CHAPTER XII.
IMPENDING EVIL.
We must return for one brief instant, dear reader, to our hero, LesterArmstrong, whom we left as he was being hurried off to the hospital onthe night which proved so thrillingly eventful.
At the first rapid glance, the surgeon had believed his patient dying,but upon examination after he had reached the hospital, it wasdiscovered that his injury was by no means as serious as had beenapprehended; but a trouble quite as grave confronted the patient.
"An injury to the base of the brain, such as he has received, no matterhow slight, might, in this instance, produce either insanity or partialloss of memory, which is almost as bad," said the surgeon. "It willsoon be determined when consciousness, returns to him."
This indeed proved to be the case. Just as daylight broke LesterArmstrong opened his eyes, looking in amazement around the strangeapartment in which he found himself.
A kindly-faced nurse bent over him, who, in answer to his look ofinquiry, said:
"You had a severe fall and hurt yourself last night and was brought tothe hospital. You are doing finely. Can you remember anything about theincident?"
Lester looked up vacantly into the dark-gray eyes. "I--I was in a hurryto close my books at the office; that is all I recollect," he murmured.
From documents found in his pockets, it was learned that he had someconnection with the great dry goods house of Marsh & Co., and the seniormember of the firm was notified. Within an hour Mr. Marsh responded inperson. He was greatly distressed over the occurrence and took it deeplyto heart.
"I think as much of that young man as if he were my own son. Doeverything in human power for him. Let no pains be spared. I will standevery expense," he said, and then and there he also confided a startlingsecret to the surgeon.
"I am a lone man in this world, without one kindred tie on earth. Somelittle time since I made my will. I left every dollar I possessed onearth to my young cashier, Lester Armstrong, though he never evendreamed of such an existing state of affairs. I never intended that heshould know that I had made him my heir for perhaps years to come yet."
"Lester Armstrong!" exclaimed the surgeon. "Why, that is not the name heis entered here under, Mr. Marsh. The friend who was with him did notcall him that."
"Then the friend who was with him evidently did not know him. I identifyhim as my cashier, Lester Armstrong."
The surgeon bowed courteously.
"I would also suggest no mention whatever of this affair be given to thenewspapers," continued the gentleman. "They would make a sensationalstory out of it, and I detest notoriety."
"Your wishes shall be respected, sir," replied the surgeon, who had agreat reverence for men of wealth.
His prediction proved quite correct. When Lester Armstrong arose fromthat bed of sickness ten days later, his mind, although as bright andkeen as ever on some subjects, on others was hopelessly clouded. Eventhe slightest recollection of beautiful Faynie Fairfax, the littlesweetheart whom he had loved better than his own life, was completelyobliterated from his mind. He did not even remember such a being hadever existed.
Another event had transpired on the eventful night of his injury. Thehumble boarding house where he had made his home so many years, had beendestroyed by fire, and the people had gone none knew whither. This wasindeed a trying blow to Lester, for the fire had completely wiped outall of his savings which he had kept in the little haircloth trunk inhis room. But, without a murmur, he took up the burden of life overagain and went back to his work at his desk.
In going over his accounts he suddenly came across the name of FaynieFairfax.
The pen fell from his fingers and he brushed his hand over his brow.
"What a strangely familiar ring that name has to me!" he muttered, "butI cannot imagine who it can be. Her checks seem to be paid in here. Imust remember to notice who she is when next she comes to this window."
Life had dropped into the same old groove again for Lester Armstrong,the only difference in the routine of his daily life being that he wasnot obliged to take his daily trips to Beechwood any more, for thereason that his employer, Mr. Marsh, had taken up his residence in thecity again.
But in less than a fortnight another event happened.
Mr. Marsh died suddenly, and to the great surprise of every one, LesterArmstrong was named as his sole heir. At first the young man wasdumfounded. He could not believe the evidence of his own senses, whenfirst the news was conveyed to him.
The papers contained columns concerning the young man's wonderful luck.Those who knew Lester Armstrong said the great fortune which had come tohim would not spoil him.
There was one who read this account with amazed eyes, and that wasHalloran.
"Great God!" he muttered, his hands shaking, his teeth chattering."Kendale told me that Armstrong was taken to the hospital in aprecarious condition and died there."
He made all haste to Kendale's lodgings. The latter, who was stillmasquerading under the name of Lester Armstrong, had been on acontinuous spree ever since the night he had wedded the little beauty,and Halloran had let him take his course, saying to himself that therewas plenty of time in the future to carry out their scheme.
For once he found Kendale partially sober. He knew by Halloran's facethat something out of the usual order of events had transpired.
"What is the matter?" he cried; "what's up now?"
For answer Halloran laid the paper before him, pointing to the column,remarking, grimly:
"The game's up now, and we've gone through all this trouble for nothing.Your cousin, Lester Armstrong, is not dead, but instead is alive andwell."
The papers which contained the account gave another bit of unfortunateinformation, stating that Lester Armstrong had suffered from loss ofmemory since he had received the fall on that fatal night.
"Well," said Halloran, as his friend laid down the paper, "you see, thegame's up."
"By no means," exclaimed Kendale, perfectly sober by this time. "It's apoor rule that won't work both ways," he added, excitedly.
"I don't understand your cause for rejoicing," returned Halloran,gloomily.
"Don't you?" cried Kendale. "Then let me make it clear to you. We notonly have one fortune through the girl that I tied myself to, and can,as her husband, collect all in good time, but with a little strategy Ican come in for the Marsh millions. We can decoy Armstrong into a coach,and let the world find out his fate after that if it can. I will coollytake his place, just as I did in that other affair, and who is there toquestion that I am not he."
"But they know you there. You worked a week in the employ of Marsh & Co.You forget that."
"It was at one of their branch stores," was the reply, "and they hadnever heard of Armstrong there, and had never seen him. I left in aweek. I did not resemble my cousin so much at that particular time forthe reason that my mustache was shaven off then. Without that you wouldbe surprised to see what a wide difference there is between us."
"It is a great scheme, if you are sure that you can carry it through,"said Halloran, breathing hard and eying his companion fixedly.
"Trust that to me," replied Kendale, jumping up and walking the floor toand fro excitedly.
It was midnight when Halloran left Kendale's apartments. During thoselong hours the two plotters had concocted a diabolical scheme, whichthey meant to carry out ere the morning light dawned.
All unconscious of the nefarious plot against his life, Lester Armstrongwas up with the sun the next morning, and was down to the office at anearly hour transacting the great amount of business that he found uponhis hands, contingent upon being the head of the firm of which he hadfor so many years been but an humble cashier.
Despite the sudden wealth which had come to him, all that day he felt astrange depression of the heart, a strong impression of impending evil,which he could not shake off. Even those about him noticed what a gloomylook there was in his eyes.
He was the last one to leave the great building that nigh
t, and as hestepped out upon the sidewalk, he muttered to himself: "I wonder what isabout to happen to me, my heart feels so heavy, so depressed."
Mischievous Maid Faynie Page 12
