Page:Frank Packard - Greater Love Hath No Man.djvu/223

 "Hum!" said Doctor Kreelmar, in his most medical tones. "I've just a few words of advice for you, professional of course, before you go." He looked toward the warden. "Start along, Rand; I'll catch up with you in a minute. Now, young lady, you are going away for a complete change and rest to build yourself up and"—he glanced over his shoulder—Warden Rand was disappearing through the door into the hallway—"and"—the professional tones vanished like magic, and his voice bubbled up like an excited boy's—"don't you worry that little head of yours one minute over what we've been talking about. The man they've caught isn't Varge."

She looked at him startled, gave a little gasp and caught his arm.

"How do you know?" she asked breathlessly.

"Tut, tut," said he. "Can a woman keep a secret?"

"Yes; oh, yes!" she cried eagerly.

"Hum!" he commented dubiously, cocking his head comically to one side.

"Doctor—what is it?"—she shook his arm feverishly.

"Well," he said, "I had a dream."

"A dream?"—her face fell.

"Yes," he said. "I dreamed that Varge—had gone the other way." His eyes held hers for an instant, then, with a little chuckle, he bade her good-bye and started quickly toward the door.

"Doctor!" she called peremptorily. "Doctor—"

But the front door had already closed behind him.

For a moment Janet stood staring at the doorway, then mechanically she walked to the chair her father