In White Raiment

Northland Age, Volume VII, Issue 48, 28 July 1911, Page 7

In White Raiment

By William Le Queux, Author of “ Whoso Findeth a Wife,”/ “Purplo and Fine Linen,” “The Daj of Temptation,” “Of Royal Blood,” kc., &c. PART 12. TToefer glanced at hie cheap raetal watch, arid, grunting, crossed to the table and nv.xed a second injection, grumbling all the time at the inferior quality of my hypoderin c syringe. So rough, unpolished in manner and unsparing in criticism was he that h*r ladyship drew back from him in fear. The second injection proved of as little ov.v! as the first, and from the great man s grt»e expression I began to fear the worst. No ?ign of life asserted itself. To all apiieerance my adored had passed away. Suddenly he rose, and. turning to her ladyship, 'said in broken English: | “ Now, madam, you will tell me, please, how this occurred.” _ ... . , I “I do not know. Doctor Colkirk has told you all I know about it.” •But just as Doctor Hoefer entered you wen telling me about something mysterious that had happened here. What was that. She pursed her lips for a moment, and glanced quickly at the old German. “ It is a most serious thing, I can t maKe it out. There is some mystery in the morning room.” . . “Aeh!” exclaimed Tloefer, with £ prunt. V * A mvstery! The symptoms of this lady an in* themselves myster ous. explain the mvstery of the room. “Well,” she answered, ‘ when I entered after the departure of the visitor and discovered my cousin lying on the floor Unconscious I was quite well; but when 1 left I exp; rlenced a most curious sensation, [just as though all my limbs were benumbed. ft, too, almost lost consciousness while in Iths cab in search of Doctor Colkirk. But ithe most curious part of the affair is that mv maid and the housemaid, who rushed in'when I raised the alarm, experienced the /Tory same sensation. It was as thoug Iwrro struck by an icy hand—the Hand of Death.” , “ TLero >3 certainly something uncanny .bout that," 1 observed, pnzzicd. I "To mi it tiims as though poor Beryl „,, .truck down m the same way as mvself." “ Eat von say that you felt nothing on ' Only v.h.n leaving?” inquired lloeKr,’ h s eyes se mitig to grow larger b. bind hi. peat gars-a " Only when leaving,' she assured him. , "Slr-nge!" he ejaculated. "Let us see I’aa room" We may perhaps obtain a clue to this mvstcrious ailment from which your 'kTkD s' r!ot dead ?’’ I asked in doubt. " No,’ 1 he responded. " The last injection ir*-.sl be given time to take effect. We ran nciy h"pe for the beat." " But ine el, ctric battery!” I suggested. "Can'd »’ not try that!” I •• (Vlcmi. mv dear friend,” he responded ,“lt wosld'kili her. Let ns see the room ° f S Kironet's wife conducted ns along * Ihs hail to the further end, where she opened the door, herself drawing back. "What?" I inquired. "You fear to K »y a ," .he faltered. “I will remain “ Very welt. We will go in.” I laughed t for tho idea seemed so absurd that both Hoefer and myself put it down to her excited imagination. What ill-effect coaid the mere entry into a room have upon the human system, providing there were no fou! gases? Therefore, we both went forwred, sniffing suspiciously, and, walking to Ine window, opened it widely. . . Tho half-dozen lights in the eltrtroTter y be handsome room furnished with *nd comfort. On looking round we c**r»inly saw nothing to account for the cxt*» ordinary phenomena ua described by the tumbling woman ifrho stood upoc the mat we made a careful examination of bo place in which my love had met her lUange visitor the door, creaking horribly, ■rung slowly to, as doors often will when bdly hung. Hoefer examined the floor sarefullv, seeking to discover whether the inknown woman in black had dropped anyfcing that might give a clue to her identity, irhile I searched the chairs for the same rurpoao We, however, found nothing. f What, I wondered, was the nature of the Interview that had taken place there a boup>e of hours before? Who was the roman who had called and represented herlelf M Beryl's dressmaker? Could it have been the woman whose vengeance was so leased, the woman whose very name had been uttered by the miscreant with bated breath—La Gioio? With her ladyship standing in the hall witching us, we searched high and low. Bather of us felt any curious sensation, and I began to think that the Btory was merely concocted in order to add mystery to Beryl s unique seizure. Yet from that woman’s fare it was nevertheless evident • ttaMto Btood there m fear lest some evil ihould befall US. j “Do you experience any queer feeling?” the inquired of us at last, • I “ None whatever,” I responded. “ It is only on leaving,” she replied, r “Very well,” I answered with a laugh, icouting the idea, and then boldly passing out into the halL | “Good Heavens!” I gasned a few seconds later, almost as soon as I had reached her *\ Bide. “ IToefer! Come here quickly. There’s something devilish uncanny in this. I’ve never felt like this before.” j The old German dashed out of the room, and was in an instant beside me. I “How do you feel?” he inquired. I heard his voice, but it was like someone •peaking in the far distance. 'The shock was just as though an icy hand had struck mo as 1 emerged from the room. I was coM from head to foot, shivering violently, while my lower limbs became so benumbed that I could not feel my feet, i I must have reeled, for Hoefer in alarm caught me in his arms and steadied me. “Tell me—what are your symptoms?” “ I’m cold,” I answered, my voice trem bllng, and my teeth chattering violently Ho seized my wrist, and h : s great fingers closed upon it. “ Ach!” he cried in genuine alarm “ Your pulse is failing. And your eyes f’ bo added, looking into them. “ You are cold—your legs are rgid—you have the same svmptoms, exactly the same, as the young ladyl” “And you?” I gasped. “Do you feel not hiug?” “Nothing yet,” he responded. “Nothing^ “ But what is it?’ I cried in desperation. . “ The feeling is truly as though the Angel of Death had passed and struck me down. Cannot you give me something, Hoefer Give me something—before I lose all con■ciourt.css!” The woman near me stood rooted to the ipot in absolute terror, while the old German placed me on an old oaken settle in the haM, and ran along to the boudoir, returning with the syringe filled with' the came injection which he had administered to my love. This he gave me in the arm-; then stood by breathlessly anxious as to the result [ The feelingj .1 .experienced during the ten

