The Washington times., 1937-02-13

date neighborhood are accepted,
but the company is very particular
about full reports on outsiders.
I'm especially sensitive because
really don't belong on this job.
I am pinch-hitting for my friend
| Newcomb, who is the chief here,
while he is East on three months
leave. The company. will see this
squib and ask questions. AS Tor
you, days rest should put you
right, but I'm obliged to report on
you just the same.
Ingram can't be moved Tor
some time. He will have to make
arrangements. We will want to
know more about both of you than
you have been disposed to tell"
Il understand your position, Doc
tor" conceded Paige. "Ingrams
all right"
well, hope So" stafford's tone
was curt. I'VE don't want to get
ourselves in a scrape Sure he
isn't wanted somewhere-for some
thing?"
Paige pulled a wry grin and
shook his head.
NO" he said dryly. That's his
trouble. He isn't wanted anywhere
by anybody. Lost his job. But
he can tell you about himself.
Probably will if you explain your
reasons for wanting to know"
That's good. How about you?"
Stafford's voice was more con-
ciliatory.
Its a bit different-with me.
can assure you that no trouble
will come to the hospital or you
because of my being here. But
my little problem isn't the sort of
thing that I care to talk about. In
short-I don't want anybody to
know where I am, and I'd like to
keep my name out of circulation"
His breakfast had arrived now,
and DR.. Stafford. not wishing to
pursue their talk before the nurse.
picked up the paper and Strolled
out of the room.
He wished this affair hadn't
turned up. 1t had been the first
annoying situation since he had
taken over for Newcomb. The
brief aSSignement had been very
pleasant, after his long and danger
Gus twenty months in the Govern
ment's research laboratory in a
Montana forest studying the virus
OF the deadly Rocky Mountain
spotted fever.
1t would be unfortunate if, dur
ing his brief tenure at Gray Lode
Hospital, the institution became
implicated in some kind of mess.
Couldn't take the chance o. har-
boring couple of criminals.
Back in his little office Stat
ford looked again at the copy he
had made of the only scrap of
writing they had found in Paige's
pockets. Having noted Ingram's
reluctance to confide, and dis
turbed by the obvious lie he had
told when asked if Paige was a
physician. he had felt obliged to
60 through their clothes.
1t went against the grain to do
it. Both were abundantly sup
piled with money, but that was no
recommendation; it might even
be considered a reason for sus-
picion. The only thing he had
found on Paige was an address
written on the stationery of the
Hotel St. Lawrence-"Ha "Harcourt,
9721 Marlborough"
This HarCourt, whoever he was.
might be willing to talk up. If
young Paige was trying to lose
himself out here-perhaps this
Harcourt, man or woman, might
supply few of the missing links
For while he meditated a
letter of inquiry. Then an idea
occurred to him. He pursed his
lips and nodded.
This, he thought, should fetch
a query from Harcourt. Opening
his pocket-knife. he cut out the
provocative dispatch, slipped it
into, an envelope bearing the hos
pital insignia, wrote his name be-
low the QeVlCe, addressed 1t and
affixed air mail postage.
Miss Adams stood in the door
way.
DIR. Paige would like to speak
to YOU she said.
Stafford nodded and proceeded
down the hall to Number So.
Paige was sitting up in bed. He
had moved and his lean jaw was
fleXed determinedly. 1t was evi-
dent that he was in a serious
mood.
Thank you for coming, DR.
Stafford. I want to apologize for
putting you in an embarrassing
position. I am ready to tell you
about myself. 1t would please me
if you were to regard it as a con-
fidence-at least as much of it
as may not be absolutely neces-
sary TO your report"
TO Be Continued)
(CopyrIEht. 1887, by Lloyd c. Douglass.
Distributed by King FeatureA
EynSIcafa