Evening star., 1938-02-24
I@iN ELLIOT MD
\ BY JOHN CAplIOE n

M.D
CAPlTOE \
worried voice to Ben. who stood quietly
Just outside the door. The big man
went past her then and placed his ear
against Craig's chest. He Strengthened
looking at Joyce suspiciously.
His heart is beating all right, lady
He ought to come around in . minute
didn't hit him very hard"
you hit him in the temple" Joyce
said coldly. You don't have to hit
hard there to-to do e. lot Of damage
You'd better get a doctor, and get him
quickly"
do I look crazy?" Jones snarled
He shook his head firmly. Not q
chance, lady. This was his own fault
wanted to treat him right. but he
wouldn't let hem" His voice was q
sullen whine.
If he dies" Joyce told him scorn-
fully, you'll have a hard time ex-
planning that to jury. Better get q
doctor, and have Craig taken care Of.
Ben entered the room bearing q pan
OF steaming water, some clean towels
on one arm. He set the pan down on
chair by the bed, and handed the
towels to Joyce.
She cleaned the small wound as best
she could. Ben produced q bottle o1
iodina ond che dauhnj THE ~, 1haro 1lx,
dreadfully conscious the while, OF that
depression in Craig's temple. He
would be unconscious, she knew, until
that bone was lifted and the pressure
removed from his brain.
She thought. If only DR.. Bill were
here" And then her head was shak.
ing. No, she didn't want Bill mixed
up IN this.
That ought to fix him up all right, u
Jones said as she Strengthened. Hell be
as good as new in an hour"
Joyce eyed him steadily. Hell be
just as he is now" she told him, "un-
til you send for doctor. There's pres
sure on the brain, and only q doctor
can set that"
1t was nearly II o'clock that morn
ing, and they were all seated in the biz
room downstairs-all except Craig
Wyatt. Even down here, it seemed
to Joyce, she could hear Craig's un-
natural breathing. see his gray face.
She had just joined the others.
ANY changer" Jones asked, his eyes
fixed on her face.
Joyce shook her head. None what
ever" she said flatly. And there won t
be until you get a doctor. My father is
doctor. as you know. and I've seen
injuries like that before 1t takes a
good doctor to fix it."
The big man looked sullen and in
tensely worried. His thick shoulders
raised. You can see for yourself how
1t is, lady. I can't afford to 70 looking
for doctor. I've got to protect myself
and the boys"
His eyes went to the radio and from
there to the clock on the mantel. Joyce
remembered, now, what he had said
during supper last night. Mrs. Wyatt
was to reply to the kidnapers' demands
at IL. The hands Of the clock pointed
the hour.
The radio announcers voice sounded
solemnly: Most of you have read in
the morning papers about the kidnap-
ing OF Mr.. Craig Wyatt. son of Mrs.
Gloria Wyatt. The kidnapers have
asked her to reply to their demands
over this station" He paused. Intro
ducing Mr. King Fletcher, Mrs. WAITS
lawyer"
Another, a deeper voice, sounded
Mrs. Wyatt's reply to the kidnapers
OF her son, Craig. is as follows: I am
ready 10 meet the demands of the men
who are holding my son Craig. The
money IS ready for them. make only
one condition. Before money is turned
over to them. I must receive a mes
sage from my son, written and signed
by him, telling me that he has not
been harmed. Signed, Mrs. Gloria
Wyatt"
The big man was on his feet, glarine
at the radio as if it were a living
thing. Ben and Pho were staring At
him wonderingly. as If that radio
message had had no meaning for them
The big man shot a glance at joyce
suddenly, and she shivered away from
the look in his eyes.
He said softly, "Come!"-and moved
toward the stairs.
Joyce followed him. Mrs. Wyatt's
message still echoing in her ears
a message from my son, writ
ten and signed by him" Jones
She realized, knew that Craig was in
no condition to write anything. His
brief glance had told her plainly that
he knew 1t, and that he was prepared
TO take steps to protect himself.
Silently she followed him up the
stairs and down the corridor. He
unlocked Craig's door and pushed IL
open.
Craig was lying as she had left
him; his noisy breathing seemed tr
MI the room; his face was ashy, fading
into q lighter tone about the lips
Jones bent over him, an ear against
Craig's chest. Then he was staring
at Joyce.
Where Is the nearest doctor?"
Her heart races at his words, and
tnen She fought down the hope that
had touched her.
Il can't answer that she said stead.
lily, because I don't know where we
are"
Nearest town is Batesville," he said
impatiently.
1t was on the tip of her tongue to
mention certain name. Just to say
tnat name, she felt, would be q COM
tort, would make her feel safe again.
In her minds eye she could see DR..