minutes that followed are indescribable. I can only compare them to the excruciating agony of bring slowly frozen to death. Through it all I saw Hoefer’s great fleshy face with the big spectacles peering into mine. I tried to speak, but could not. I tried to raise iny hand to make signs, my muscles had become suddenly paralyzed. Truly the mystery of that room was an uncanny one. It ran through my mind that, the house being lit; by electric light the wires were perhaps not properiv insulated, and anv p<rson leaving the place received a paralyzing. shock. This theory was, however, wmpletely negatived by my symptoms, which were not in any way s inilar to those consequent, on electric shock. Hoefer looked anxiously at his watch; then, after a lapse of a few minutes, gave itv> a second injection, which rendered mo a trifle easier. I could detect by his manner and his grunts that he was utterly confounded. He. who had sneered at the weird story, like mvself, was now convinced that some stiange, unaccountablo mystery was connected with that room. To enter apparent!;- produced no ill effect. But to leave brought swiftly and surely upon the fated intruder the icy touch of death I had laughed the thing 'o scorn, within a few seconds had myself fallen a victim. Some deep, inscrutable mjf+ciy was there, but what it was neither of us could tell. CHAPTER XIX. Hokpfr's Strange Methods. Twenty or thirty minutes elapsed before I regained my power of speech. The drugs adm -rd by Hoefer fortunately had the effect desired. His sleepy eyes beamed through his great spectacles as he watched with satisfaction the stimulating consequence of the injections. He dissolved in water a tiny red tabloid which he took from a small glass tube in a case he carried, and ordered mo to drink it. This I did, finding it exceedingly bitter, and wondering what it was. I asked no questions, however. He was a man who had made many extraordinary discoveries, all of which he kept secret to himself. Jn the profession he was acknowledged to be one of the greatest living toxicologists, and his op nions were often sought by the various medical centres. Indeed. as every medical man knows, the name of Hoefer is synonymous with all that is occult in the science of toxicology, and the antidotes he has given to the world from tim? to time are as curious as they are drastic in effect. “ Have you experienced any strange sensat’on?” was my first question of him. “No. none,” ho answered. “Ach! it is all very curious—very curious indeed! I have never before seen similar cases. There is actual rigor mortis. The symptoms so closely resemble death that one might so e.isdy mistake. We must investigate further. It cannot be that there is any lethal gas in the room, for the window is wide open; and again, while actually in the room no ill-effect is felt. It is only on emerging.” “ Yes, ’ I answered. “ 1 was struck almost at the instant I came out. It was as sudden as an electric shock. I cannot account for it in the least—can you?” “ No,” he answered. “It is a mystery. But I like mysteries. They always interest me. There is so much to learn that one is constantly making fresh discoveries.” “Then you will try and solve this?” urged her ladyship, after expressing satisfaction at my recovery. “ Of course, madams with your permission,” ho answered. “Itis a complex case. When we have solved it we shall then know how to treat the young lady.” “And how do you intend to begin?” I inquired, raising myself, not without con riderable difficulty “By going into the room alone,” ho answered briefly. “You, too, will risk vour life?” I exclaimed. “Is it wise?” “Research is always wisdom,” he responded, then finding that I was recovering rapidly from tho seizure he gave me some technical directions how to treat him in case ho lost consciousness. Ho arranged the tiny syringe, and the various drugs and tabloids upon the hall table, and then, with a final examination of them, he opened the door of the fatal room, and entered, leaving us standing together on the threshold. Walking to the window he looked out, afterwards making several tours of the room in search of its secret. He, however, found nothing. The air was pure as London air can be on a summer’s night, and as far as either of us could discern there was nothing unusual in the apartment. The door swung to half way, and we heard him growling and grunting within. He remained in the room for perhaps five minutes, then emerged.

