The Washington herald., 1921-05-01


auditor I'm not, open TO engage
ments.' ~
The negress preceded him into the
house and up a flight of thickly car
psted stairs. Twice they came to-
dimly- lighted branching Railways.
At the second one the now painting
conductress turned down hail,
stopping at a door and opening 1t.
II done brought, de doctor, Miss
Amy
DIR. James entered. the room, and
bowed slightly to a young lady
standing by the side of bed. He
set his medicine case upon chair.
removed his overcoat, throwing 1t
over the case and the back of the
chair. and advanced with quiet self
possession to the bedside.
There lay a man, sprawiing as he
had fallen-a man dressed richly in
the prevailing mode, with only his
shoes removed; lying relaxed, and
as still as the dead.
There emanated from DIR. James
an aura of calm force and reserve
strength that was as mama in the
desert to the weak and desolate
among his patrons. Always had
women, especially. been attracted
by something in his sick-room man
ner. 1t was not the indulgent
suavity of the fashionable healer,
but a manner of poise, of sureness,
of ability to overcome fate, Of de-
ference and protection and devotion.
There was an exploring magnetism
in his steadfast, luminous brown
eyes; a latent authority in the inn
passive, even priestly, TRANQUILITY
of his smooth countenance that out
wardly fitted him for the part of
confidant and consoler. Sometimes,
at his first professional visit. wom-
en- would tell him where they hid
their diamonds at night from the
burglars.
With the ease Of much practice,
DR.. James's unroving eyes estimated
the order and quality of the rooms
furnishings. The appointments were
rich and costly. The same glance
had secured cognizance of the lady's
| appearance. She was small and
| scarcely past twenty. Her face pos
sessed the title to a winsome pretti-
ness, now obscured by (you would
say) lether a fixed melancholy than
] the more violent imprint of q sud-
den sorrow. Upon her forehead,
above one eyebrow, was a livid
bruise. suffered, the physicians eye
told him. within the past six hours.
Dr.. James's fingers went to the
mans wrist. His almost vocal eyes
questioned the lady.
"I am Mrs Chandler" she re-
sponded, speaking with the plain
tive Southern slur and intonation.
Ny husband was taken suddenly
i'll about ten minutes before you
-
trouble before-some of them were
very bad" His clothed state and the
late hour seemed to prompt her to
further explanation. He had been
out late; to-a supper, I believe"
Doctor James now turned his at
tention to his patient. In which
ever of his professions" he happen
ed to be engaged he was wont to
honor the case" or the Job" with
his whole interest
The sick man appeared to be
about 80. His countenance bore a
| look of boldness and dissipation. but
was not without a symmetry of fea-
ture and the fine lines drawn by a
taste and indulgence in humor that
gave the redeeming touch. There
was an odor of spilled wine about
his clothes.
The physician laid back his outer
garments, and then. with a PEN
knife. slit the shirt-front from col
lar to waist. The obstacles cleared.
he laid his ear to the heart and
listened intently.
"Mitral regurgitation?" he said,
softly, when he rose. The words
ended with the rising infection of
uncertainty. Again he listened long:
and this time he said. "Mitral in
sufficiency." with the accent of an
assured diagnosis
Madam" he began. in the reas-
suring tones that had so often al
layed anxiety there is a probabil-
ity-" As he slowly turned his
head to face the lady he saw her
fall.~white and swooning, into the
arms of the old negress.
"Po' lamb! po' lamb! Has they
done killed Aunt Cindy's own bless
his wrath dem what stole her away;
Lift her feet" said Doctor James
assisting to support the dropping
form. Where is her room? She
must be put to bed"
I'm here, suh." The woman nod
ded er kerchiefed head toward the
door. Oats Miss Amy's ROOM
They carried her in there and laid
her on the bed. Her pulse was faint
but regular. She passed from the
swoon, without recovering con-
seriousness, into a profound slum-
Der.
she is quite exhausted" said the
physician. sleep is a good rem
edy. When she wakes, give her a
toddy-with an egg in it. IL she can
take it. How did she get that bruise
upon her forehead?"
she done got a lick there. sub.
De po' lamb fell-No. suh"-the
old woman's racial mutability swept
her into a sudden flare of indigna-
tion-"old Cindy amt gwinter lie
for dat debble. He done it, sub. May
de Lawd wither de hand what-dar
now! Cindy promise her sweet lamb
she amt gwine tell. Miss Amy got
hurt, sub, on de head"
Doctor James stepped to a stand
where handsome lamp burned and
turned the fame low.
Stay here with your Mistress"
he ordered, land keep quiet so she
will sleep. II she wakes, give her
the toddy. II she grows any weak
er. let me know. There is some
thing strange about it."
Oars mo- strange t'ings dan dat
round here" began the negress,
but the physician hushed her in
seldom-empioyed peremptory, con-
centrated voice with which he had
often allayed hysteria itself. He re-
turned to the other room, closing