Page:Arthur Stringer--The House of Intrigue.djvu/169

Rh so long at the far end of the room. As they surged excitedly forward Doctor Klinger forced me bodily and none too gently down between my coverings.

"This can't possibly go on," he said over his shoulder, as he held me there. "I can't allow it. It may prove fatal, at any moment. It's—it's overtaxing the poor girl's strength!"

He stooped close over me, with a good grip on my arm, for he seemed to be uncertain as to just what my next movement might be. He even screened me from those peering eyes by stooping still lower, making a pretense of listening to my heart. As he did so I quietly tickled a flap of his dewy chin with the lacy edge of my pillow-slip. And for this he tightened his grip on my arm until I squirmed. I was, in fact, just getting ready to use my lungs. And he must have anticipated that action on my part, for the next moment he shut off my gathering hoot by placing one of his big hands squarely over my mouth. And with his other hand he still held me like a vise. And that was more than I intended to endure. At that, in fact, I simply blew up.

"Ah, convulsions!" he said in a muffled voice, as I began to struggle with all my strength. "Convulsions again! This is grave, very grave!"