The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 1 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

14 the hysterical fury. Do you think that you grasp the general condition, doctor?”’ ‘So far as such a thing can be grasped without long and careful study of the case, yes.” “Very well, then I can pass to the phase which immediately concerns us, sir,” sighed Mr. Catterson. “ Some two weeks ago, Dr. Whinnys, my daughter—in some manner that may never’ be explained— found a certain steel cash-box of mine and carried it out of the house on one of her trips. It is merely an ordinary steel box with a combination lock, worth per- haps three or four dollars; but it con- tained documents of such a nature that— no, I can’t even hint at their nature, Dr. Whinnys. In themselves they are worth many thousands of dollars to any one sufficiently intelligent to use them; to me, sir, they are all but priceless!” “She did not bring back the box?” asked Dr. Jim, who wads growing inter- ested. “She returned without it, sir, and the most careful and cautious questioning has failed to draw from the girl one-single hint as to what disposition she made of the thing! At the same time, we know that she has made at least one trip back to its hiding-place, and that in some manner she, or some interested person, has learned the combination.” “ How do you know that?” - “ Because I have learned that at least one of the papers is out of the box,” shud- dered Catterson. “ What may happen to the rest, what may have happened al- - ready, I dare not think. Do you see where all this is leading?”’ “ Not entirely.” “It is between six and seven in the evening, and lately almost every evening, that Helen leaves the house,” continued Helen’s father. ‘‘She is absent, some- times for an hour, sometimes for several hours. To-night, I have no doubt what- ever, she will leave as usual; and to-night you, sir, a perfect stranger to the child, will follow her. You will keep as close as possible to her, avoiding attracting at- THE ARGOSY. tention, of course; you will watch as care- fully as may be for my cash-box. ‘Tf she enters a building of any kind, you will follow her, on whatever pretext, Dr. Whinnys. But above all, should she fall in a faint or enter one of her really violent conditions, you will be on hand to render expert medical aid—and after all, I think that that, perhaps, is why I am so anxious to have you near her, doctor!” Catterson sighed. Dr. Jim Bowen gazed over his head and pondered. It was like to be an easy way of earning five hundred dollars and an interesting one as well, for nervous dis- eases had always held a certain fascina- tion for him and—Catterson’s shaky hand was on his knee again. “ You will undertake it, Dr. Whinnys?” he asked. “Yes, at your figure,” smiled Dr. Jim. “And you will promise me to use the very utmost caution, sir—the most ex- treme caution, doctor!—to avoid exciting the child?” Catterson whispered, tighten- ing his grip on the knee. “ Yes, yes, I know that it sounds absurd to you, Dr. Whinnys, but the poor little girl is my only daughter, and anxiety over her these last years has well-nigh driven me in- sane myself. I—hark!” There was nothing uncertain this time about the moan which vibrated on the heavy air of the house. Long-drawn and low, with a wild note that was almost animal, it came _ penetratingly from regions at the rear. Catterson, listening with drawn face, rose to his feet. “ She is moving about, I think,” he said agitatedly. “‘ Come, doctor! I wish you to see her without letting her see you. Be very careful in walking, please.” Shuffling noiselessly in his slippers, he led the way to the closed door of the passage at the side, opened it and listened, and then with trembling fingers beckoned Dr. Jim to follow down the dark, narrow little corridor. Somewhat thrilled, the practitioner from Hallas tiptoed after; and, having passed a pair of marble EOI OOOLKS (©)