The Thirteenth Letter

THE white-capped nurse dropped the curtains in place so that they completely shut out the night and equally prevented any ray of artificial light penetrating the outer darkness. Her eyes, blinded by her steadfast gaze into the whirling snow storm, were slow in adjusting themselves to the lamp lighted room and for some minutes she saw as in a blur the spare form of the physician standing by her patient's bed. Doctor Roberts turned at her approach and removed his finger from about the man's wrist. He met her glance with a negative shake of his head as he replaced his watch.

"Abbott!" he called softly, bending over the patient: "Rouse yourself and take some nourishment. You will never get your strength back if you don't eat."

Slowly, languidly Abbott's dark eyes opened and regarded the two figures by his bedside. They lingered in some curiosity on the trim figure of the trained nurse and then passed on to the physician.

"I'll eat later," he mumbled. "Leave me alone, now,"--and the heavy lids closed again over the eyes under which dark circles of pain testified to hours of suffering.

"Very well." Doctor Roberts spoke more crisply. "Miss Ward will be here to look after you. You must do what she says. I'll see you in the morning. Good night."

His remark met with no response, and picking up his bag Roberts started from the room. At the door he paused and motioned to Miss Ward to follow him. Stopping long enough to arrange Abbott's pillow in a more comfortable position, the nurse went into the hall, only to find that Doctor Roberts was halfway down the staircase. With a doubtful look behind her, Miss Ward ran lightly down into the lower hall which, lighted only by oil lamps, was long and rambling and used as a living room. Doctor Roberts walked over to a table and put down his bag.

"I am glad that you are here, Miss Ward," he began, courteously. "I feared the storm would detain you. You have not nursed for me before?"--with an inquisitive glance at the pretty woman before him.

"No, Doctor." Miss Ward's tapering fingers pressed out a crease in her starched gown. "This is my first case since my arrival in Washington."

"Oh! You are a graduate nurse?"

"Yes. I trained in New York." Her hazel eyes met his steadily. "They told me at the hospital of the urgency of this case and I took a taxi out here."

"Quite right. Add all your expenses to your bill," directed Roberts. "Paul Abbott has ample means. He should be in a hospital."

"But his condition, doctor."

Roberts nodded. "That is out of the question," he agreed, "now. Had his caretaker sent for me in time I would have had Mr. Abbott moved from this God-forsaken location to the city. As it is"--he pulled himself up short--"we must do the best we can ten miles from civilization." His smile vanished as quickly as it had come. "I am no lover of the country in the dead of winter. What time did you get here?"

"An hour ago. Have you any orders, doctor?"

"You can give him a dose of this through the night"--taking out a small phial and handing it to her--"the directions are on the bottle. It is essential that Mr. Abbott have sleep; if necessary, give him this by hypodermic." And he handed her two pellets.

"What stimulation do you wish me to use in case of sudden collapse?" Miss Ward asked as Roberts picked up his bag and walked toward the front door.