The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-04-16
"That implies a doubt; may | ask the

EeuSOu
Certainly, though I'm not at all sure
I can make it plain. All the advantages
[ have named and dozen more are here,
to be sure, but they've always been here,
and it remained for our friends the pro-
moters to find out that they would war
of Allacoochee by comprehensive ges-
ture. "More than that, the same ad-
vantages may be found in plenty of To-
calities in the south, some of them
much more accessible than this valley.
And then 1 have an old-fashioned idea
that cities can't be created arbitrarily
They smoked in silence for little
while, and then Thorndyke took a card
from his case and handed it to his COM
panion.
LET me introduce myself" he said.
81 just got in last night, and you may
be able to tell me what 1 want to know "
81 am entirely at your service, Mr..
Thorndyke.''
The reply was prompt and courteous,
and Philip read Robert Protheroe, c.
L." on the card which was handed him.
"My physician has sent me here" he
explained, land he tells me l must live
out of doors. How shall go about il? %
"How do you want to go about it?'
Philip laughed. "I'll have to confess
that my plans are a trifle indefinite. l
had an idea that perhaps L might go
into the woods with the lumbermen or
the turpentine gatherers."
You're still too far north for that;
there are no lumber camps or turpentine
forests in this part of the state, and if
there were, hardly think the life would
be what you want. Your trouble is
pulmonary"
"Yes; pulmonary"
Protheroe reflected for a moment.
"This country is said to be favorable
for consumptives-on better authority
than that of our friends of the pros
pectus, mean-and if you ask my ad-
vice" He paused and looked inquir-
ingly at Philip.
Yes; please go on"
81 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 are not plentiful in this part of the
country"
Having his recent experience 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 limited?"
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 wellto-do
planters and farmers, and large ma
ority of poor folk"
"That's rather discouraging; and yet
II seems as if ought to be able to find
what I need. 1 don't expect much in
the way of accommodations; I'd be
satisfied with good plain country board
such as we get among farmers In the
north"
81 know of but one place near here
that answers your description. It's
in Scotch family up on the Little Chi
~assee; but hardly think you could
get in there"
"Do you think not? I'd try not to be
Troublesome; and if it would be a ques-
ton of money"
mo, it wouldn't be a 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"
81 beg your pardon" Philip protested,
flushing painfully at the thought that
Protheroe had misconstrued his mean
ing. 81 only meant that am able and
willing to pay for what get; /"
Something gripped his throat, and an
uncomfortable fit of coughing strangled
him and broke the sentence in two.
When he put handkerchief to his lips
it came away spotted with blood, and
Protheroe saw it.
For heavens sake! I had no idea
you were that far along! Let me help
you"
He led Thorndyke to the elevator and
through the long corridor on the upper
floor, making him lie down as soon as
they reached the room.
''Is there anything else can do for
you?-shall call a doctor?" he asked.
Thorndyke shook his head. ITS
rather worse than I gave you to under
stand; my physician in New York al
lowed me six months, and I've eaten
into one of them pretty deeply already"
six months! Did the man send you
down here to die?~
st amounts to that; but knew. 1t
was the only chance for me-"
Prothero made two or three turns up
and down the room, and then stopped
with his hand on the doorknob. "1'll
be back after 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. I
can ring up the office if 1 need any
thing"
Protheroe went down the hall talk
ing to himself "Poor fellow! I'm