d some matters. The dead man was decently composed and
dressed, his throat swathed anew in linen handkerchiefs, and another
handkerchief laid over the discolored face, which had in death a strange
peace, as if relieved of an uneasy and wearing tenant. Before Georgie K.
went out, the village undertaker had been summoned, and had been waiting
for some time in the parlor with a young assistant. They mounted the
stairs bearing some appurtenances of their trade. Gordon addressed the
undertaker briefly, giving some directions, then he motioned to James,
and they passed out. Georgie K. remained in the room. He prevented the
undertaker from removing the linen swathe on the dead man's throat. "Doc
says it's catching," he said, and the undertaker drew back quickly.

When Gordon and James were in the buggy on the way home, Gordon all at
once gave a great sigh, like that of a swimmer who yields to the force
of the current, or the fighter who sinks before his opponent. "I'm about
done, too," he said. "Here, take the lines, Elliot."

James took the reins and looked anxiously at his companion's face, a
pale blue in the moonlight. "You are not ill?" he said.

"No, only done up. For God's sake let me rest, and don't talk till we
get home!" James drove on. Gordon's head sank upon his breast, and he
began to breathe regularly. He did not wake until James roused him when
they reached home.

* * * * *

The next morning before breakfast James was awakened by a loud voice in
the office, the high-pitched one of a woman. He recalled how exhausted
Doctor Gordon had been the night before, and rose and dressed quickly.
When he entered the office Gordon was sitting huddled up in his old
armchair before the fire, while bolt upright beside him sat Mrs. Slocum,
discoursing in loud and angry tones, which Gordon seemed scarcely to
heed. When James entered she turned upon him. "Now I'll see if I can git
anythin' out of you," she said. "He" (pointing to Gordon) "don't act as
if he was half-alive. I'm goin' to have my rights if I have to go to law
to git 'em. Doctor Gordon took away my boarder. And if I'd had him sick
and die to my house, I could have got extra. Now what I want is jest
this, an' I'm goin' to hev it, too! Doctor Gordon said Mr. Meserve
didn't have money. I don't know nothin' about that. I ain't went through
his pockets, but his trunk is to my house, and there's awful nice men's
clothes into it, and I mean