Avon Fantasy Reader No. 13 — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

“You do not know him personally?” “I believe—yes, I have met him—some months ago.” Young Mr. Henten seemed to make this admission with reluctance. Then, a little impatiently but without dropping his politely formal manner, he went on— . “But will you tell me what Norton Hoorne—” _ “Mr. Henten,” Dr. Johns interrupted, “I shall be still more frank with you. We are Norton Hoorne’s physicians—and his friends also. Mr. Hoorne is very ill at this moment—very dangerously ill, I might say. This afternoon in his delirium he spoke the name of—er—Miss Henten. There is a photo- graph of her standing on his desk. From the words he spoke—incoherent—” The look on the young man’s face made Dr. Johns stop abruptly. After an instant he continued, speaking much more firmly than before. “You: will pardon me, Mr. Henten. You must understand we have not the wish—the indelicacy—to pry into Miss Henten’s affairs. What we three say here is said in the strictest confidence. We are Mr. Hoorne’s physicians. His life is in danger. The information we seck is for his good only. I trust you will understand that and will do what you can to help us.” “What information is it you desire?” asked the young man. Dr. Johns leaned forward earnestly. “Miss Henten and Norton Hoorne were friends?” : | “They were, but the friendship was broken off several months ago.” “Why?” Young Mr. Henten hesitated. “Elaine was to have married Sir Oliver Baconfield. It was announced recently,” he said finally. “Was to—?” “My sister died this morning,” said the young man quietly. The effect of this announcement on Dr. Johns and me must have surprised our host greatly. ae, “Oh, I am very sorry, Mr. Henten,” Dr. Johns hastened to say contritely when he had recovered himself somewhat. “I can understand now your reluctance—our coming at such a time—’” The young man bit his lip and looked away; we could see he was struggling to suppress his emotion. 3 “We will not keep you more than a moment longer,” Dr. Johns added. “There are a few questions—I beg you will not think them irrelevant. They have, I assure you, a direct bearing upon Norton Hoorne’s present welfare. If you will let me hurt you just a moment more, Mr. Henten. It may be—I think it is—a matter of life or death to our patient.” : The young man bowed his head. “What is it you want to know?” he asked in a low voice. : “T will be as brief as possible. Was your sister ever engaged to Norton Hoorne?” 3 “No—not that I know of.” “They were very good friends?” “T think so—yes.” “Why was the friendship broken off?” 52 , comicbooks (E(0) ®