Part 10 (1/2)
”I wonder if I ought to telegraph to mother,” was his next thought.
Then he heard the door of the elevator slide back, and the next instant Scott Bowman appeared, accompanied by a short man with side whiskers and spectacles.
CHAPTER IX
THE MYSTERY ABOUT SYDNEY
The boys stood by in anxious suspense while the doctor made his examination.
”It is utter collapse from severe mental strain,” he said after a minute. ”He will come around presently.”
He wrote out a prescription and gave it to Scott to take out for him and then turned to Rex.
”You are Mr. Pell's brother, I believe?” he said.
”Yes,” answered Rex, for the fact that there was no blood relation between them was one that very seldom recurred to the boys' minds.
”Then perhaps you will be able to a.s.sign some cause for this seizure.
Was Mr. Pell excited by anything in particular when it took him?”
Rex hesitated. Remembering how Sydney had been affected by learning that he had revealed the facts about Mr. Tyler's will to Scott, he felt that he ought not to speak of the matter to any one else.
”Yes, he was excited by a-- a family affair,” he replied, hoping this was all he need say on the matter.
”Humph!” muttered the physician, and he not only took another critical look at Sydney's face, but favored Rex with a long stare, too.
”Will he be well enough to go down to Marley to-night?” asked the latter.
”You live out of town then?” returned the doctor. ”There's no place where you could take him here in the city?”
”None, but a hotel,” rejoined Rex. ”And I'm sure my mother would rather have him home.”
At this point Sydney stirred and opened his eyes. He looked first at the doctor, frowned deeply, and then as Rex came forward within his range of vision, he beckoned the boy to him.
Rex hurried over and knelt by his side.
”Who is that?” asked Sydney.
”It's a doctor. You fainted or something and Scott went out to get him. How do you feel?”
”Pretty weak, but ask him to step into the next room a minute. I want to speak to you.”
”Doctor, will you mind waiting in the next room a minute? My brother wants to see me about something.”
Rex was afraid the physician might feel offended or else object to leaving his patient, but he said, ”Why, certainly,” and then came over to take a close look at the young lawyer before leaving him.
As soon as he had gone Sydney put out one arm and pa.s.sing it around Rex's neck, drew the boy's ear close to his mouth.
”Did I say anything while I was unconscious?” he whispered.