Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-19
CHAPTER IX-Continued.

Nd he heard the rapid trot of a
horse on the drive, and wondered
If Doctor Gordon had mad a call
so early When the breakfast
bell rang only Clemency was at the 'aoie
The maid had returned in season to get
breakfast. and was waiting with severely
interrogative face.
She had noticed blood on the frozen sur
face of the drive and had stood surveying II
before she entered. She had asked olehi-
encv II anything had happened. and the
girl had told her that a man had fallen near
the Office door on the preceding evening ana
been injured, and DIR. Gordon had taken
him home.
"What's the mans manner" Emma had in
quired sharply.
ct don't know" said Clemency, and in
deed she did not know, but there was some
thing secretive In her manner Emma sex
her mouth hard and tossed her heau ou-
riostiy was almost lust with her. She
was always enraged when it was excited
and not gratified.
When James entered she glanced severely
at him and then a Clemency, as she passed
the mullins She suspected something be-
tween them, and she was baffled there
HAS Doctor Gordon gone out? James
asked.
yes he went right out as soon as he got
IN lust had cup of coffee; wouldn't walt
for brea- fast" replied Emma in nippihs
tone.
Neither Clemency nor James made any
comment Eoth knew where he had gone,
and Emma seeing that they both knew,
grew more hostile than ever. Her manner
of serving the beefsteak was fairly war
like.
After breakfast Aaron told James of some
parting instructions which Gordon had LETT
with him. He had the team harnessed. ana
was to take James to visit certain patients.
James went off on long drive across the
country, calling on his way at the scat
tered houses of the patients. He did not re-
turn until noon, just before the luncheon-
bell rang. Entering by the office door ne
found Gordon sitting before the hearth nre
smoking and staring g;oomily at the Looping
flames. He looked up when James entereu,
said good morning in an distracted fash-
ion, and asked some questions about the
patients whom he had visited. James hest
tated about inquiring for the man who had
been injured the night before but finally
he did so. The dog had sprung up to greet
him and between his pats on the white
head and commands of Down, sir, down.!
he asked as casually as he could If Cor
don had seen his patient who had fallen In
the drive the night before, and how he was.
Gordon turned upon James a face of such
fierce misery that the younger man fairly
recoiled. '4Ie isn't going to die?' he cried.
mo he is not going to die. He shall not
de!" Gordon replied with passionate en-
phass. Then he added, In response to
James wondering, half-frlghtened look. 81
have been there all the morning I have
just come home. l have left everything .or
him. i don't dare get nurse. l am afraid
He may talk a good deal. George K. is
with him now. l can trust him, but can't
trust a nurse. I am going back after lunch
con and you may go with me. ! would like
you to see him.
Does he seem to be very ill?" James
asked timidly.
Not from the--the-wound," replied Cor
don. but am afraid of something else"
WHAT"
"EIysipelas. I am afraid of that setting
In. In fact, am not altogether sure
1t has not. He is an erysipelas subject. He
has told me of two severe attacks which
shas had. When he fell he got an ahra-
sion of the cheek. That looks worse than
the-the-wound. 1 should like you to see
him. You have seen erysipelas cases, of
course, in your hospital practice"
"Oh. yes"
There is the bell for luncheon. We will
go directly afterward"
James wondered within himself at the
feverish haste with which Gordon swal-
lowed his luncheon, frequently looking at