Evening star., 1921-11-27

needed was always at his mana; Gil
his wants were anticipated and pro-
pening in the subway faded as a hint
Of impending menace The weeks
passed. and there was no further cir
cumstance which could. even by con-
lecture, be twisted into move
against him. There were times when
whether Coombs. in spite OF his posi-
tive assertion, might not have been
mistaken, or might not for his own
advantage have exaggerated the ac-
tual facts.
And then one day something oc-
CURED which suddenly broke the even
tenor of existence. and had FAR
reaching effect upon the lives Of both
Ramsey and his valet.
he 1t started withzaleh which Ram
say received af-bfeAkfast time. and
which seemed TO exert a peculiarly
perturbing influence upon him. He
rose abruptly from the table on read
ing it, although his meal was scarcely
half finished. and passed at once into
his study. Not to work, however, al
though the morning was the time he
usually spent at his desk. Coombs
could hear him inside. pacing up and
down the floor and moving restlessiy
about.
Precisely at IL O'Clock he closed the
door Of communication between his
study and the rest of the apartment.
another unusual thing for him to do.
and shortly thereafter answered a
telephone call, speaking In SO guarded
a tone that what he said would have
been quite indistinguishable six feet
from the instrument.
After this he was more like him.
self, but still showed q sort of pre-
occupied excitement, and started up
as on an impulse in the middle of
luncheon to hurry away to his bank.
Returning q half-hour or so later.
he spent the rest Of the afternoon
fidgeting uneasily about the apart
ment until o'clock. when, as II un-
able to stand the inaction any longer,
he seized his hat and stick and went
out, telling Coombs that he was go.
ing for long walk and would not
be back for dinner.
At quarter after he was
swinging around a corner into
one of the cross streets Of the upper
undiminished, when his foot encoun-
tered a banana peel dropped by some
careless urchin, and he went down
with q crash to the sidewalk. A
sharp. sickening pain at the knee half
numbed him for moment. and as he
struggled to arise the agony became
white-lipped and impotent.
Then a strong arm was thrown
around him as a support. and he heard
q familiar voice making solicitous IN
quiries. Even his suffering gave way
for a minute to incredulous amaxe-
ment.
"Coombs!" he gasped. How did
Won hapDen to be hereT'
"Oh, often follow you about" con-
fessed the valet. you're 80 reckless,
Mr.. Ramsey. And I've never been
able to get over the sight OF that
fellow pushing you into the subway
But tell me-" he INTERRUPTED himself.
ITS my knee" Ramsey groaned.
A crowd had collected by this time.
and with the aid Of one or two husky
fellows he was lifted to his feet. Il
don't believe can stand on It." He
relaxed weakly in the grasp Of his sup
Then. as a church clock in the neigh
borhood chimed the quarter hour. he
steadied himself and set his teeth.
mo matter about that" he said.
feverishly. It'll manage somehow.
Coombs. get me a taxi"
coss, 1S you S;oiss.ss Ss:tP 4su NJ R.m:sz na:;s:
think Of it A thing Of that kind
might cripple you for life unless you
give it immediate attention. There's
q doctors office right across the way
here. At least. see what he has to
say about it."
But what the doctor had to say
was anything but encouraging to
Ramsey's purpose. The injury was
pronounced q severe wrench, in which
some Of the ligaments had been torn
loose, and which, unless immediate
treatment were given, might result
in the most serious consequences.
"But I have an important engage
ment." expostulated Ramsey: "some-
thing that simply cannot be post
poned. I'll be back here in half an
hour"
He struggled to get up as he spoke.
only to sink back with face convulsed
and the sweat beading out across his
forehead.
IT can't do, itr he exclaimed. de-
spairfngly.
little CLINT In his eyes.
isn't 1t something that I might be
able to attend to for you. sir7"
Ramsey glanced up sharply, hesi-
tated q second, then. turning 70 thA
doctor, asked II Coombs and himself