The Detroit times., 1912-04-18
CHAPTER xIl.-tcontinuee)


Before Aleck returned from the
sick-room. Doctor Thayer's step sound
ed on the stairs. followed by the mild.
ly complaining voice OF Sallie Kings
bury Presently the TWO men We're in
a low.voiced conference in the hall.
Agatha waited while they talked, feel
ing grateful afresh that Doctor Thay-
ers grim professional wisdom was 10
be reinforced by Mr. Van Camps re-
sources. When the doctor entered
Agatha's room. her face had almost
the natural flush OF health.
'Ah, Miss Agatha Redmond"
doctor continued frequently 10 ad'
dress ner by her full name, half in
IaffectloEate Difference and half with
some dry sense OF humor peculiar TO
himself-"Miss Agatha Redmond. SO
you're beginning 10 pick up. A good
thing. too; for | don't want two
patients in one house like the one out
yonder. He's very sick man, Miss
Agatha"
II know. Doctor | nave seen him
grow worse. hour by hour ever since
we came. What can be done?"
He needs special nursing now. and
your man in there Will be worn out
presently
"Oh. that can be managed Send to
Portland, 10 Boston. or somewhere.
We can get nurse here soon Do
not spare any trouble, Doctor. | can
arrange"
Doctor Thayer squared himself and
paced slowly up and down Agatha s
room. He did not reply at once, and
when he did ii was with one or his
characteristic turns toward an ap-
parently irrelevant topic.
Have you seen Sister Susan" he
| inquired. stopping by the side or
| Agatha's couch and looking down on
| her with his shrewd gaze, IL was a
needless question, for he knew that
Agatha had not seen Mrs. Stoddard.
| She had been too weak and i'll TO see
any body. Agatha shook her head
Well. Miss Agatha Redmond,
! Susan's the nurse We need for that
! young gentleman over there. It's con-
slant care he must have now. day and
night: and il he gets well, II will be
good nursing that does IL. There ism {
| nurse in this country like Susan.
when she once takes hold of case.
! That Mr. Hand in there is all right,
/ but he cant sit up much longer night
4 and day. as he has been doing. And
! he isn't a woman. Don't know why,
! il is. but the Lord seems bent on
/ throwing sick men into women 3
hands-as /. they weren't more than
a match for us when we're well!'
Agatha's humorous smile rewarded
the Doctors grim comments, II that
was what he wanted.
NO. Doctor, she said. with a feet
ing touch OF her old lightness, were
never a match for you. We may en-
terrain you or nurse you or feed you
or possibly once in century or two
! inspire you; but we're never a match
for YOU
For which Heaven be praised,
calculated the doctor fervently.
Agatha watched him as he fumbled
nervously about the room or clasped
his hands behind him under his Ions
coat-tails. The greenish-black frock
coat hung untidily upon him, and his
, white fringe of hair was anything bul
smooth. She perceived that some
thing other than medical problems
troubled him.
Would your sister-would Mrs
Stoddard--be willing 10 come here tc
; take care of Mrs Hambleton?" she
ventured.
ASK me that" snapped the doctor
when no man on earth could tel
whether she'll come or not. She say.
she won't She's hurt and she's out
| ragged; or at least she thinks she Is
But II you could get her TO think tha
/ II was her duty TO take care Of tina
| poor boy in there. she'd come fas
enough"
) Agatha was puzzled She felt a:
IL there were dozen ways to turf
and only one way that would lead he
Alright and she could not find the clue
TO that one right away. AT last sh'
attacked the doctor boldly.
Tell me. Doctor Thayer," she sal,
earnestly, Just what II is that causes
: Mrs. Stoddard to fell hurt and out
ragged. Is IL simply because | have
: inherited the money and the house
; She can not possibly know anythin'
about me personally"
: The old doctor thrust his under jaw
out more belligerently than ever
I while turning his answer over in hi
mind. lie took two lengths OF tn,
room before stopping again b,
Agathas side and looking down ol
her.
she says il isn't the money bu
!. that it's the slight Hercules put upol
her for leaving the place, our oil
5 home, out of the family That's on