The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-01-30
Chapter 4s
MARK AS PATIENT


THE house in which Mark Lodely
= lay strapped immovably into q
plaster cast was as little like hos
pital as one could expect. Its facade
was cheerful and inside 1t was rea-
sonably quiet.
Marks room was on the ground
moor so that when the weather and
his mood permitted he could be
wheeled on to q covered porch at
the back. Mrs. Lodely visited him
daily, Armitage dropped in as
seemed necessary, and Kenneth
Poole came when he was sent for.
"The sight Of me gives him q bad
night" Poole had explained solemn.
IL to Armitage. Fact. One Of bis
nurses told me 80. It's far better
I should keep away and give the
dear fellow every chance OF re-
covery."
Nevertheless, you must be there
this afternoon at half-past four.
I've asked Leila Cane, too. See
she's punctual, will you?"
fright you are. Guvl"
Armitage entered the, building on
this foggy day at four O'clock pre-
eisely and stood for q moment In
the outer hall, taking OF his over
coat. The householder. passing on
the other side Of the glass swing
doors, pulled them open and called
q CHEEKY greeting. At his request
Armitage followed him into his Of.
fee.
"How's the patientT he asked.
"The patient, Mr.. Armitage. has
reduced two nurses to tears, given
me more lip than I've stood from
anyone in my life, and thrown a
watering at his mother. But / un.
derstand that's more or less his
usual frame of mind"
Armitage grinned.
"He has always had q vicious
temper. I'm not an admirer of his
character. you know, only OF hie
talent"
"The nurses always report him
more cheerful after he has made
someone thoroughly wretched," the
doctor added. "It's the people
whose heart he can't break that de-
press him So"
aArmitage thought Il wiser not to
reveal that one OF these harder
hearted callers was expected pune
tually at four. He listened atten-
lively while the doctor became lyri.
cal in Sir Robert philhay's praise.
agreed for the twentieth time that
the cure was well.nigh miraculous,
and made his way to Marks room
and Marks inevitable imperti.
nences.
As he entered Marks room he
heard Marks voice, thin and dry
with temper.
"How can you possibly write my
letters for me whom yoli misspell
every other word? And how do you
know / have any to write unless
you've been reading my correspon.
dence?"
"That's a downright wicked thing
TO say, Mark! You know I'd never
do such a thing. I have my faults
but spyin' and ferretln' Is not
amongst them. Hullo. here's Far
relll Do you Mrs. Lodely looked
donbtfully from the visitor to the
patient-"do you feel like seein'
Farrellf"
Marks head turned on its one nat
pillow.
"My dear Judy, IL Il weren't Tor
Armitage's bounty ] shouldn't be
hero at ALL" He smiled. the sfnile
that slightly showed his teeth and
narrowed his eyes. 'The question
Of whether I want to see you or
not. Armitase. doesn't really arise
Does it?H~
mark! You know. Farrell. hes
had a bad night. that's all It Is.
He doesn't mean half he says"
Armitage sat down by the
wheeled couch. His aversion was
for the moment more from the
mother than from the son. How un-
pleasing she was In appearance. so
sloyenly and down at heell She
wore an ill-made grey suit. q brown
blouse under It and q tie that
matched neither. Her hat looked as
though Il were too small for her.
"As you see. my mother brings a
breath OF dear old Kings Mallard
into all this luxurious ulonctony.a
murmured Mark and not for the
first time Armitage uncomiorGahly
contemplated the fact that his
thoughts had been read.
"The monotony we can none OF
rs tighten. I'm afraid. Lodely. You