Page:The Breath of Scandal (1922).djvu/73

 "Mr. Hale's daughter is below at the front; that is she ringing."

"Oh!"

"She has to come up. There is no way to stop her, without making things worse than they are. But she must not know what has happened here. You can understand that."

"Yes," Mrs. Russell said.

Doctor Grantham appeared behind her; he had put on his coat and it was evident that he had done for his patient all that he could do.

"How is he, doctor?" Gregg asked.

"He is unconscious. We have a chance to keep life in him," Grantham jerked in his abrupt, practical way. "But we must get him to an operating room. I've sent for an ambulance. Who do you say is downstairs? Marjorie?"

"Yes, doctor."

Grantham looked Gregg over; the doctor had no doubt of what he had to do; he questioned only the discretion of Gregg, whom he challenged:

"I've seen you at the Hales'; what's your name?"

"Mowbry; I'm the one who talked from Evanston to your girl. I happened to know Mr. Hale was here," Gregg explained himself. "Marjorie, of course, didn't. Whittaker, who's engaged to her, is with her. He doesn't know anything about this. Does your assistant know Marjorie?"

"Carson?" said the doctor. "No."

"Would she know him?"

"I don't think so. Why?"

"Then can't he be Russell for a few minutes? You see what I mean, doctor. They've got to come up, or they'll surely find out. Doctor, Mr. Hale told them