The Womans Way

For a moment her eyes met his; then hers sank and she shuddered.

"Has anyone gone for the doctor?" she asked in a low voice.

"Yes, my lady," said Jenkins. "I've sent a groom for Doctor Scott; but

I'm afraid----"

"Give me some water," she said tonelessly.

They brought her some and a sponge, and with a hand that was unnaturally

calm, she wiped the blood from the old man's face and neck.

"Here, look here!" said Heyton, hesitatingly. "Do you think you ought to

touch him, do anything till the doctor comes?"

She did not look at him, and continued her pitiful ministration. Heyton

drew back from the bed, his eyes withdrawing themselves from his

father's face slowly, as if fascinated.

"Has anything gone from the safe?" he asked.

"I don't know, my lord. I didn't wait to look," said Jenkins in a hushed

voice.

Heyton went into the dressing-room and returned a moment later.

"If there was anything of value in the safe, it's gone," he said. "Look

here!--Here, you, Simcox, what the devil are you gaping there for, like

a stuck pig; why don't you send for the police?"

Simcox turned to fly, and almost ran into Mrs. Dexter, who was followed

by Celia. Strangely enough Mrs. Dexter had been almost the last to hear

of the calamity; a terrified servant had dashed into her room with the

awful news. Celia's room was next to Mrs. Dexter's and she had heard

Mrs. Dexter's cry of horror, and had darted out to learn what it meant.

Mrs. Dexter went to the bed, gently and unconsciously putting Miriam

aside, and bent over the motionless form.

"He is not dead," she said, in a whisper.

"Oh, thank God!" broke from Miriam's white lips, and she turned to Celia

and grasped her arm. "Oh, I'm glad you've come; I'm glad you are here!"

she sobbed. "I'm all alone--oh, I'm glad you are here! Do you think he

is not dead?"

"Mrs. Dexter will know," said Celia, trying to control her voice. "Don't

be frightened, don't get worried, Lady Heyton. Come with me!"

She took Miriam's hand and drew her into her bedroom. Miriam sank on the

bed and covered her face with her hands; and for a while, there was

silence; for Celia had no words at command. Presently Miriam dropped her

hands from her face and looked straight before her; there was something

worse than horror in her expression; there was a poignant, a vivid

terror.