The record-union., 1896-10-11

happen. and what might be the conse-
Quences to him (the fooD, when another
cab rolled to the door. A lively young
dresser who sat on the table swinging
his legs jumped down and ran out to see
what was coming, but came back at
once.
"A reverend gentleman on the spree!"
he announced; and presently in came
Father Munro.
His shovel hat was crushed down over
his eyes. his coat-collar was turned up to
meet 1t, his face-aS much of it as could
be seen when he came in-was chalky
white, and the face of Young Tim, on
whose arm he leaned heavily, was not
much better.
I stepped forward at once, speaking to
him by name as did so. and The Little
General greeted me with dazed smile
"Old bones, Mr.. Tregenna, and old
eyes! I've had tumble at last, you
see and Tim Mccarthy insisted on
bringing me here"
quite right, sir,'' 1 said. Here's the
doctor ready for you," and introduced
Macintosh, being very careful to let
that gentleman know the sort Of man
he had for a patient.
I might have spared myself the trou-
BILE. Father Munro was his own recon-
mendation, and in two minutes was Sit
ting bolt upright-he refused to lie on
the table-having two very ugly head
wounds examined, and being treated
with as much respect as any Pope could
desire. There were two straight clean
cuts, side by side. across the top of the
head, and on one side was another, and
the resident stood looking at them Curl
ously before he asked any questions.
How did you say this was done, sir?"
he asked
Il was going up dark STAIR" Father
Munro told him quietly, 'and I had a
fall"
Did your head strike against any
thing?"
II expect / struck it in falling" said
Father Munro; and then, a little more
slowly and distinctly, sit was a mistake
made in the dark"
I might be wrong, but it seemed to
me that he meant every one in the
place to hear that, and standing by the
resident I looked still more carefully
at the head Two clean-cut, parallel
wounds on the top, and one at the side.
Where before had / seen such another
head? / could not remember, but stood
racking my brain with no result.
Now, then, Tregenna! Look alive,
mani"
Macintosh reused me from my medi-
tatiOn with nudge, and 1 gave him
the help that he wanted, wondering all
! the time
Were you alone, sir?"
| Macintosh asked this while he pushed
the examination further. He seemed
| puzzled, too.
II was going up the stair alone"
Father Munro said patiently.
You must have struck your head
| twice, then?'
Il cannot remmeber all. was rather
stunned, think"
Rather" Macintosh muttered to
himself, and then seemed to remember
| Young Tim, who was still standing
| and watching us anXiously from the
| far end of the room. Were you there
| at the time?"
| Macintosh asked Young Tim the ques-
ton, but it was Father Munro who an
swered, Mccarthy found me at the
foot Of the STAIR" and Young Tim said
nothing.
! Mcintosh evidently thought that the
less his patient talked the better and
he asked no more questions just then.
We got Father Munro to bed, shaved
off the thick gray hair, dressed the
| great scalp wounds, and put an ice
| cap on the grand old head, and for q
time all went WELL Before we had fin
| ished 1 remembered where 1 had seen
other such wounds, but held my peace
| and waited.
| There was no side-room bed empty,
and he was put into the ward for the
| night.
I'm the morning, sir" said Macintosh,
surveying him In a critical way, with
| his tasseled cap on one side, after all
| was done, well get you a quieter crib
| The old man lay and smiled quietly
| at him.
Il shall do very we'll. here" doctor;
| thank you
Hope so, SIR" Macintosh said. and
capped as he wished him good night,
which was unprecedented, and made
even our o-be-surprised staff
open her eyes widely for a second.
| When the morning came it was not
| thought necessary to move him after
| all.
| Craig, the street preacher, was lying
| in the next bed when we brought Faith
er Munro in, and knowing him by sight
| was at first strongly antagonistic. 1
heard the words ''papist" and scarlet
woman" muttered wrathfully, while we
| were getting our charge into bed, and
we gave hint both to Craig and to
the night nurse before we left
| The next morning, however, things
| were very different. Craig, who was
my case, beckoned me to his bed di-
rectly 1 went into the ward; he held
finger to his lips and pointed that
Father Munro was doing.
Eyer boots are fair thunderous." he
| whispered reproachfully. Cant you
see the mans asleep?"
I took the rebuke calmly, but couldn't
resist dig at him.
I'm glad you leave him quiet" said.
Il thought you'd be at him if you got a
chance"
There's a time for a things" said
Craig philosophically I've KEEP an ee
on him an he's a guild heart, though
sair misled. Well hae bit crack later.
maybe. and the doctor medina be
feared. I'll keep the ward quiet"
Twice a day Young Tim came for our
bulletin, wild-eyed and anxious. and
twice / sent him away comforted.
Father Munro lay placid and patient.
worshiped by the nurses, and respected
by all.
For three days we hoped, and then a
change came. He grew restless turn
ing from side to side, and murmuring to
himself. AS / stood watching him
from Craig's bedside that night he spoke
aloud: