Page:Chipperfield--Unseen Hands.djvu/69

Rh she wouldn't use it, and the incident passed. The next day her finger was painful and inflamed; but she would not hear of a doctor until three days later, when her whole hand and arm commenced to swell.

"There—there isn't very much more to tell," Her voice faltered and then went on: "The day after the doctor was called in he sent for a specialist; then another, and a third, but it was no use; she was dead in ten days."

"Who attended her, Miss Meade?" Odell spoke quickly.

"Our family physician, Doctor Adams, who came to Richard this morning. He called in Doctor Kelland and Doctor Day and finally Doctor McCutchen. Then there were the two nurses, of course, Miss Risby and Miss Brown; but I scarcely left her bedside for an hour until the end."

"Miss Meade, who has access to the boudoir?"

"Why, all the household. Richard and the children were in and out constantly, and Jane every day to dust. And of course Gerda."

"Who is Gerda?"

"The lady's maid. She served both my sister and Cissie, the younger Christine."

"And not Miss Nan nor you?"

Miss Meade looked down.

"I always dress so simply that I have no need of a maid, and Nan is too independent to be annoyed with one. Would you—would you care to interview Gerda later?"

"I would, Miss Meade; but I want to know now what you can tell me of the second death, that of your nephew." "It was—horrible!" She closed her eyes for a moment. "Richard can tell you more about that than I can when he