Scarcely, however, had he crossed the threshold when he lifted his left arm suddenly, crying : “ Ach, Gott! lam seized. The injection—quick.” His fleshy face went pale, and I saw by its contortions that the left side had become paralysed. But with a quick movement I pushed up his coat-sleeve, and ran the needle beneath the skin. His teeth were closed tightly as he watched me. “It is most unaccountable,” ho gasped in an awed voice, when I had withdrawn the needle after the injection. “I am cold as ice—just as though my legs were in a refrigerator I” “Your feet are benumbed?” I said. “Yes,” he responded. “The sensation is just exactly as you have described it—like the touch of an icy hand!” I felt his pulse. It was intermittent and feeble. I told him so. “ Look at your watch, and in three minutes give me the second injection. There’s ether there in the larger bottle.” I glanced at the time, and, holding my watch in my hand, waited until the iree minutes had passed. We were silent, all three of us, until I took up a piece of cottbn wool, and, saturating it with ether rubbed it carefully on the flesh. Then I gave him the second injection.

I “Good!” he said approvingly, “lb acts ! marvellously. 1 shall be better in a few j moments. Did you feel your head reeling ; and your stiength-failing?” I responded in the affirmative, j “And so did I,” he answered. “The ■ seizure is sharp and sudden, the brain becoming paralysed. That is the condition of the young lady : paralysis of the brain and heart, coma and collapse.” “But the cause?” I asked. lie was pale as death, yet he took no notice of his own condition. He was used, I knew, to making dangerous and extraordinary experiments upon himself. It was said* at Guy’s that ho had poisoned himself a hundred 1 times, and r.ad always hit upon the right ’ antidote. “The cause?” he echoed, in his deep guttural German. “It is for us to discover that. I have never met a more interesting case than this.” “Yes, it’s interesting enough,” I admitted. “ But recollect the lady. We must not neglect her. ” “ We are not neglecting her,” he responded reprovingly. “ Now that we know something of the symptoms, we may be abio to save her. Before, we wero working entirely in the dark ” “ But you are still ill,” I said. “ No, no,” he laughed. “ It is nothing ” {And he passed across the threshold ar.d stood just within the room again. Apparently he thought that the seat of the mystery lay in tho doorway Then he rejoined us,"but felt no further symptoms. There was evidently some uncanny but unseen influence contained within that apartment, but what it was we could not dis*S)ver. All that was plain to us was the

