Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1919-04-01
cORDEuA's CASE
BY DOROTHY DOUGLAS.

1 NC hhu Icceiftu over 10 ulk wire. u
wish We could fix him up with a wife
Ms well MS u temporary practice. He
Is getting registered today and car
come down to act as my locum teLens
for as long as we want to be away
"oh, isn't that finel" his wife cried
joyfully. She knew just how desper.
ately her husband needed a few weeks
change. He labored day and night
among his many and widespread pa.
tients and he was tired. "Yes, l do
wish Alex was married. Professional
people command far greater respect
when they are properly married." She
smiled softly. "whom could we fling
across Doctor Nevin's path--whlle he
is heref"
"Cordelia Meyborn is the only girl
round here-but she's always 80 con.
foundedly healthy. She hasn't called
In doctor for ten years. She's just
the girl for Nevin."
Couldn't We put her up TO calling
I him In while he's here. She could pre-
tend fainting fits or melancholia Eth.
er would serve TO get them acquainted
without any suspicion. She would do
II just for lark, not knowing our ren.
sons" Mrs. Fraser flushed excltedly
and was ready TO dash of at once TO
Cordelia and put the ruse before her.
"Women are born matchmakers,"
Doctor Fraser laughed, like most hus-
bands, putting the entire blame on his
wife.
Cordelia Mayborn jumped into the
net as she jumped Into anything that
promised interest. She cast a swift.
dry glance at her gloriously healthy
color and fine. vigorous body. and won.
dered just what complaint she could
summon that would demand IN lmme.
iiate call from young Doctor Nevin.
II did not for a moment occur to her
that Alice Fraser was planning matri.
nominal byways for her.
However, Doctor and Mrs. Fraser
were soon safely away on their much
needed holiday with the secret safelN
tucked between them.
Cordelia had decided upon some
trouble In her ankle--a peculiar some
thing that prevented her from putting
her foot to the ground. She called |
up Doctor Nevin during the afternoon
OF his third day as Doctor Fraser's |
locum tenens.
When she peered cautiously through
the curtains upon hearing the small
motor painting at the curb Cordelia
was looking like nothing so much as
glowing, fragrant, healthy rose when
Doctor Nevin entered. She was
propped up In a most charming assert
ment of cushions.
Doctor Nevin began questioning her.
To say that he was puzzled by the pc
culiar malady with which she seemed
afflicted was putting II mildly. He
felt convinced that she was suffering
from a complaint unique In the world
Of medicine.
"Shall drop In again this EVENING""
the doctor asked. Her wistful smile
Of patient martyrdom answered him
and he went away with her image
strongly imprinted In his mind.
His visit that evening was fraugnt
With premonitionary warnings. Cor
leila had tried TO stand up and move
lcross the room. but had ended by hav-
ng Doctor Nevin's arm flung swiftly
bout her. Cordelia had been so star
led by the sensation that the touch of
lis arms caused her that she very
learly forgot her malady. As for the
'ouns doctor. he helped her almost
oughly back to her seat.
Don't dc that again." he command
d swiftly. Cordelia delighted at the
lash In his eyes and the tightly closed
aw. Her malady was proving more
xciting than she had anticipated. She
new that a love affair had begun
uddenly and Unexpectedly. She hoped
DOCTOR Nevin felt as she did.
1t was two days after this expert
nee that the doctor. calling upon the
ext door nelghbor OF CordelIa, rubbed
is eyes as II he were dreaming. Only
he previous evening he had called pro-
essionally on Cordelia and she had
cen unable even to stand upon the az
icted foot.
Cordelia had the grace to blush and
ashing about like mad thing In pur-
nit OF great golden-winged butter
y.
The doctor lost no time In advanc-
lg upon his patient.
Cordella, In her own garden, was
lush gloriously when she looked up
, see the doctor standing at the en-.
'ance of the garden.
"Oh, I thought this was your day az
lie hospital" She flashed a swift
nile at him. The game was up she
new. She trembled inwardly. won.
ering how he would accept her &C.
on.
A slow smile dawned In his eyes.
nd he kept them steadily on Cor
lila.
II suppose you hate mef' she ques-
oned wistfully.
"Not exactly" Doctor Nevin told
sr.
ats Mrs. Fraser's fault" Cordelia
I'D swiftly; "she put me up to IT,"
MRS. Fraser Is a most wonderful 1t.
2 woman" he said. with deep eonvic.
on.
"In what wayr' Corde,ia's eyes were
It without the IRE OF jealousy.
"She knew that / would fnu In love