to them; but my
medicines are made up of yarbs, and canna hurt onybody."

"Are you sure of that?" asked the judge.

"Ay, I'm sure."

"Then what about the girl Emily Dodson, in Brunclough Lane, whom you've
been treating for several weeks? You've repeatedly sent medicine there
without having seen the patient."

Ezekiel looked uncomfortable. "Her mother told me she was just low
like," he said, "and all she needed was some strengthening medicine."

"But no doctor should go on giving medicine without seeing the patient."

"Well, I'm noan going to give her any more," replied Ezekiel. "I were
called in there last night 'cause Maria Ellen told me her lass was
worse."

"Oh, you went to see the girl last night, did you? And what did you
discover?"

"The lass were in a very bad way. But I can cure her all right."

From that time Judge Bolitho assumed a very severe air, and, when
presently he left the house, Ezekiel looked exceedingly anxious.

"Of course, you'll understand," said the judge, on leaving him, "that
it'll be to your interest that this interview remains a secret?"

"Ay, I see that," replied Ezekiel, with conviction.

"You'll understand also that Doctor White must be sent for at once?"

"Doctor White's no friend of mine," said Ezekiel. "He's always been
hard on those of us who were not in the regular line of things."

"I insist on Dr. White," replied the judge.

"Weel, if you insist, it shall be done. But you'll not make it hard
for me, will you?"

"I'll see what can be done," replied the judge. And then he walked
away in a very thoughtful frame of mind.

A little later he was at Dr. White's surgery.

"I want half an hour's private talk with you," he said.

"Important?"

"Very important!"

When the judge had informed the doctor of the purport of his visit the
latter looked very grave. "This cannot be decided off-hand," he said
presently. And then, leaving the room, he spoke to his dispenser.

"Daniel," he said, "I have to leave the surgery at three o'clock, and
it only wants half an hour to that time now. Are there many people
waiting?"

"Ay, a good number."

"Take down their names and send them all away. Tell them I cannot see
them until six to-night."

"Very well."

The doctor returned to Judge Bolitho again. "Now let's hear your story
from end to end," he said.

When their interview closed, Dr. White looked, if possible, grimmer
than usual, and when he visited his pati