fact that any person emerging from it must be struck down as by an ice-cold hand. Together we returned to the boudoir, and to our satisfaction saw an unmistakable sign ,that life was not entirely extinct. My love had moved! “ Good I” exclaimed ithe old German. I go again to get something else,” without further word he crammed his shabby soft! felt upon his head and hurried oat. “ The mystery of that room is most ex • tia/ordinary,” 1 remarked to her ladyship when we were alone. “ Has the influence ever been felt there before?” “ Not to my knowledge,” she responded. “ Never before to-night.” “ Never before the entrance « that strange woman?” I suggested. M “ Exactly. It is an absolute mystery. “ And you have no knowledge who that person was?” “ None whatever.** “ Not even a surmise?” I inqullt*!, rather dubiously. My thoughts reverted to what I had overheard regarding the imwelcome presence in London of that woman known as “ La Gioia.” “ No, not even a surmise,” she answered. Should I tell her of my own suspicions? No. To keep my knowledge to myself and seek to discover the key to the problem was my best course. “ And your cousin was with her for twenty minutes, you say?” “ Yes, about that time,” she replied. I did not hurry to finish dinner as I believed Beryl was talking with the dressmaker regarding some alterations to an evening bodice which she had mentioned to me. They did not interest me, therefore I sat awaiting her return.” “ And by that time this woman, whoever she was, had already slipped out of the house?” “ She must have done so. No one heard her leave.” “But how is it possible that her presence should exercise such a baneful influence upon those who now enter the morning room?” I said, bewildered. “It seems as though she were possessed of some supernatural power.” “ Yes,” she responded. “ I cannot underbid it in the least.”

“ Let us hope that Hoefer will solve the enigma. If anyone is able, he is.” “ But first urge him to bring poor Beryl back to c . {is:iess,” she said* turning to gaze upon slid inanimate form of the woman 1 a-lorel.

At that moment the German returned, pulling and grunting, for he had hurried, and tho perspiration was rolling off his brow.

Ho took several little packets from nis pocket, and seating himself at the table commenced carefully to prepare another solution, the ingredients of which were unknown to me. Some of the drugs I knew by their appearance, of course, but others were white powders, impossible to recognise.

Again he administered an injection into tho arm of my prostrate loved one, and then we all three stood in silence watchteg for the effect.

Hoefer gave vent to a further ruat of confidence, glanced at his watch, and turned back to the table to rearrange his array of drugs. 1 saw that the little pocket-case lying on the table contained about twenty tinv tubes about an inch and a half long, each containing very small pilules of tabloids, coloured brightly to render them move easily distinguishable,* and not much larger than* ordinary shot. Each tube was marked, but by mysterious signs unknown in British pharmacology. The action of this last prophylactic was slow, but signs were nevertheless not wanting that its effect was to reanimate; for by degrees the deathly pallor of the sweet face I adored became less marked, and the tips showed red instead of that ashen flue which had told us of her nearness to death. Tho German returned to her, and feeling her pulso counted the seconds upon h’s watch, while at the same time I listened to the respiration. “Good!” exclaimed the old fellow, 'earning through his glasses. “ The diagnosis is correct, and the refocillation is more rapid than I should havo expected. She will recover.”

I heaved a sigh of relief, and holding her slim white hand, stood watching for the first sign of returning consciousness. ..'his man, tho only man in the whole world whose knowledge of the mysterious untrodden paths of therapeutics was suffijueuily deep to enable iiim to accomplish vari' a cure, was bringing back to me the oman whose great beauty held me spellbound. Her ladyship, reassured by his words, Jett us, to order some liquid beef to be prepared so as to be in readiness. Then when /e were alone I asked of Hoefer, in a low, confidential tone:

“What is your opinion of this anomalous case?”

ne shrugged his shoulders, answering: “ The mystery of that room is certainly one of no ordinary character. I cannot see how such an effect is produced.” “ But we’ve both experienced It ourselves.”

