Red Pepper's Patients / With an Account of Anne Linton's Case in Particular

of letters had been going on for nearly a fortnight,

certain that I want to go till I can g

ll, I've put her off as long as I could, but without lying to her I can't

e I ought to go; it would be

the attentions he did not want. Besides-there was another reason why, since he must for the present be confined somewhere, he was loath to leave the frie

observed Burns carelessly, strolling to

ith equal carelessness, but the truth was that, with his life bound, as it was at

ortunate possessor of a good deal of vigour at the normal. She says herself she was never ill before, and that's why she didn't give up soon

that infernal book-agenting?" There was

As for the book itself, it's pretty clever, my wife and Miss Mathewson insist. They say the youngsters of the neighbourhood are crazy over it.

k at those,

table at his elbow, took out a pile of sheets,

mean to say she did this?

vidently laying down the law about something, by every vigorous line of protest in his attitude and

that's splendid. Hasn't she caught a graceful pose though? Ellen's to the life. Selina Arden? That's good-that's very good. There's your conscie

pretty well a

And she's been rounding out every day for the last two weeks in fine shape. She's a great little girl, and as full of spirit as a gray squirrel. I'm beginning to believe she's

aight to a point in any matter; intrigue and diplomacy were not for him in affairs which concerned a girl any more than in those which pertained to his profession

ch Burns understood. All along King had said almost nothing about t

walking about a little now, and by Saturday she c

n't I sit up a

as you are now. If it's any consolation I'll tell you t

I had one. I don't want to look lik

l, Jord," he said a moment later,

h other. Then, "If yo

ind-the mails will still carry-and Franz is a faithful messenger. What's that, Miss Dwight? All r

nton would pay him a visit before she left on Saturday. When the answ

he is so confident of your complete recovery. Just to know that you can be your active self again is wonderful when one thinks what might have happened. I shall always remember you as you seemed to me the day you brought me here. I was, of course, feeling pretty limp, and

ly. But Wednesday's missive was merely a merrily piquant description of the way she was trying her returning strength by one expedition after another about her room. On Thursday s

blue bloom it took but a few hours to acquire had been properly subdued. He insisted on a particular silk shirt to wear under the loose black-silk lounging robe which enve

somehow it seems to make a difference when a man lies on his back. They have him at a disadvantage. Now if you'll just give me a pe

ex, but who was accustomed, nevertheless, to be entirely at his ease with them, King acknowledged to himse

ured, but one also clad in white-the very simple white of a plain linen suit, with a close little white hat drawn over the bronze-red hair. Under this hat the eyes King remembered glowed warmly, and now there was health in the face, which was

ere. She came straight up to the bed, her hand outstretched-her gloves were in the other, as if she were on her way downst

me?" she as

ou really been ill, or

must be all dream. How glad I am to find you able to be

. I thought you were not

y begged that I might go early, because it is her little s

Bob's?" King asked

ster's parents made no difference between them, and a birthday celebration for t

t home for his party. He has read her little book almost out of its covers, and she has been doing some place-ca

the youngsters will be crazy over them. For a convalescent it st

pt me rather busy, Mr.

t I'm to do when you are at D

e only a week if I keep on g

the earliest possible date of your leaving

ess?" Anne Linton asked softly o

uld surprise me. About that fortnight-would it be asking a

hone in your own roo

w did y

le telephone talk do quite as

the letter. The days are each a month long at present, you know, and ea

s. "Do you think circumstances

perfect outline. To think of this girl starting out ag

g very good to Mr. King-while his hours drag

I can do a lot of work on paper," King asserted. "T

oring and highly intelligent dog. Anne watched Franz, and King watched Anne. Mrs. Burns, seeming to watch nobody, noted with affectionate and somewhat

me in. She entered noiselessly, a slender, tall, black-veiled figure, as scrupulously attired in her conventional deep mourning as if it we

l this heat? I didn't expect you. I'

hing to do with my feelings toward m

ter the first long look of the tall lady had continued a trifle beyond the usual limit. Book agent though she might be, Miss Linton's manner was faultless, a fact King noted with curious pride in his new friend-w

say nothing of endowing it with a quality which should in some measure compensate for the fact that it might be a parting for a long time to come. However much or little the exchange of notes during these last weeks might have come to mean to Jord

mentary surge of greeting and small talk which ensued, King surreptitiously beckoned Anne near. He loo

esting things, are

are stimulating things," she answered; and there was that in the low tone of her voice and the look

glad to see, Miss Linton," said she, "that you are fully recovered. Please let me wish you

ne's voice composedly. "Thank

and he held it fast for an instant, and, in spite of his mother's

distinctly, and the usual phrase acquir

of Anne's parting look, veiled and maidenly, but th

his company in this exhausting weather," murmured M

e smooth forehead, as if with pain. "I really hadn't noticed the w

y well themselves are often most inconsiderate of

ation than I have had here, I shall d

n I can have you at home, where you will not feel obliged to have oth

ere moments when, as now, if he could have laid a kind but firm hand up