The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-25

over the same BIOunu TWICE. ~ pc
haps 1 had better tell him about you
before We get any further.
And he withdrew to a room still
nearer the entrance, as l could hear,
for it was a very small fat indeed.
But now two doors were shut between
us and / had to rest content with
murmurs through the wall until the
doctor returned to summon me
II have persuaded my patient to see
you," he whispered, but / confess l
am not sanguine of the result. He is
very difficult to please. You must pre-
pare yourself for a querulous invalid,
and for no sinecure if you get the
billet"
May I ask what's the matter with
him ?"
by all means7-when you've got the
billet"
Dr-,Theobald then led the way, his
professional dignity SO thoroughly in
tact that I could not but smile as |
followed his swinging coat-tails to the
sick-room. I carried no smile across
the threshold of a darkened chamber
which reelked of drugs and twinkled
with medicine bottles. and in the mid
die of which a quaint figure lay abed
In the half-light.
Take him to the window, take him
to the window" a thin voice snapped,
and let's have look at him. Open
the blind a bit Not as much as that,
damn you, not as much as that!
The doctor took the oath as though 1t
had been a fee. no longer pitied him.
Ii was now very clear 20 me that hehad
one patient who was a little practice
in himself ! determined there and
then that he should prove a little pro-
fession to me if we could but keep
him alive between us. Mr.. Maturlp,
however, had the whitest face that
have ever seen, and his teeth Cleaned
ont through the dusk as though the
withered lips no longer met about
them; nor did they except In speech,
and anything ghastlier than the per-
petual grin OF his repose | defy you
to imagine. 1t was with this grin tnat
he Law regarding me while the doctor
held the blind.
$50 YOU think you could look after
me, do your
I'm certain I could, sir.
"Slngle- mind l don't keep
another soul. You would have to COOK
your own grub and my slops. Do you
think you could do all that?"
Yes, sir, l think So"
'sWhy do you? Have you any ex-
perience of the kind?"
mo sir, none"
"Then why do you pretend to have?"
Il only meant that l would do my
best"
oOnly meant, only meant Have
you done your best at everything else
them"
hung nv head. This was a facer.
And there was something in my in
valid which thrust the outspoken lie
down my throat.
mo. sir, 1 have not" I told him
plainly.
"He he her, the old wretch Uttered;
land YOU do we'll to own it; you do
well. sir, very well indeed. If you
hadn't owned up out you would have
gone, out neck and crop! You've
saved your bacon You may do more.
So you are a public school boy. and
a very good school yours is, but you
weren't at either university. Is that
correct?"
absolutely"
what did you do when you left
SCHOOL,"
II came in for money
"And then?'
81 spent my money
And since then?''
! stood like a mule
'And since then, | say"
"A relative of mine will tell you IL
you ask him. He is an eminent man,
and he has promised to speak for me.
| would rather say no more myself
But you shall, sir. but you shall.
DO you suppose public school boy
would apply for a berth like this II
something or other hadn't happened!
What | want is gentleman OF sorts,
and 7 don't much care what sort; but
you've got to tell me what did hap
pen IL YOU don't tell anybody else.
DR.. Theobald, sir. you can go to the
devil If you won't take a hint. This
man may do or he may not. You
have no more to say to it till | send
him down to tell you one thing or
the other. Clear out, sir, clear out;
and IL you think you've anything to
complain of you stick 1t down in the
bill"
In the mild excitement of our inter-
view the thin voice had gathered
strength, and the last shrill insult
was screamed after the devoted med
leo as he retired in such order that L
felt certain he was going to take this
trying patient at his word. The bed
room door closed, then the outer
one, and the Doctors heels went
drumming down the common stair. L
was alone in the fiat with this highly
and rather terrible old man.
And a damned good riddance?
croaked the invalid, raising himself on
one elbow without delay. Il may not
have much body left to boast about.
but at least I've got a lost old soul Z
TO call my own. That's why l want
gentleman of sorts about me. I've
been too dependent on that chap. He
won't even let me smoke, and he's
been in the fiat all day to see didn't.
You'll find the cigarettes behind the
Madonna of the Chair"
1t was a steel engraving of the
great Raffaelle, and the frame was
tilted from the wall; at a touch a
packet of cigarettes tumbled down
from behind.
Thanks; and now a light"
1 struck the match and held 1t.
while the invalid inhaled with normal
lips; and suddenly / sighed. l was
irresistibly reminded of my poor,
dear old Raffles. A smoke ring worthy
of the great A. ]. was floating from
the sick mans lips.
And now take one yourself. l have
smoked more poisonous cigarettes.
But even these were not Sullivans!'
l cannot repeat what / said. l have
no idea what I did. l only know
I only knew-that it was A. j. Raffles
in the flesh!
Eyes. Bunny, 1t was the very devil
of, swim, but I defy you to sink
in the Mediterranean. That sunset
saved me. The sea was on fire. hard
ly swan under water, at all, but
went all I knew for the sun itself.
When 1t set l must have been a mile
away; until it did I was the invisible
man. I figured on that; and only
hope that it wasn't set Gown as a
case of suicide. I shall get outed
quite quick enough. Bunny, but I'd
rather be dropped by the hangman
than throw my own wicket away"