The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1897-11-25
Il am entirely at your service, Mr..

II am entirely at your service, Mr..
Thorndyke."
The reply was prompt and courteous,
and Philip read Robert P~rotheroe, c.
l." on the card which was handed him.
"My physician has sent me here" he
explained, and he tells me | must live
out of doors. How shall ! go about it,"
How do you want to GO about it?"
Philip laughed. I'm lnve TO confess
that my plans are a trife indefinite. i
had an idea hat perhaps | 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 t%urpentine
forests in this part of the state, and IL
there were, | hardly think the life would
be what you want. ARur trouble is
pulmonary" T,
ayes; pulmonary"
Protheroe reflected for a moment.
"srhis country is said to be favorable
for consumptives-on better authority
than that of our friends of the pros
pectus, l mean-and If you ask my adj
vice" lie paused and looked inquir-
ingly at Philip.
Eyes; 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?"
ssEarnnbnpcaS whore Won ran oct INV
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 s~huddered. I'm willing to
rough it," he said, but I'm not anxious
to add dyspepsia to my other ailments.
Don't you suppose l could find a 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 well-te-do
planters and farmers, and a large ma
iority of poor folk"
That's rather discouraging; and yet
il seems as If / ought to be able to find
what l need. ! Cont 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"
II know of but one place near here
that nswe your description. It's
in a Scotch family up on the Little Chi.
wassee; 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. 81 wish you
hadn't said that" he added, frowning;
"there are some few things in this world
that can't be bought with money; 6
foothold in Jamie Duncan's home is
one of them"
81 beg your pardon" Philip protested
flushing painfully at the thought tina
protheroe had misconstrued his mean
ing. 81 only meant hat / am able AND
willing to pay for what l get; I"
Something gripped his throat, and al
uncomfortable fit of coughing stranglet
him and broke the sentence in two
When he put a handkerchief to his lip
IL came away spotted with blood, an,
Protheroe saw il.
"For heavens sake! | had no idei
you were that far along! Let me he'll
. you"
He led Thorndyke to the elevator an
: through the long corridor on the uppe
: floor, making him lie down as soon a
? they reached the room.
rs there anything else i can do TO
you?-shall l call a doctor?" he asked
T~horndyke shook his head. 1T
rather worse than ! gave you to under
5 stand; my physician in New York al
r lowed me six months, and I've cate,
: into one of them pretty deeply already.
: six months! Did the man send yo'
down here to die?"
1T amounts to that; but l knew. ]
; was the only chance for me-
: Prothero made two or three turns u
and down the room, and then stoppe,
e with his hand on the doorknob. 81
be back after awhile to see how you are
in the mean time you lie still and jus
: make up your mind you've got to win
! it's more than half the battle. Your
r sure there's nothing l can do for you?
Nothing, thank you, but you mustn
. let me impose on your good nature.
can ring up the Office If / need any
thing"
Protheroe went down the hall tall
ing to himself. Poor fellow! II
afraid it's all day with him. / ough
to be ashamed of myself for pretendin
to misunderstood what he said abou
paying his way; am ashamed, and L
prove it by trusting the poor devil
V and Elsie"
tTo BE coNTINUED.l