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like the same room。 There was a pungent odor in the air from some
freshly…opened phial； an almost feminine neatness and luxury in an
open morocco case like a jewel box on the table； shining with
spotless steel。 At the head of the bed one of her own servants；
the powerful mill foreman； was assisting with the mingled curiosity
and blase experience of one accustomed to smashed and lacerated
digits。 At first she did not look at the central unconscious
figure on the bed； whose sufferings seemed to her to have been
vicariously transferred to the concerned； eager； and drawn faces
that looked down upon its immunity。 Then she femininely recoiled
before the bared white neck and shoulders displayed above the
quilt； until； forcing herself to look upon the face half…concealed
by bandages and the head from which the dark tangles of hair had
been ruthlessly sheared； she began to share the doctor's unconcern
in his personality。 What mattered who or what HE was？ It wasa
case！
The operation began。 With the same earnest intelligence that she
had previously shown； she quickly and noiselessly obeyed the
doctor's whispered orders； and even half anticipated them。 She was
conscious of a singular curiosity that； far from being mean or
ignoble； seemed to lift her not only above the ordinary weaknesses
of her own sex； but made her superior to the men around her。
Almost before she knew it； the operation was over； and she regarded
with equal curiosity the ostentatious solicitude with which the
doctor seemed to be wiping his fateful instrument that bore an odd
resemblance to a silver…handled centre…bit。 The stertorous
breathing below the bandages had given way to a fainter but more
natural respiration。 There was a moment of suspense。 The doctor's
hand left the pulse and lifted the closed eyelid of the sufferer。
A slight movement passed over the figure。 The sluggish face had
cleared； life seemed to struggle back into it before even the dull
eyes participated in the glow。 Dr。 Duchesne with a sudden gesture
waved aside his companions； but not before Josephine had bent her
head eagerly forward。
〃He is coming to；〃 she said。
At the sound of that deep clear voicethe first to break the hush
of the roomthe dull eyes leaped up； and the head turned in its
direction。 The lips moved and uttered a single rapid sentence。
The girl recoiled。
〃You're all right now；〃 said the doctor； cheerfully； intent only
upon the form before him。
The lips moved again； but this time feebly and vacantly； the eyes
were staring vaguely around。
〃What's matter？ What's all about？〃 said the man； thickly。
〃You've had a fall。 Think a moment。 Where do you live？〃
Again the lips moved； but this time only to emit a confused；
incoherent murmur。 Dr。 Duchesne looked grave； but recovered
himself quickly。
〃That will do。 Leave him alone now；〃 he said brusquely to the
others。
But Josephine lingered。
〃He spoke well enough just now；〃 she said eagerly。 〃Did you hear
what he said？〃
〃Not exactly；〃 said the doctor； abstractedly； gazing at the man。
〃He said； 'You'll have to kill me first；'〃 said Josephine； slowly。
〃Humph；〃 said the doctor； passing his hand backwards and forwards
before the man's eyes to note any change in the staring pupils。
〃Yes；〃 continued Josephine； gravely。 〃I suppose；〃 she added；
cautiously； 〃he was thinking of the operationof what you had just
done to him？〃
〃What I had done to him？ Oh； yes！〃
CHAPTER II
Before noon the next day it was known throughout Burnt Ridge Valley
that Dr。 Duchesne had performed a difficult operation upon an
unknown man； who had been picked up unconscious from a fall； and
carried to Burnt Ridge Ranch。 But although the unfortunate man's
life was saved by the operation； he had only momentarily recovered
consciousnessrelapsing into a semi…idiotic state； which
effectively stopped the discovery of any clue to his friends or his
identity。 As it was evidently an ACCIDENT； which； in that rude
communityand even in some more civilized onesconveyed a vague
impression of some contributary incapacity on the part of the
victim； or some Providential interference of a retributive
character； Burnt Ridge gave itself little trouble about it。 It is
unnecessary to say that Mr。 and Mrs。 Forsyth gave themselves and
Josephine much more。 They had a theory and a grievance。 Satisfied
from the first that the alleged victim was a drunken tramp； who
submitted to have a hole bored in his head in order to foist
himself upon the ranch； they were loud in their protests； even
hinting at a conspiracy between Josephine and the stranger to
supplant her brother in the property； as he had already in the
spare bedroom。 〃Didn't all that yer happen THE VERY NIGHT she
pretended to go for Stepheneh？〃 said Mrs。 Forsyth。 〃Tell me
that！ And didn't she have it all arranged with the buggy to bring
him here； as that sneaking doctor let outeh？ Looks mighty
curious； don't it？〃 she muttered darkly to the old man。 But
although that gentleman； even from his own selfish view； would
scarcely have submitted to a surgical operation and later idiocy as
the price of insuring comfortable dependency； he had no doubt
others were base enough to do it； and lent a willing ear to his
wife's suspicions。
Josephine's personal knowledge of the stranger went little further。
Doctor Duchesne had confessed to her his professional disappointment
at the incomplete results of the operation。 He had saved the man's
life； but as yet not his reason。 There was still hope； however； for
the diagnosis revealed nothing that might prejudice a favorable
progress。 It was a most interesting case。 He would watch it
carefully； and as soon as the patient could be removed would take
him to the county hospital； where； under his own eyes； the poor
fellow would have the benefit of the latest science and the highest
specialists。 Physically； he was doing remarkably well； indeed； he
must have been a fine young chap； free from blood taint or vicious
complication； whose flesh had healed like an infant's。 It should be
recorded that it was at this juncture that Mrs。 Forsyth first learnt
that a SILVER PLATE let into the artful stranger's skull was an
adjunct of the healing process！ Convinced that this infamous
extravagance was part and parcel of the conspiracy； and was only
the beginning of other assimilations of the Forsyths' metallic
substance； that the plate was probably polished and burnished with a
fulsome inscription to the doctor's skill； and would pass into the
possession and adornment of a perfect stranger； her rage knew no
bounds。 He or his friends ought to be made to pay for it or work it
out！ In vain it was declared that a few dollars were all that was
found in the man's pocket； and that no memoranda gave any indication
of his name； friends； or history beyond the suggestion that he came
from a distance。 This was clearly a part of the conspiracy！ Even
Josephine's practical good sense was obliged to take note of this
singular absence of all record regarding him； and the apparent
obliteration of everything that might be responsible for his
ultimate fate。
Homeless； friendless； helpless； and even nameless； the unfortunate
man of twenty…five was thus left to the tender mercies of the
mistress of Burnt Ridge Ranch； as if he had been a new…born
foundling laid at her door。 But this mere claim of weakness was
not all； it was supplemented by a singular personal appeal to
Josephine's nature。 From the time that he turned his head towards
her voice on that fateful night； his eyes had always followed her
around the room with a wondering； yearning； canine half…
intelligence。 Without being able to convince herself that he
understood her better than his regular attendant furnished by the
doctor； she could not fail to see that he obeyed her implicitly；
and that whenever any