him. He would be obliged to live with Lloyd, and teach him hourly, as in some few cases idiots have been taught and their dormant intelligence awakened. Otherwise the aroused mentality of the unfortunate young man would be- come clouded and he might end in hope- less insanity. Leslie did not understand all that she asked when she had wrung that promise from Ramon Burress, but he knew what it meant. He saw the sacrifice he must make, and, in the calmer mood which followed, he weleomed the task set him as being a partial reparation for his sin. Medbury, the coroner, sent up word that he desired Dr. Burress’ presence at the shop of the undertaker, where the body of old Solon had been prepared for burial, and, shrink as he might from the task, the physician must needs obey the summons. The inquest proper had been made the day before, and the cause of the old man’s death formally decided, but some COMMICLOOoks (C@