The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-11-22
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1
by the fall?" he said, anxiously look
ing around for the welcome sight of
a policeman: but not one was to be
seen. what can be done? Were you
going to the hospital on your own ac-
count?"
mo, no; on my fathers. He is very,
very ILL.," exclaimed the girl; and
there was now tone of agony in her
voice. Once more, as if the words
had stung her into action, she made
an effort to move forward; but again
the attempt wrung from her a little
cry of pain. ooh, it is dreadful" she
calculated. IT must have sprained my
foot. And my father-he will die
without help if I cannot get it at
once"
Let me help you,' said Enderby, a
feeling of strong compassion for the
childish creature taking possession OF
him. will you lean on me until you
get to the side of the bridge? You can
at least lean on the wall there"
He offered his arm, and the girl,
after a moments hesitation, took it..
Then with evident pain she dragged
herself to the stonework, and leaned
against it heavily.
Now" said Enderby, you can tell
me what it is your wish at the hosDi-
tai? One Of the house surgeons, l
suppose?"
ut is DR.. Lyndon: he is friend OF
ours. and he was to be ready to come
any moment we wanted him." said the
girl family, and with what seemed to
Enderby strange hesitation. But am
afraid we shall be too late. He was
taken i'll so suddenly, and there was
no one to come for the doctor but
mel"
Another little cry of anguish broke
from her.
Enderby looked around in perplexed
anxiety. What on earth was he to do?
He had saddled himself with task
which seemed one of the most difficult
to perform he had ever undertaken.
He could easily enough run along to
st. Thomas and deliver the message,
but what, meantime, was to become OF
the girl? Gould he leave her, helpless
and incapable of moving-to be at
tackled, perhaps, by one of those night
wolves which creep out of their lairs
into London streets by night.
Even as he stood for a moment I'M
certain what to do. he heard the
sound of cab wheels coming over the
bridge. They approached. He turned
to see If by chance it might not be an
empty one.
| No; mans face, crowned by an
unimpeachable silk hat, looked out
over the doors of the hanson as it
passed. Enderby saw the face distinc-
lively. and the man in the cab saw
him distinctively; of that he was sure.
But the latter made no sign of recog-
milton. He drew his head in instantly,
and leaned back in the seat, an I'M
| pleasant smile curling the corners Of
| his thin. hard mouth.
Dalton! What evil chance brought
him across the bridge just now?" En-
derby muttered to himself, feeling of
annoyance and foreboding of evil COM
ing over him.
But he had no time to think over
the matter now; he turned to the
girl.
II shall go to St. Thomas for you.
Give me your message" he said,
quickly. sit is the only thing to be
done. shall try to get cab at the
same time. Tell me your message"
| ut is-that David Lloyd is very ill,
and he must come Immediately" said
the girl. And for moment Enderby
saw her eyes, deep and dark as the
river beneath them, fixed on his.
"Tell him-oh, tell him to come quick
ly!'
II will, and you must not stir from
there. If I see policeman I shall
send him to you until return. said
Enderby.
Then, without another word, he
turned away, feeling as if he were
leaving the girl thus thrown on his
hands to an unknown danger.
He hurried along to the end Of the
bridge. A solitary policeman, whose
footsteps fell with dull thud on the
quiet pavement, was coming slowly
along, his lantern a moving speck of
light. Enderby hurried up to him
and gave him a brief description Of
the girl.
"She is an acquaintance of mine,
and has sprained her FOOT he said,
thinking there was no use entering the
particulars with the official. Look to
her till return, policeman
He slipped silver piece into a not
unwilling palm. And the official in
blue, touching his helmet, answered.:
Eyes. sir. All right, SIR
A few minutes brought Enderby to
the entrance of the hospital He rang
the night bell.
It was presently answered by a
sleepy porter, to whom Enderby deliv-
cred his message.
Lyndon, sir? Doctor Lyndon?
There amt no doctor ERE o. that
NAME he answered shortly. Then, a
flash. of intelligence flashing over his
drowsy mind: ooh. you're meaning
DR.. Lyndon as was assistant surgeon
to DR.. Ballantyre? Wy, e left US a
month ago. Is that all you want, sir?
| Cause. If SO. there amt no use your
waitin' longer-is there?"
Enderty was as much puzzled as
II he him IF had required Doctor Lyn-
don on a matter of life and death.