Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-26

Supported BY Joseph's arm, Jack Mere
dith entered. The servant threw open
the drawing room d>or; they passed in.
The room was emptf. On the table lay
two letters, one addressed to Guy Os-
card, the other to Jack Meredith.
Jack Meredith fumbled rather feebly
at his letter. 1t was distinctly an eff
fort to him to tear the paper.
My Dear Meredith4Just a line 10 tell
you that the bungalow and its contents
are at your service. Joeelyn and are off
home for two months change of air.
have been bit seedy. l leave this at the
bungalow, and we shall feel hurt IL YOU
do not make the house your home when
ever you happen to come down to Loango.
have left a similar note for DISCARD, in
whose expedition to your relief / have all
faith. Yours ever.
MAURICE GORDON.
Here" said Meredith to his servant;
you may as we'll read it for yourself"
He handed the letter to Joseph and
leaned back with strange ranidity
of movement on the sofa, AS he lay
there with his eyes closed he looked
remarkably like dead man.
At that moment Marie came into the
room, dignified, gentle, self possessed.
"Ah, missis," said Joseph, "I'm glad
to see you. You're wanted badly. and
that's the truth. Mr.. Meretlith's not Mt
all we'll"
Marie bowed gravely. She went to
Meredith's side and looked Mt him with
smile that was Mt once critical and
encouraging. Nestorius, holding on her
skirt, looked up to her face, and, seeing
the smile, smiled too. He went fur
thcr. He turned round and smiled Mt
Joseph as If to make things pleasant
all round.
Marie stopped over the sofa, and her
clever dusky fingers moved the cush-
ions.
You will be better in bed" she said.
II will get Mr.. Gordon's room made
ready for you-yes:" Then she turned
to Joseph with that soft, natural way
which seems to run through the negro
blood however much it may be d.
luted.
Help Mr.. Meredith" she said, ito
Mr.. Gordon's room. | will go ut once
and see that the bettis got ready"
By daybreak next morning Joseph
was at sea again, steaming south In a
coasting boat toward st. Paul de Loan
da. He sent off a telegram to Maurice
Gordon In England. announcing the
success Of the relief expedition, and
then proceeded to secure the entire
services Of medical man. With this
youthful disciple of lEsculapius he re.
turned forthwith to Loango and set.
tied down with characteristic energy
to nurse his master.
Meredith's progress was lamentably
slow, but still it was progress and in
the right direction. The doctor, who
was wise In the strange maladies OF
the west coast, stayed for two days
and promised to return once week
He left full instructions, and partic
ularly impressed upon the two nurses
the fact that the recovery would neces.
sarily be SO slow that their Impractical
eyes could hardly expect to trace Its
progress.
1t is just possible that Meredith could
at this time have had no better nurse
than Joseph. There was military
discipline about the mans method
which was worth more than much
feminine persuasion.
| do y know what would like,
missis?" he asked brlskly of Marie one
evening.
mo"
well, I'd like to clap my eyes ON
Miss Gordon just a-stepping in at that
open door; that's what we want. That
sawbones Teller is right when he says
the progress will be slow. Slow! Slow
Amt quite the word. No more amt
progress the word; that's my opinion.
He don't take no interest in nothin',
least Of all In his victuals, and mans
In n bad way when he takes no in
| teresr in his v.ctuals.'
Us