Page:Old ninety-nine's cave.djvu/162

 "Not even communication by telephone?"

"Even that. Were it known that Hernando has leprosy, complications might arise. Fearful as the disease is, it is not contagious, but it would be a difficult matter to convince the laity that contagion and infection are not synonymous. Am I to depend on your co-*operation?"

"Oh, yes," came the answer in unison.

"Reuben will collect together his effects"—with an accent on the name, which both understood—"and prepare him for the trip at about ten o'clock to-night; I, with a trusty man, will be here with a conveyance for Shushan."

A heavy sigh from Mr. Genung.

"And now," said the doctor cheerfully, "devotion is commendable only when rightly demonstrated. Let me know if he awakes. Good-morning," and he was off.

Even his enemies would have pitied Andrew Genung as he sat there staring vacantly at first one and then another. Hernando's coming and subsequent aid in discovering "Old Ninety-Nine's" mine he had viewed in the light