ch jobs. I bet you he used to be an
army surgeon in his younger days, from hints he's let drop. And then
he knows the Signal Corps work right off the handle to boot, even
if---well, I won't say what I meant to. He's been so kind and
considerate to me; my own father couldn't have been more tender.
I've guessed the secret of the old haunted quarry, Hugh!" which last
he almost whispered in the other's ear.

"Yes, I can say the same," muttered Hugh, "because, as soon as I saw
that he was using the regular army code of signals, I remembered
about hearing how a certain family over near Hackensack had an uncle
who used to be in the Signal Corps and was also later on an army
surgeon, but who had suffered a sunstroke, and, well, was said to be
a bit queer."

"Yes," whispered K.K., "this is the same party. His name, I remember,
was Dr. Coursens, and there was some talk last summer about his having
got loose from the house and being drowned, they believed, in the
river, though his body was never found. Just to think of it, he's
been hiding here ever since, picking up his living almost like a wild
animal. Why, right now his clothes are nearly falling off his back,
and if he tries to hang out here much longer he'll be frozen to death.
But, Hugh, we must let his folks know where he is so they can come
after him. I believe his mind is beginning to get a little clear
again, for at times he talks quite reasonably."

This was all mighty interesting to Hugh, and he determined that he
would let no grass grow under his feet until he had seen to it that
the an with the deranged mind was once more re stored to his family.
But the first thing to be done was to get poor K.K. safely back home.
So he turned to the man and spoke to him, telling him that they
wished to get their comrade to the car, and at the same time thanking
him warmly for all he had done. Not a single word in reply did Hugh
receive. The man listened and nodded his head, as though he could
dimly understand what the boy was saying. Evidently he was in
something of a dazed condition, if, as K.K. affirmed, his senses
were beginning to assume a normal condition after years of darkness.

It was a terrible job getting K.K. down from that elevated place.
The man showed them how best to manage. He seemed really solicitous,
and it could be seen that he had taken quite a liking to K.K. during
their brief intercourse, since the latter had been found groaning on
the ground.