Part 26 (2/2)
And they did. Roberto did not seem to be conscious, and yet, to Ruth's surprise, the color came and went in the boy's cheeks, and his black brows knitted a little. It was just as though he _were_ conscious and was endeavoring to endure the pain he felt without moaning.
They got him into the carriage in as comfortable a position as possible.
Ruth sat beside him, while Helen joined her father on the front seat.
Then the gentleman let the spirited team go, and they dashed off over the road toward Lumberton.
At once Helen told her father who the injured youth was. Having heard all the details of his young folks' adventures on the road to Boise Landing, Mr. Cameron knew just who Roberto was, and he saw the importance of learning from him, if possible, where his clan had gone.
”We want to know especially what has become of the old woman--the queen,” Mr. Cameron said. ”I can't help it, if she _is_ the boy's grandmother, she is a wicked woman. Besides, we want to get back that necklace for Mrs. Parsons.”
Unfortunately, it would be impossible for the dry goods merchant to remain in Lumberton to watch the case. He had to return that very evening, and could not spare the time now to see Tom.
He arranged at the hospital for Roberto to be given every care, and left some money with Helen and Ruth for them to purchase little luxuries for the boy when he should become convalescent.
He waited until after the doctors had made their examination and learned that Roberto not only suffered from a broken arm, but had two ribs broken and his right leg badly wrenched.
Mr. Cameron wrote a note to Mrs. Tellingham, asking that Helen and Ruth might visit the hospital every day or two to see how the patient fared.
”Besides,” said Ruth, eagerly, ”I may get him to talk. Perhaps he has deserted his tribe for good, and he may help us learn about the necklace.”
”You want to be very careful in trying to pump the lad,” said Mr.
Cameron, with a smile.
He need not have feared on this point, however, as it turned out. The very next afternoon Ruth and Helen hurried in to Lumberton to make inquiries at the hospital. They saw the head physician and he was frankly puzzled about Roberto.
”I thought I had had every kind of a case in my experience,” said the surgeon, ”but there's something about this one that puzzles me.”
”Is he more hurt than you thought?” cried Ruth, anxiously.
”I don't know. It seems that we have found all his injuries that are apparent. But there is one we cannot reach. Something is the matter with his speech.”
”His speech?” gasped Helen.
”You have heard him speak?”
”Of course!”
”Then he is not naturally dumb----”
”Dumb?” repeated Helen, in wonderment. ”You don't mean that he is dumb?”
”I mean just that. It appears that since his fall yesterday, he cannot talk at all,” said the doctor.
CHAPTER XXI
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