r, with a rising inflection, wondering what could
be the outcome of this roundabout talk. "Is some member of your family
sick?" she asked.

A bolt clicked behind the metaphysical healer, who turned with the alarm
of a trapped mouse and essayed to push the door. Then, remembering what
seemed more profitable game in front, she repeated her question, but in
a ruffled tone, "Some member of your family?"

Charley laughed in spite of himself.

"Not of my family, but a relative," he said. "It is my cousin who is
sick in this room, and I called to get you outside of the door. I beg
your pardon for the seeming rudeness."

Miss Bowyer now pushed on the door in vain.

"You think this is a gentlemanly way to treat a lady?" she said, choking
with indignation.

"It doesn't seem handsome, does it?" he said. "But do you think you have
treated Mrs. Martin in a ladylike way?"

"I was called by her husband," she said.

"You are now dismissed by the wife."

"I will see Mr. Martin at once, and he will reinstate me."

"You will not see Mr. Martin. I shall not give you a chance. I am going
to report you to the County Medical Society and the Board of Health at
once. Have you reported this case of diphtheria, as the law requires?"

"No, I have not," said Miss Bowyer; "but I was going to do so to-day."

"I don't like to dispute the word of a lady," he said, "but you know
that you are not a proper practitioner, and that in case of a contagious
disease the Board of Health would put you out of here neck and heels, if
I must speak so roughly. Mrs. Martin is my aunt. If you make any
trouble, I shall feel obliged to have you arrested at once. If you go
home quietly and do not say a word to Mr. Martin, I'll let you off. You
have no doubt lost patients of this kind before, and if I look up your
record--"

"My hat and cloak are in there," said Miss Bowyer.

"If you renounce the case and say no more to Mr. Martin I will not
follow you up," said Charley; "but turn your hand against Mrs. Martin,
and I'll spend a thousand dollars to put you in prison."

This put a new aspect on the case in Miss Bowyer's mind. That Mrs.
Martin had influential friends she had not dreamed. Miss Bowyer had had
one tilt with the authorities, and she preferred not to try it again.

"My hat and cloak are in there," she repeated, pushing on the door.

"Stand aside," said Millard, "and I will get them."

Somehow Millard had reached Miss Bowyer's interior percepti