The Holly chieftain., 1897-11-26
Il am entirely at your, service. Nr.

Inc reply WnS prompt ana courteous,
and Philip read Robert Protheroe, G.
L." on the eard which was handed him.
'My physician hns sent me here" he
explained. "and he tells me must live
out Of doors. How shall go about il q"
How do you want to go about it,"
Philip laughed. an have to confess
that my plans are a trifie indefinite.
had an idea that perhaps l might 20
into the woods with the lnmbermen or
the turpentine gatherern-"
You're still too far north for that;
there are no lumber camps or turpentine
forests in this part Of the state, and II
there were, l hardly think the life would
be whnt you want. Your trouble IL
pulmonary"
Yes; pulmonary"
Protheroe reflected for a moment.
'sThis country Is said to be favorable
for consumptives-on better authority
than that Of our friends Of the pros-
pectus, mean-and il you ask my ad-
vice" He paused and looked inquir-
ingly at Philip.
Yes; please go on"
II should say that you might find out
what it will do for you by getting board
at some farmhouse in the valley. You
could put in your time tramping about,
and the scenery would give you an OBJ
ject. There is only one difficulty"
what is that?"
"Farmhouses where you can get any
thing to eat besides bacon and corn
pone nre not plentiful in this part Of the
country"
Having hia recent experiences with the
railway eating houses before him,
Philip shuddered. I'm willing to
rough IT," he said. "but I'm not anxious
to add dyspepsia to my other ailments.
Don't you suppose could find place
where the bill OF fare wouldn't be quite
so limitcd?"
you'll find very few Of them in
this mountain region; roughly speak
ing, there are only two classes Of white
people-a small minority of well-to-do
planters and farmers, and large ma
jority of poor folk"
That's rather discouraging; and yet
IL seems as If ought to be able to find
what l need. don't expect much in
the way of Recommendations I'd be
satisfied with good plain country board,
such us we get among farmers in the
north"
II know of but one place near here
that answers your description. It's
in Scotch family up on the Little Chi.
wassee; but l hardly think you could
get in there"
''Do you think not? I'd try not to be
Troublesome; and If it would be ques-
tion of money"
''No. it wouldn't be question Of
money" Protheroe stopped abruptly
and twisted his mustache. II wish you
hadn't said that" he added, frowning;
'.there are some few things in this world
that can't be bought with money: a
foothold in Jamie Duncan's home Is
one of them"
IT beg your pardon" Philip protested
flushing painfully at the thought that
Protheroe had misconstrued his mean
ing. u only meant that l am able and
willing to pay for what get; l."
Something gripped his throat, and an
uncomfortable ut of coughing strangled
him and broke the sentence in two
When he put handkerchief to his lip
it came away spotted with blood, and
Protheroc saw 1t.
For heavens sake! hnd no idea
you were that far alongi Let me helI
you"
He led Thorndyke to the elevator and
through the long corridor on the upper
floor. making him lie down as soon al
they reached the room.
''Is there anything else can do fol
you?-shall l call doctor?" he asked
+ Thorndykc shook his head. "Iti
rnthcr worse than gave you to under
stand; my physician in New York al
lowed me six months, and I've eater
into one of them pretty deeply already
'Six months! Did the man send you
down here to die?"
1T amounts to that; but knew. 1,
was the only chance for me-
Prothcro made two or three turns ut
and down the room, and then stopped
with his hand on the doorknob. "I'l
be back nfter awhile to see how you are;
in the mean time you lie still and just
make up your mind you've got to win;
it's more than half the battle. You're
sure there's nothing can do for you?"
Nothing. thank you, but you mustn't
let me impose on your good nature.
can ring up the Office II need any
thing"
Protheroc went down the hall talk
ing To himself. Poor fellow! I'm
afraid it's all day with him. 1 ought
to be ashamed Of myself for pretending
to misunderstood what he said about
paying his way; am ashamed, and I'll
prove It by trusting the poor devil.
and Elsie"