“Exactly. At present it is a mystery, but we may learn something from the young lady which will give us a clue. She can tell us about this strange woman in black.”

“ If I wero at all superstitious I think I should believe that the Spirit of Evil dwelt in that room, I remarked with a smile.

“It is certainly strange—very stiange, that sudden coup like the taU’D ri a cold hand,” he answered, with h.s great eyes fixed intently upon the prostrate form. “ I cannot account for it in the least.”

Suddenly tho pallid cheeks became flushed. Life was returning. The liquid injected into the blood had at last neutralised the effect, stimulated the circulation, rearrmated the whole system, and revived the flickering spark of life. The hand I held grew warmer, the pulse throbbed more quickly, the breathing became regular, and a few minutes later, without warning, she opened her eyes, and looked wonderingiy around. A loud cry of joy escaped my lips. My love was saved. “ You know me, I think?” I said, bending down to her. “My name is Colkirk.” “Yes, I know you quite well,” she responded, very faintly. “But what has happened? Where is she?” “Whom do you mean? Your visitor?”

“ Yes,” she responded eagerly. “We have no idea,” I replied. “You have been taken ill; and my friend here, Dr. Hoefer, has been attending you.” “How do you feel?” the old German asked in his brusque manner. “I am very thirsty,” she answered. He took tlm decanter, and, mixing a little brandy and water, gave it to her. Then, just at that moment, her ladyship re-entered, and falling on her knees clasped her cousin around the neck and shed wild tears of joy. Liquid beef and other restoratives having been administered, the woman whose appearance had been identical in every respect with that of the dead, was ere long able to sit up and talk with us. Her recovery had been almost as rapid as her attack. We questioned her regarding her symptoms, and found them exactly similar to those we had ourselves experienced. “ I fedt as though my whole body was frozen stiff and rigid,” she explained. “At first I heard a strange voice about me—the voice of Dr. Colkirk, I suppose it must have been—speaking with Nora. But I was unable to make any sign. It was just as though I were in a kind of trance—yet half-conscious of things about me. My muscles were paralysed, and I knew that you believed me to be dead. Tho one horrible thought that possessed me. was that I might perhaps be buried alive.” “But you were not conscious the whole time?” Hoefer usked. “ No. 1 think I slept during the latter part of the seizure. How long have I been lying here?”

‘ “’•'About two hours and a half,” ,answered her cousin.

“ Do you feel able to talk any more now?” I enquired. , “I feel much better,” she responded. “ The draught that your friend has given me has had a wonderful effect. lam quite restored.” And she rose to her feet and stood before ub little the wor; for her -*nperience, save, perhaps, that tho dark rings about her beautiful eyes showed that her system had received a terrible shock. “Wo want you to relate to us in detail what occurred when you entered tho morning room ttt-see. the woman who called upon you.” She glanced inquiringly at her cousin, as though to obtain her permission to speak. “ Nothing occurred,” she answered. “She -was sitting there awaiting me.” “She had sent in a message, and yon 'thought it was your dressmaker, did you not?” “Yes. And I was very much surprised to find that it was not.” “ Was it some other person whom you knew?” “ I had never seen her before,” answered tho woman who was my wedded vile. “She was tall, thin, and dressed m black which seemed the worse for wear.” “Dark or fair?” “Dark. But I could not see aer features well, because of her thick DiaTk veil.” “She was young, I suppose?” “ Not very, I think. Her voice /as lew and rather refined.” “ And how did she explain her reason for sending in a message that she was par dressmaker? She must have been aware that you expected the woman to call on you,” “ She explained then the ruse was necessary, as she did not wish her visit to be known, either to my cousin or to the servants.” “Why?” “ Because she had brought me a sage.” “A message?” I e;-. la;mad. “From whom ?” “A verbal message from—from a friend. 1 And may wo not know the name of that friend?” I asked. “There is a most remarkable mystery connected with that room into which she was shown, and in order to solve the problem we must be in possession of the whole truth.” “What mystery?” she inquired quickly, opening her eyes widely. “ Any person who enters is, on leaving, attacked, just as you were. Your cousin here, Dr. Hoefer, and myself have all three experienced exactly similar symptoms.” “ That’s most extraordinary!” she declared in an incredulous tone. “When I was seized it was not until 1 had left the room. I went out with the object of obtaining a sheet of notepaper from the library, in order to write a reply to the message, but on emerging into the hall I was suddenly seized aud returned to the drawing-room at once. I stood holding on to the table, but my limbs quickly failed me, and I fell to the ground.”

