Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-02-19
CHAPTER vIII,-continued,

The rest of the evening was quiet,
and I needed it. Miss Patty and Mr..
Won invalid talked by the fire and
think he told her something all
of the scene in the springhOUse. For
she passed Mr.. Pierce at the foot of
the stairs on her way up for the night
and she pretended not to see him.
About twelve o'clock, just after
went to my room, somebody knocked
at the door When I opened, the new
doctor was standing in the hall.
I'm sorry to disturb you," he said,
but DObody seems to know where the
pharmacy clerk is and I'll have to get
some medicine"
IF I had my way, we'd have had
bell on that pharmacy clerk long ago."
1 snapped, getting my keys. who's
sick?"
The big man." he replied. "Biggs
is his name, think, a senator or some
thing"
was leading the way to the stairs,
but I stopped. q might have known
it. 1 said. He hasn't been natural
all evening. What's the matter with
him? Too much fast?"
"Fast?" He laughed. TOO much
feast! He's got as pretty a case of in
digestion as I've seen for some time.
He's giving a demonstration that's al
most theatrical"
Well, the pharmacy was locked, and
we couldn't find a key to fit it. And
when l suggested mustard and warm
water he jumped at the idea.
"Fine!" he said. Better let me dish
out the spring water and you take my
job! Lead on, MacDuff, to the
kitchen"
Well, 1 got the mustard and water
ready, put out the light, and he took
the things and started out, but he
came back in a hurry.
There's somebody outside talk
Ing" he said. I went to the door with
him and listened.
The sooner the better" Mike was
saying. I'm no good while I've got
it on my mind"
And Mr.. Thoburn: Tomorrow is
too soon; they're not in the mood yet,
Perhaps the day after. I'll let you
know"
| didn't get to sleep until almost
morning, and then it was to dream
that Mr.. Pierce was shouting "Hypo-
critics" to all the people in the sana--
torium and threatening to throw glass
es of mustard and warm water at
them.
When people went down to break
4,
card hanging on the office door with
half dozen new rules on it, and when
I went out to the springhouse the
guests were having an indignation
meeting in the sun parIor, with the
bishop in the chair, and Senator Biggs,
so wobbly he could hardly stand. ma
king a speech.
| tried to see Mr.. Pierce, but early
as it was, he had gone for a walk, tax
ing Arabella with him. So I called a
conference at the shelter-house-Mis
Patty, Mr. and Mrs. Van Alstyne, Mr..
and Mrs. Dick and myself.
We were in a tight place and we
knew it.
He is making it as hard for us as
he can" Mrs. Sam declared The
idea of having the cardroom lights put
out at midnight, and the breakfast
room closed at ten! Nobody gets up
at that hour"
He was to come here every evening
for orders" said Mr.. Dick. He came
Just once, and as for orders-wen, he
gave 'em to mel"
But Miss Patty was always fair
Il loathe him." she asserted. 81
want TO quarrel with him the minute
see aim. He-he is presumptuous to
the point of impertinence-but he's
honest; he thinks we're all hypocrites
those that are we'll and those that
are sick or think they are-and he
hates hypocrisy"
You and old Pierce would make a
fine team, Pat" Mrs. Dick remarked
with yawn. q like hypocrites my
self. They're so comfy. But If you're
not above advice, Fat, you'll HAYS
Aunt Honoria break her neck or some
thing-anything to get father back to
town. Something is going 30 explode,
and Oskar doesn't like to be agitated. ."
She curled up on the cot with that
and went sound asleep. The rest of us
had coffee and talked, but there wasn't