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 "And through the sympathy which nurses only can give, they touch the chord which even a mother cannot reach. Dr. Herschel's discovery is the marvel of the age; but I know that without Reuben's help, my case would have been a failure."

"Sometimes," said Eletheer hesitatingly, "I think that Reuben possesses the 'sixth sense.'"

"Reuben is one of those rare characters 'we read of,'" replied Hernando.

They heard the back stairway door open, close, and then Reuben's measured tread up the back stairs. As he was passing Eletheer's door on his evening rounds both she and Hernando called to him to join them.

"Law me, chillen," he said with beaming eyes, "I'se po'ful glad to see you togetha once mo'."

"And," said Eletheer with her old impetuosity, "Hernando feels that but for you, one of our number would be missing."

Reuben looked reprovingly at her, and Hernando added: