The Washington times., 1923-09-15

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low Of hot coffee frs"
= coaxed Ralph. You
need the bracer, Anne"
II can't eat. I want to set on
to JIM
.I,m AFRAID / can't drive unless
YOU give me ten minutes for re-
freshments." interrupted Ralph
gravely.
Although / saw through his
subterfuge to make me take 9
BIT Of food. didn't protest
knew that Ralph's every thought
was considerable. And somehow
/ managed to take some hot
coffee and to eat . sandwich.
So when he started on the last
lap Of our trip. I WIS feeling
refreshed and filter to cope with
what / found. But the nearer
We got to Yarmouth Hills itself,
the more terrified became. For
something told me that unless
Jim's injuries were serious I'd
never have been summoned TO
Ruth Gregory's home.
At last we reached the town
Of Yarmouth Hills. and . little
inquiry brought as to the rose
hedged gate Of an English look
ing red brick lodge Of quaint
design, where we found Mrs.
MacAvoy anxiously pacing UP
ana down the brick walk leading
to the front door She crested
us with nervous eagerness
which didn't mask her desire 70
put us at ease.
"I'Il take you up stairs, Mrs.
Harrison, and let You have cold
shower before you go to Jim,
she said. You must be worn out,
you poor woman. And either my
husband or Count sidislxi win
look out for you, Mr.. Lacy. The
countess is lying down. She was
with jim on the raft when he
took that ugly dive which re-
suited 30 badly. !"
Mrs. MacAvoy kept up q flow
of conversation which prevented
my asking any questions for
time. She explained that Count
sidiski was the great sculptor
and that he was interesting Miss
Gregory in the latest plastic art.
Rafting away about things
which seemed utterly trivial
when Jim was lying somewhere.
hurt and asking for me. Mrs.
MacAvoy shut off my every at
tempt to say anything. She
fairly propelled me to a cool
colonial bedroom with mahogany
nigh-boy and four-poster and
woven rugs, and began helping
me remove my hat and veil with
a purposeful air. At last I
managed defiant:
"And now, please take me to
Jim. If he's asking for me
all this while, don't you think
it would be best for him"
"He hasn't asked for you,"
said Mrs. MacAvoy suddenly. 'It
was Ruth's idea to send for You.
Your husband hasn't spoken 8
word since he was stunned by
his dive
"Jim is unconscious! He HASN'T
spoken a wordv' I gasped.
Jim is in no danger-no i'm
mediate danger corrected Mrs.
MacAvoy curtly. THE doctors
say he will probably recover con-
seriousness at any time, and after
a day or two Of rest be none the
worse for his experience. But If
he were to be excited or dis
turbed, I'm sure you can i'm,
agine the consequences"
"But I won't excite or disturb
him" pleaded.
I'm not so sure" replied Mrs.
MacAvoy. "You must see for
yourself that he would have some
trouble reconciling himself to
your sudden presence. 1t would
give him strange situation to
grapple with. He'd have to try
to figure out why you were here.
And either he'd realize he had
been in grave danger-or he'd see
something-more problematical in
your sudden appearance"
thought it over for a mo-
ment and then I answered with
all the dignity at my command:
THAT is true. Nothing mat
tiers now except what is best for
Jim. Will you please go and
ask the nurse how he is doing?
Now that / am here, / think you
must realize that if / can't be
at Jim's side. frequent bulletins
are due me-"
You're q thoroughbred!' said
Mrs. MacAvoy suddenly. "I'll go