Part 5 (1/2)
”I'm going to be a policeman long enough to 'get' the gangsters that 'got' me, Mr. Barton. And I believe I'm going to try a little housecleaning, or white-wings work around that neighborhood, just as a matter of sport. It doesn't hurt to try.”
And Burke's jaw closed with a determined click, as he smiled grimly.
Barton was about to speak when the door from the inner ward opened behind them.
”Father! Father!” came a fresh young voice, and the old man turned around in his chair with an exclamation of delight.
”Why, Mary, my child. I'm so pleased. How did you get to see me?
It's not a visiting day.”
A pretty girl, whose delicate, oval face was half wreathed with waves of brown curls, leaned over the wheeled chair and kissed the old gentleman, as she placed some carnations on his lap.
She caught his hand in her own little ones and patted it affectionately.
”You dear daddy. I asked the superintendent of the hospital to let me in as a special favor to-day, for to-morrow is the regular visiting day, and I can't come then--neither can Lorna.”
”Why, my dear, where are you going?”
The girl hesitated, as she noticed Burke in the wheel-chair so close at hand. By superhuman effort Bobbie was directing his attention to the distant roofs, counting the chimneys as he endeavored to keep his mind off a conversation which did not concern him.
”Oh, my dear, excuse me. Mr. Burke, turn around. I'd like to have you meet my daughter, Mary.”
Bobbie willingly took the little hand, feeling a strange embarra.s.sment as he looked up into a pair of melting blue eyes.
”It's a great pleasure,” he began, and then could think of nothing more to say. Mary hesitated as well, and her father asked eagerly: ”Why can't you girls come here to-morrow, my dear? By another visiting day I hope to be back home.”
”Father, we have----” she hesitated, and Bobbie understood.
”I'd better be wheeling inside, Mr. Barton, and let you have the visit out here, where it's so nice. It's only my first trip, you know--so let me call my steersman.”
”No secrets, no secrets,” began Barton, but Bobbie had beckoned to the ward attendant. The man came out, and, at Burke's request, started to wheel him inside.
”Won't you come and visit me, sir, in my little room? I get lonely, you know, and have a lot of s.p.a.ce. I'm so glad to have seen you, Miss Barton.”
”Mr. Burke is going to be one of my very good friends, Mary. He's coming around to see us when I get back home. Won't that be pleasant?”
Mary looked at Bobbie's honest, mobile face, and saw the splendid manliness which radiated from his earnest, friendly eyes. Perhaps she saw just a trifle more in those eyes; whatever it was, it was not displeasing.
She dropped her own gaze, and softly said:
”Yes, father. He will be very welcome, if he is your friend.”
On her bosom was a red rose which the florist had given her when she purchased the flowers for her father. Sometimes even florists are human, you know.
”Good afternoon; I'll see you later,” said Bobbie, cheerily.
”You haven't any flowers, Mr. Burke. May I give you this little one?”
asked Mary, as she unpinned the rose.