The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-04-24

y
No? We can do fifteen or twenty
miles or more before noon if we
choose. but is there no one you would
care to call on?"
We'll. Mary. If you don't mind"
said Chistabel, taking the opportunity
offered. 81 think should like to see
my brother, to tell him where l am
stopping. He does not know that
have gone to nurse Sir John"
You have brother in London.
CEristabel?"
Yes: he is an architect, and his Of
fee is in Shaftesbury avenue, close to
Pc: adilly Circus. Would you mind
driving there? We can go OH after
ward, you know"
Just tell the chauffeur the num-
ber,'' said Mary. Eff your brother re-
sembles you, Christabel, he should be
very NICE" she went on. as the car
sped past the National Portrait GAL
lery.
He is a very good brother an
swered Christabel. with smile.
Thus it was that in few moments
more the car stopped in front of a
door by the side of which was brass
plate whereon was engraved Joyce
& Forde. Architects. Second Floor"
Don't be long. Christabel.' said
Mary. land I'll wait for you here. Or
shall come back for you?"
81 won't be more than minute or
two"
Then Ill wait
Christabel's heart was beating q
lively measure as she assembled the
stairs, for was she not going to see
Norman Forde AS we'll as her brothe.
Philip: She thought that at that hour
she would find both men at work i'll
their Office Nor was she disappoint-
ed.
The snice Of Joyce & Fsrde coll
sisted of three modest but well-lisht
ed rooms One was occupied by Philip
joyce and Norman Forde-not yet
had they attained the dignity Of sep
arate chambers; the second by a
Graughtsman and two women, one OF
whom copied plans while the other
wrote letters and specifications OH d
typewriter; the third held Billy, the
Office boy an old friend of Christa-
bells. He was something of charac-
ter. as most London Office boys are
and Eeamed on Christabel when he
saw her enter his den.
Yes. Mr.. Joyce was in and Mr..
Torde, too, said the boy. Which of
them did she wish to see? he inquired,
! with Il twinkle in his eye.
This was an old but ever-fresh jest
of the oficeboy's, for, according as
Mr.. Joyce was asked for, Billy went
into the partners room and intimated
in the gravest of voices. but with his
tongue in his cheek that Mr.. Forde
was needed in the adjoining room, or
it, haply. Mr.. Forde was in request.
then he conveyed a similar message
to Mr.. Joyce. The idea had been his
own.
oh I'll just walk in she said.
You need not trouble to announce
me- Billy. l know the way"
''Halloa, Christabel!" exclaimed her
brother. springing up from his desk to
kiss her. What do you do here?"
AS she turned to Norman Forde and
shook hands with him her cheek was
slightly flushed. while his eyes spark
| led: but with brothers blindness
Philip never saw these signals.
II came to tell you that have ali
other case" she said to her brother.
Its in Hans Square. and my patient
| is Sir John Sisterson.'
"Sisterson, the great cement man!
7 know. He was smashed up in mo-
! tor car accident. How is he?" asked
Philip.
VERY ill. poor man. He can't live
long. It's very sad business. He's
paralyzed-his body is, and his brain
at times is affected"
| He is not likely to recover" in
CURED Norman.
Its impossible, I'm afraid"
! Does he give you much trouble?'
Hardly any at all. I take duty from,
noon till midnight, when a male nurse
comes on; and my work is quite
light
Then you are free in the mornings
till twelve?" asked Norman. eagerly.
II suppose am answered Christa
| bel, demurelv "This morning I am
out with Miss Sisterson, Sir Johns
only daughter, and she perhaps ex
poets me to go out with her every
morning. as she is not bit we'll, and
!! really needs nurse to look after her
We came here in a motor car belong
ing to Maxwell Sisterson, and Miss
Sisterson is waiting in the outside fol
me-
Still, you are Sir Johns nurse, MOI
hers said Norman, with smiling
prote: t.
You are always busy in the morn
ings, aren't you. Philip" she, said, ad
dressing her brotEer-somewhat tx
his surprise, as he had not been fol
lowing the line of thought of the two
lovers.
"Of course we are" said Philip, Eek
cept on Sundays"
Norman longed to ask Christabel 1
she would not go for an early wall
on the next Sunday, but he hesitatet
and the opportunity passed. No doub
u. hot tn, hi