Page:Jackson Gregory--joyous trouble maker.djvu/264

248 "Look at that, will you?" Steele flung out his arm in a wide sweeping gesture. "Notice how they're all outside rooms; how they catch the sun; how airy and cheerful and convenient it all is. A little alteration here and there and it would make first rate place for you, wouldn't it, Doctor?" "Believe you're right," said Dr. Gilchrist, still with no glimpse of Steele's purpose. "May run over here for a couple of days if I get the time later on. Right now I'm going to be busy looking for my hospital site."

"And then drawing up plans, clearing land, making a road to it and putting up the building? All the summer gone and only half way to completion when the snows come and stop you. When the sensible thing ..."

"Well?" queried Gilchrist as Steele paused abruptly.

"Is to take what lies all ready and at hand! All you've got to do here is wave your hand like a fairy's wand and here you've got Dr. Gilchrist's Sanatorium, ready for occupancy."

Gilchrist frowned and continued to stare.

"I mean it," laughed Steele. "I've got an option of the whole works, hotel, store, cottages, lake, everything. It's just the article for your purpose; you couldn't beat it if you took all year to look around. And it's ready. Ready for you to bring your patients into in a week!"

In a flash he had caught the physician's interest. In silence they made further investigations, Gilchrist going at last into the inn, while Steele waited with the