“And then the womm who had called upon you slipped along the hail, and out into the street,”

“ I suppose she must have dene, for I did not seo her agate. I tried to call out, but could not. Th« electric light was suddenly switched off. Sbe mrut. hare dory: that on hr,- -sruy out. ” “ Can/wt pm tell us cither the nature of tho message or from vrh*m it came?” i asked earnestly. She was silcrtt ter a nvrtwrnt, gtencmg her cousin. “No,” üb* answered, “I am un.vbhj to do that.” CHAPTER XX. Ttit, Cut li Hand. Was the message from her !ov« or from that villain Tattersett? Her refusal piqued me, and I was half inclined to suggret to her that it woa from the one or the other. Si3l, in this marvellous maze of myutcry I saw d. was not all a judicious pnyrffwffijg to ebow my baud. What I already fccr/w wzs <»f value to me in my efforts to pwc*> - together th<* bewildering puzzle. The more I reflected, the more convinced I became that the visitor in black was none other than the dreaded woman whose threatened vengeance was known to b* nent —La Gioia the Mysterious. “The visitor dii not touch yoa?’ I asked. “Neither did che give you »y note?” “No. The message was verbal. I went once to the library and obtained a sheet of notepaper, but on returning fouqd it to ba soiled. Therefore I went out again to get a second sheet, and it was then that I le.lt a sudden grip, just as though an icy breath had touched me. In an instant I went cold all over, and my limbs became so benumbed that I could not feel them.”

“You did not suspect this womsas of producing this effect upon you?” Hoefer wJrsd, grunting dubiously. “Certainly not. How could she?” “But her actions afterwards in switching off the light and stealing out, were pu«picious.”

“ fiat’s so, but how do you account iof your own seizure nearly two hours aft'.nr ter departure?” “Ach!” he cried. “It is extraordinary —that is all we can say.” “ The room is nothing less than a deathtrap,” I remarked. “And yet the bur.efal influence is a mysterious one. I wish you could tell us the name of the sender of the message, Miss Wynd. It would materially assist us in our researches.” “ I tell you that it was a friend who could have no qbject whatsoever in making any attack upon my life,” she answered ambiguously. “ But this woman,” I continued. “ Are you certain that you do not know her—that you have never met her before?” “Quite certain,” she responded without hesitation. “She was an utter stranger.” I exchanged glances with Hoefer. The mystery was still inscrutable. Again we all four went to the door of the room of mystery, and Hoefer, still grunting in dissatisfaction, declared his intention to re-enter the place. Seen from the hall there was certainly nothing about the apartment to excite suspicion. It was bright and comfortable, with handsome substantial furniture, sage-green hangings, and a thick Turkey carpet into which one’s feet sank noiselessly.

“It is a risk,” exclaimed her ladyship, when Hoefer made the announcement.

“ Death lurks in that place. Let us close and lock it.”

“ Ach ! no, madame,” he responded. “It is no risk, now that we have the prophylactic.” And turning to me, he handed me a. little of the last injection which be had given to Beryl, together with the phial of ether and the syringe. [to be continued. J

f CO JI IIETE STORY, I]