Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-24

kindly let him have his hat and coat?,
XVIII
SHOWING THE USEFULNESS OF AN
| ALIBI.
When Rutherford again opend his eyes
| to dull, insistent sense of suffering, IL
was broad daylight. Seine one was still
kneading his tortured frame persistently.
"Helderman. you devil. stopr' he com
! manded, hoarsely.
keep still" said voice of authority.
Craig tried to turn, to see who 1t was
that spoke. and n tearing pain like the
twisting of a three e-cornered knife In the
middle of his back nearly threw him
| again into unconsciousness. In spite
OF 1t, he vainy tried to rise, to leap at
this mans throat and end II ali. Any
thing was better than to submit to being
played with, like a mouse In the clutches
of a hungry cat.
Keep still, 1 tell you, or ] shan't be
answerable for the consequences"
Rutherford peered UP through the daze
of pain. The man who bent over him
had dark beard.
"Helderman-you scoundrel!" he gaspel.
mo, Pritchard-the surgeon" retorted
the other man. "Now, listen to me- If
you don't stop tossing about until find
out what's the matter with you, II will
be all UP with you about ever walking
again"
Rutherford subsidized with a feeling of
utter misery that even dominated his
agony. He could stand a certain amount
of pain. but the possibility OF being a
helpless cripple was too mitch for his
present endurance. 1t was the same alter
native he had faced that dark day after
the accident on the field, and the pain
that now tore and shot through him was
friBhtfully like the other.
you're pretty we'll done up" the sur
geon observed, as much to himself as to
his patient, after a series of investiga-
tions which seemed to the victim like an
inquisltion.
TITS In the old place." muttered Craig
then he added savegely, "but will get
well-I will walkr'
Coed for you! like your spunkv'
said the doctor.
Craig breathed heavily. then he inhaled
again and turned his eyes toward the
practitioner.
You using chloroform on me?'
No-some one beat me to 1t. and has
split all the bottle on your man here"
Cooley" exclaimed the sufferer anx-
iously. Hello, Mike!"
For answer, Mike lifted UP a sick-loolx-
ing countenance, then struggled to his
feet, saluted, and collapsed back into his
chair.
Whoever it was, he made a thorough
job OF IT, observed Pritchard.
Craig nodded weakly.
III you don't mind. he said, "I'd like
you TO call my regular physician to help
you on my case. He pulled me through
before, and knows all about my kinks"
GOOD idea," said the surgeon. And see
ing that Mike was in no immediate Condi-
ton to be of service, he paused from his
InDOra 70 tnIA
directed. This done, he proceeded with a
treatment which Craig realized was sk!I-
tul ana intelligent, IL painful. 1t was a
severe but scientific massage. and as he
continued the strenuous work, his patient
felt In his bones-literally speaking-that
the harm he had suffered was not SO
serious as he had feared
Inc physician, too, grew cheerful as he
worked. Finally he ceased his mauling
long enough for Craig to ask a question
that had long been In his mind but he
had not breath enough to articulate
The clerk sent You up, 1 suppose"
on no. the doctor replied, going after
the left wrist OF his patient. He didn't
know anything about it,
Then who?' Craig was sparinE of his
breath.
Some one phoped for me to come at
once"
"Who?"
1T was womans voice"
"A womnnv'
"Oh, you bachelors You always have
at least one woman keenly concerned
about your welfaren
But no woman could have known
that 1 was hurt! puzzled Craig Look
here. doctor, when did you get the mes
sage?"
"At quarter of 3-but I didn't go back
to bed, as she insisted that 1 come at
once"
A quarter of 3! Craig seemed to hear
again the dull boom of the big clock, as
1t chimed out the hour of 2. That was
just three-quarters of an hour later!
Didn't the lady give you her name?"
he persisted
Yes. but 1 didn't get 1t clearly. have
the impression that 1t was Valentine"
'Val-?"
Cralg's jaw dropped, leaving the name