Page:Harold Titus--Timber.djvu/64

56 of finding the expected resentment in this girl she had called on him for help. Strange, surely!

They left the forest behind, passed the mill with its group of shacks and skipped on along the plains road. Water which had gathered in the ruts was shot across the glare of the lights in a brief arc, the car lurched and wriggled in the twisted road and black brush lacquered by the rain reeled past. With scarcely an exchange of words they covered the distance to the Harris settlement, turned from the main road and stopped before a house.

A door opened and a man stood silhouetted in the light.

"She asked for you," he said cautiously as Helen, followed by Taylor, approached the steps. "She's just dropped to sleep."

"Could you get the doctor?"

"Sim Burns was going by," the man replied, "and I sent word by him."

Helen entered, drawing off her gloves.

"If he doesn't come in an hour, Mr. Taylor had better drive in for him. Mr. Parker, this is Mr. Taylor."

Parker closed the door and shook hands silently with John who recognized him as the man who had waved at Lucius that afternoon. His unshaven face was very white and his black eyes seemed abnormally large against its pallor.

"Doctor was here this morning," he said huskily. "He said—" He swallowed and shook his head. "He said a day or two would tell."

"Is she—Does she suffer?" Helen asked.

Tears came into the man's eyes and he looked at her helplessly.

"It's awful! I thought yesterday she was better, but