Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-03-27

my pocket, drew it out, and, as did
SO, the letter fell from it's folds to the
floor. l picked it mp and read the adj.
dress, written in o feminine hand, all
angles and straight lines, like the frame
work of house, yet clear and legil,le.
The postmarll was New York. With
waxing curiosity, for my correspond
ence was extremely limited, broke the
seal.
"My dear DR.. Morris" the letter ran,
my aunt, Mrs. Loring, desires to learn
whether it will be convenient for you
to receive her as patient, and whether
rooms can be secured for us near your
office. She has tried number of treat
ments since the voyage from Rio, but
none of them has been of marked bene-
fit to her. She remembers gratefully
the success attending your ministra-
lions on shipboard, and feels confident
that your skill will bring her the relief
she has sought so long. She asks me to
add that this plan was in her mind wien
our chance meeting made ii possible to
secure your address.
ours very sincerely,
DOROTHY GRAY"
Again and again read these lines,
porting over them as joyously as ever
did Egyptologistover freshly discovered
hieroglyphs which set at rest much
mooted point. Out above the rest of the
letter stood two words, ''for u.s." Mrs.
Loring's niece would hardly leave her,
but here was proof that both of them
would come to Rodneytown. That
could succeed in convincing the elder
lady that nothing serious allied her was
hardly possible; it was quite on the
cards that after month or two she
would depart in a huff; but, in the mean
time-well, didn't trouble myself
with the details of that problematical
period. The great central point of in
terest was that for several weeks, at
least, Dorothy Gray and l would be
thrown together. For the moment
Lamar, Banks, and all my recent wor-
ries were forgotten.
Mrs. Weston" said l, bouncing upon
that good woman as she passed the
door of the office, please do me great
favor. l have an old friend-patient, |
mean-who is anxious to put herself
under my care. I must find boarding
place for her. Can't you take her in ~
"Well, now, I'd real like to, doctor,
but l amt got the room," she an
-swered, with kindly regret in her tone
SIS she all by herself?"
"No, she isn't" l confessed. "uel
niece is with her."
Little girl. is she?"
NO; young lady," answered, try.
ing to avoid the consciousness of a
twinkle in my hostess eye.
cts too bad, I'm sure; but we're 8
pretty full house as it is" said she
However, don't get discouraged. Try
| Mis- Clark across the road; she don't
use half that big house since her boys
went out west. It'll be good place
too. Mis- Clark's good provider. ane
as neat as hull paper of pins"
Over the way to the house of Clark
fastened, only to find it's mistress dis
inclined to receive boarders. "City
folks notions" she averred, were no
to be endured. But she began to re
lent a little when put her yielding or
| the ground Of a personal favor; ant
when dwclt generously On Mrs. Yves
tons praise of her as housekeeper, sh
led me upstairs to two rooms, sphinx ant
span and very comfortable withal, aud
with pretended ungraciousness, sale
that my friends could sccupy them
provided they could "stand plain livin
and palmer comp'ny." 1 closed the
bargain on the spot.
Mrs. Weston met me at her door, OIL
my return late that afternoon from /;
drive, in the course of which the an
swer to Miss Gray's letter had been in
trusted to the mail.
you look like new man." said she
approyingly. Stakes alive! how get
tin a new patient does perk you youns
doctors up!''
''The more the merrier, of course
said /.
"You're lucky to get two such specia
ID Aak I axA,