Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-10
CHAPTER XVI

CHAPTER AAVl
The William and Sarah reached
Gorehaven Harbour in an hour and
twenty minutes, and John Shil was
put ashore directly she dropped an
Choir.
He made his way to the nearest
doctor, and explained matters to him.
IT know you must be busy" he
said, after he had answered the doc
tors brief questions, s'but you can
ask what fee you like for this case.
And If you pull it through, all right
we'll, you can have anything it is in
my power to give. But must ask one
thing of you, doctor. and that is
secrecy. don't want this ladys
name-''
Il am not in the habit of discussing
my patients" the doctor replied stiffly
NO., of course not" said John
Shil, "but this is a peculiar case.
will be perfectly frank with you. This
| lady is married woman, and If hef
husband finds her, all the doctors in
the world won't save her. She has
run away from him."
II understand the doctor replied
with grim smile. 2"bnt am not con
cerned with my patients histories, ex
cept where they bear on the. case
Well, I can start in five minutes"
"Is there no other way of getting tc
the placer" Shil asked "Itll be q
dead beat all the way back--foul
hours of it, SO Dowsett says"
ooh yes" replied the doctor. GIVE
got little motor-launch, and We'll run
down in that. A good deal of my
practice lies up the creeks in places
one can't get to by road, and I've
/ found the launch invaluable. Wei
get there in an hour and ten min
utes."
Good man." cried Shil joyfully
you deserve TO have fine practice
you'd better get on down to the
wharf" said the doctor. 1--WE got {
few things to get together, and yol
can be telling Dowsett what you're
going to do. It'll save time"
John Shil left the house, found Dow
sett, and explained matters to him
Then DR.. Hardy appeared with a bag
and few minutes later the two mel
were spinning out of the harbour int
the teeth Of the wind.
The doctor "a fine sunburnt yount
fellow Of about thirty, was an interest
ing companion, and he chatted in
cessantly, as though anxious to diver
Shils thoughts from the object o
their journey. He had lived In thu
district for five years, and had mucl
to tell about the marsh folk, abou
their dislike Of doctors. about thu
Peculiar People, who looked on med
icine as the food of the devil, abou
the storms he had encountered il
order to reach sick bed, about tn
sailor folk who came and went cor
tinually, and whom he often visited Of
their ships. And then he spoke Q
the loneliness Of the marshland. AM
how 1t had entered into the souls O
the Inhabitants, and how he himsel
} had felt the spell of it In some silen
creek at night time. But he ended b
declaring that he would not exchang
his life for the finest practice in TIL
West End
And so the journey passed quickl
and pleasantly enough, but as the roo
; of Dowsett's cottage came In view tn
doctor ceased talking. He knew tina
nothing would now distract tn
thoughts Of his companion, and tina
conversation might only irritate him.
They anchored few yards ava
from the hard" and went ashore i
the little dinghy. DR.. Hardy took hi
bag and went straight upstairs t
Laura's room. John Shil stayed In tn
parlour by himself Mrs. Dowset
: had met them at the door with tn
news that there was no change in tn
, patients condition, and the man cor
! soled himself with the thought tina
; he had this at least to be thankfr
! for.
j When twenty minutes had passe