Page:Mistress Madcap Surrenders (1926).pdf/154



T WAS a long time before Mehitable opened her eyes. When she did so, she found her head pillowed upon someone's knee and John Condit kneeling upon the ground near by, beside a silent figure.

"Greater love hath no man" John was saying, with a little catch in his breath. "Ah, Tony!" he cried pitifully.

Someone spoke above Mehitable's head. Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.' Poor Sturgins! He did indeed love ye well, John!" There was a tremor in the deep voice and Mehitable, lying languidly, felt her hair stirred by a sigh. With that, she tried to lift her head.

At once there was a tenseness in the arms that held her. A short pause ensued. Then Anthony Freeman spoke a trifle breathlessly.

"Your—your sister be recovering from her swoon, I think, John."

Doctor Condit hastily placed his white kerchief over the still face of the man on the ground, glanced