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 FLAMING

in Cary’s return.

YOUTH

251

She anticipated it with a mingling of

trepidation, eagerness, warmth, and excited curiosity, the latter element being predominant. On the following morning she had another letter, and still a third on the day after. She quite gloried in his devotion. But she did not answer the letters. She rather wanted to but found a difficulty in beginning. She preferred to plan out what she should say to him when they met again, and was in the act of building up a quite thrilling and’ eloquent statement of her feelings when the phone summoned her. “Pat?” It was Dee’s voice, queer and strained. “Ca™ you come over at once?” “Yes. What’s happened?”

Jim has been hurt.” “Jim? How?” “Hit by a car.” “Oh, Dee! Is it bad?” “Yes, Ithink so. They’re bringing him here.” “T’ll be right over.” Pat made a dash for her runabout. When she reached the James house there were two cars in the driveway, Dr. Osterhout’s and a large touring car strange to her. There was blood on the steps which Pat mounted. “Ts he killed?” she asked, chokingly, of a maid who was hurrying through the hall. “Nom,” said the girl. “I don’t think so.” Then added in awe-stricken tones: “He was swearin’ somethin’ awful when they brung him in. The poo-er man!” Dr. Osterhout’s Pat followed her to the front room. head was thrust out, at her knock. “What can I do, Bobs?” she asked.

He nodded, approving the steadiness of her voice and control. “Locate a trained nurse and bring her here.”