Page:The Death-Doctor.djvu/107

Rh Would he pay? That was my worry. I had no means of making him, and if he chose to back out he could.

On the day of little Jackie's death the Captain asked me into his room, and said: "I shall be able to lend you the money we mentioned very shortly, but one thing I insist on, and that is that you never enter this house again; and I should also like to inform you that when I make a new will, your name will not appear, so my death will not advantage you. I thought it would be well to mention it, because it seems to me that you are the sort of man who might act on the chance, and I hope to live for many years yet."

For the moment, I felt like letting him have it straight from the shoulder, but it wouldn't do, and so I answered, smiling: "You speak in enigmas, Chalmers, but anything to suit you; however, you must not appear any different to me in the town. Then I shall hear from you soon?"

"In a day or two," he replied; and I left the Manor, never to enter it again except on the occasion of poor little Jackie's funeral.

The two thousand came in notes with never a word, and very soon Chalmers appeared to