e mast!

CHAPTER XIX

IN THE MORNING

"By George, Carson, what do you think's happened now?"

Richard Kendrick had come into the store's little office like a
thunderbolt.

"Well, Mr. Kendrick?"

"Benson's down with typhoid. Came back with it from the trip to Chicago.
What do you think of that?"

"I thought he was looking a little seedy before he went. Well, well,
that's too bad. Right in the May trade, too. Is he pretty sick?"

"So the doctor says. He's been keeping up on that trip when he ought to
have been in bed. He's in bed now, all right. I took him in with a nurse
to the City Hospital on the 10:40 Limited; stretcher in the
baggage-car."

"Don't see where he got typhoid around here at this time of year," mused
Carson.

"Nobody sees, but that doesn't matter. He has it, and it's up to us to
pull him through--and to get along without him."

They sat down to talk it over. While they were at it the telephone came
into the discussion with a summons of Richard to a long-distance
connection. To his amazement, when communication was established between
himself and his distant interlocutor, clear and vibrant came to him over
the wire a voice he had dreamed of but had not heard for four months:

"Mr. Kendrick?"

"Yes. Is it--it isn't--"

"This is Miss Gray. Mr. Kendrick, your grandfather wants you very much,
at our home. He has had an accident."

"An accident? What sort of an accident? Is he much hurt, Miss Gray?"

"We can't tell yet. He fell down the porch steps; he had been calling on
Uncle Calvin. He--is quite helpless, but the doctor thinks there are no
bones broken. Doctor Thomas wouldn't allow Mr. Kendrick to be moved, so
we have him here with a nurse. He is very anxious to see you."

"I'll be there as soon as I can get there in the car. I think I can make
it quicker than by train at this hour. Thank you for calling me, Miss
Gray. Please--give my love to grandfather and tell him I'm coming."

"I will, Mr. Kendrick. I--we are all--so sorry. Good-bye."

Richard turned back to Carson with an anxious face. The manager was on
his feet, concern in his manner.

"Something happened to old Mr. Kendrick, Mr. Richard?"

"A fall--can't move--wants me right away. It never rains but it pours,
Carson--even in May. I thought Benson's illness was the worst thing that
could happen to us, but this is worse yet. I'll have to leave everything
to you to settle while I run down to the old gentleman. A fall,