The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-02-03
WHAT THE "WHr WAS
BY r. 3. SHELTON.

| McPhee walked down to the car
with the eminent surgeon. McPhee
was plainly worried AS they reached
the big limousine and the surgeon
was about to step in, McPhee laid a
hand on his arm.
You're not satisfied with the way
he's coming on, are your" he said
boldly, with a backward nod of his
head towards the rough little shack
ON the hillside.
The surgeon looked at him narrow
ly. mo, I'm not" he said simply.
McPhee scowled "Whatll we do?"
The surgeon shrugged his shout
ders. Then he got into the car
"I'll be over again this afternoon"
he said.
He nodded to his chauffeur The
car went spinning towards Renford in
great cloud of dust
Across the hills came the whirr of
pneumatic drills and the squeal of
cranes and the putting of donkey en-
gines. McPhee knew he should be
over at the tunnel. Every minute of
his time was precious, but instead of
going over to the works, he trailed up
the hills to the little cluster of COM
Portable looking camps. On the porch
of one sat salloW young man
wrapped In blankets. Beside him was
the orderly the surgeon had brought
out from the hospital
Phee. trudging up the rough path.
You're looking pile better this
morning. Pm coming to call"
TITS a pity ever got out alive"
he grunted.
"You don't mean you're quitter?"
said McPhee with lifted brows.
mot generally" said Billy. Just
now-well, maybe l am
''Why?" said McPhee.
Billy was silent.
He never asks how things are get
ting on" thought McPhee. He
doesn't care about anything. This
isn't like him. There's a why to it
somewhere. wonder what the why
is"
Aloud he said, as car puffed up to
the foot of the hill: Hello, here's
the doctor back. Or, no it isn't either.
He's in limousine. Who's getting
out? By George, woman!"
Someone was running up the hill,
girl, young, 1.-the, eager. Her long
veil streamed out behind her; she
was stripping off her gloves as she
can't.
There was a cry from Billy Grail,
queer, childish, broken cry. He half
rose from his chair, the chair he had
not left without help for weeks and
weeks.
The girl gained the porch. She
seemed not to see either McPhee or
the orderly there. Her eyes were for
the stricken man.
"Billy!" she cried. ooh, Billy,
Billy"
Then she sank down her head on his
knees.
'I've come. l ran away. We just
got back on the Polinia 1 didn't
know about the accident until then.
And l didn't know what-what we
meant to each other until l heard you
might die. Oh, Billy"
Billy Crail's voice came, very I'M
steadily. WAS he with your"
1.-THE marquis? Yes I ran away
from him, too"
1t said In paper-a paper / saw
last week that you were to be married
today"
II am"
you are?"
surely. To you, Billy"
"You are going straight back
there" said Billy Grail family, but
with an evident attempt at frmness
"Of course l am. And you're go
ing with me. Well go straight back
to get their forgiveness"
McPhee suddenly came to his
senses. He tiptoed backward, off the
porch and down the hill But he had
not gone hundred yards whensBilly
Crail's voice hailed him. He looked
back. There-miracle of miracles
was Billy Grail standing erect on the
porch edge. He was making a
trumpet Of his hands.
"Oh, McPhee!" he yelled Bring
my duds over from your camp. My
decent things are all in the trunk
there. Bring them a-running. will
your"
At five the limousine of the eminent
surgeon stopped at the foot of the
hill. McPhee met him. McPhee was
all agrin. The eminent surgeon
liked that. McPhee had not grinned
that way since the accident to Billy
Grail.
'How's the pauent?" said the sur
geon. Better, take it from your
looks"
He turned and looked at the porch.
1t was quite empty.
Good Lord McPhee, where's the
PATIENT" he gasped
McPhee took him by the arm
Get in" he said, pointing to the
limousine.
Mysti1ed the surgeon entered. Nc
Phee followed. He leaned forward to
whisper grinningly to the chauffeur
before he closed the door.
They sped away, across the bare
hills, away from the noise of che tun-
mel work, to the 6rst little village just
beyond. They stopped at little ivy
covered church, beside which nestled
an Uncovered rectory. McPhee got
out and beckoned to the surgeon.
They tiptoed to ar open window of
the church and took off their hats.
'You know you said there must be
why to his slowness In coming back
after the accident. Well, that's it,
said McPhee.
"And he's marrying it?" grinned the
surgeon.
Songs of Today.