Part 51 (1/2)
A brief examination was enough to show the doctor that a broken leg was the least of Cameron's trouble. A hasty investigation of the resources of the farm house determined the doctor's course.
”This man has typhoid fever, a bad case too,” he said to Mandy. ”We will take him in to the hospital.”
”The hospital?” cried Mandy fiercely. ”Will you, then?”
”He will be a lot of trouble to you,” said the doctor.
”Trouble? Trouble? What are you talkin' about?”
”We're awful busy, Mandy,” interposed the mother, who had been roused from her bed.
”Oh, shucks, mother! Oh, don't send him away,” she pleaded. ”I can nurse him, just as easy.” She paused, with quivering lips.
”It will be much better for the patient to be in the hospital. He will get constant and systematic care. He will be under my own observation every hour. I a.s.sure you it will be better for him,” said the doctor.
”Better for him?” echoed Mandy in a faint voice. ”Well, let him go.”
In less than an hour's time, such was Dr. Martin's energetic promptness, he had his patient comfortably placed in the democrat on an improvised stretcher and on his way to the city hospital.
And thus it came about that the problem of his leave-taking, which had vexed Cameron for so many days, was solved.
CHAPTER VIII
IN APPLE TIME
”Another basket of eggs, Mr. Cameron, and such delicious cream! I am deeply grieved to see you so nearly well.”
”Grieved?”
”For you will be leaving us of course.”
”Thanks, that is kind of you.”
”And there will be an end to eggs and cream. Ah! You are a lucky man.”
And the trim, neat, bright-faced nurse shook her finger at him.
”So I have often remarked to myself these six weeks.”
”A friend is a great discovery and by these same tokens you have found one.”
”Truly, they have been more than kind.”
”This makes the twelfth visit in six weeks,” said the nurse. ”In busy harvest and thres.h.i.+ng time, too. Do you know what that means?”
”To a certain extent. It is awfully good of them.”
”But she is shy, shy--and I think she is afraid of YOU. Her chief interest appears to be in the kitchen, which she has never failed to visit.”
The blood slowly rose in Cameron's face, from which the summer tan had all been bleached by his six weeks' fight with fever, but he made no reply to the brisk, sharp-eyed, sharp-minded little nurse.