CHAPTER XVI
A HOSPITAL REUNION
When Ninian Sharp sat down to smoke a cigar at the window of his club itwas with no idea that he was then and there to begin a bit of detectivework which should make him famous. For, though this is anticipating,that was the reward which the future held for him because of his yieldingto a kindly impulse.
Through him, the helplessness of a little girl won for an almost hopelesscause the aid of a great newspaper, than which there is no influencemore potent. It took but one hearing of Jessica's story to rouse hisinterest and to convince him that here was a "good thing if it couldbe well worked up." It promised a "sensation" that would result inbenefit to his paper, to himself, and--for his credit be it said--tothe family of the dead philanthropist.
After he had bidden Lady Jess good-night, the reporter called at thehotel where Morris Hale was registered and held an interview with thatgentleman. The result of this was pleasing to both men. They had onecommon object: the recovery of the missing money which had been entrustedto Cassius Trent. Mr. Hale wished this for the sake of his New Yorkpatrons, but now hoped, as did Ninian Sharp, that if it were accomplishedit would also clear the memory of Jessica's father from the stainresting upon it. For the present, they decided to join forces, so tospeak. By agreement, they went together to the station-house on thefollowing morning, and found Lady Jess looking out of a window witha rather dreary interest in the scene. But she instantly caught sightof them and darted to the doorway to meet them, holding out both handstoward the lawyer and entreating:
"Oh! I beg your pardon for the 'boys'! And for us that we should everhave let it happen to any guest of Sobrante. Can you forgive it?"
The reporter looked curious and Mr. Hale's face flushed at the painfulmemory her words had revived. But he did not explain and passed thematter over, saying:
"Don't mention it, my child. Odd, isn't it? To think you should followme so quickly all this long way. Well, you deserve success and I'mgoing to help you to it, if I can. So is this new friend you've made.Now, are you ready to see poor 'Forty-niner'? If so, get your cap,bid the matron good-by, and we'll be off."
Jessica obeyed, quickly; taking leave of Mrs. Wood with warm expressionsof gratitude for her "nice bed and breakfast," assuring that ratherskeptical person that these men "were certainly all right, because oneof them had been at her own dear home and her mother had recognized himfor a gentleman. The other--why, the other wrote for a newspaper. Evendrew pictures for it! Think of that!"
"Humph! A man might do worse. But, never mind. This is the place tocome to if you get into any more trouble. There's the street and numberit is, and here's my name on a piece of paper. Now, it's to be putin the book about your going, who takes you, and where. After that--afterthat I suppose there's nothing more."
Ninian Sharp watched this little by-play with much interest, and remarkedto the lawyer:
"That child has a charm for all she meets. Even this old police matron,whose heart ought to be as tough as shoeleather, looks doleful atparting with her. I think her the most winning little creature I evermet."
"You should see her with her 'boys,' as she calls the workmen atSobrante. They idolize her and obey her blindly. Sometimes, theirdevotion going further than obedience," he added, with a return ofannoyance in his expression.
As she stepped into the street, Jessica clasped a hand of each, withjoyful confidence, and they smiled at one another over her head, leadingher to the next corner where they hailed a car and the reporter badeher jump aboard.
"Am I to ride in that? Oh, delightful!"
"Delightful" now seemed everything about her. Friends were close athand and a few minutes would bring her to Ephraim. That he was injuredand helpless she knew, yet could not realize; while she could and didrealize to the full all the novelty about her. The swift motion of theelectric car, the gay and busy streets, the palm-bordered avenues theycrossed, the ever-changing scenes of the city, each richer and morewonderful than the other, in her inexperienced eyes. She would have likedto ask many questions, but her companions were now conversing in lowtones and she would not interrupt. Soon, however, she saw Mr. Sharp makea slight gesture with his hand and the car stopped. "Our street," hesaid, rising.
A brief walk afterward brought them to a big building, standing somewhatback from the avenue, with a green lawn and many trees about it.Above the several gateways of its iron fence were signs, indicating:"Accident Ward," "Convalescent's Ward," "General Hospital,""Nurses' Home," "Dispensary," etc., all of which confused andsomewhat startled the country-reared girl. The more, it may be, as, atthat moment, the gong of an ambulance warned them to step off thecrossing before the "accident" alley beside the main building, andthe big van dashed toward an open door.
Jessica gripped Mr. Hale's hand, nervously, and watched in a sort offascination while white-garbed attendants lifted an injured man from theambulance and carried him tenderly into the hospital.
"Is--is he hurt?"
"Yes, dear, I suppose so."
"Was it like that they brought Ephraim here?"
"Probably."
"Oh! how dreadful! My poor, poor 'Forty-niner.'"
"Rather, how merciful. But come; such a brave little woman as youmustn't show the white feather at the mere sight of a hospital van.Ephraim has been well cared for, be sure; and as he has been told toexpect you he'll be disappointed if you bring him a scared, unhappyface."
"Then I'll--I'll smile," she answered, promptly, thought the effortwas something of a failure.
Soon they entered the building, whose big halls were so silent incontrast with the street outside, and where the white-clad doctors andnurses seemed to Jessica like "ghosts" as they moved softly hereand there. Again she clinched the lawyer's hand and whispered:
"It's awful. It smells queer. I'm afraid. Aren't you?"
"Not in the least. I like it. I've been a patient in just such placesmore than once and think of them as the most blessed institutions inthe world. The odor of chemicals and disinfectants is noticeable atfirst, but one soon gets accustomed to it and likes it. At any rateI do. But, see, we're falling behind. Mr. Sharp evidently knows hisway well and we must hurry if we'd keep him in sight."
Indeed, the reporter was just disappearing around a turn of the broadstaircase leading up into a sun-lighted corridor. He was quick anddecided in all his movements, and had paused but for one instant tospeak with an attendant at the door before he took his direct way toEphraim's room.
"Why, I supposed he was in the general ward" said Mr. Hale, as hejoined Ninian, who had to stop and wait for his more leisurely advance.
"He was, but he couldn't stand it. So I had him put into a private roomand he's much better satisfied. He has money enough to pay for it and ifhe hadn't--well, it was just pitiful to see the old man's own distressat sight of the distress of others all about him. I'd have had to do it,even if it had taken my bottom dollar."
"True to your class! I've always heard that newspaper men were the mostgenerous in the world, and now I believe it. Well, count me in, on thistransaction. But when were you here?"
"Last night and--early this morning."
"Whew! If you put such energy as that into the rest of the businessyou'll make a speedy finish of it!"
"That's my intention. Well, child, here we are. Put your best footforward and cheer up that forlorn old chap."
Jessica had paused to look down a great ward, opening upon that corridor,and was staring, spellbound, at the rows upon rows of white beds, eachwith its occupant, and at the white-capped nurses bending over thisor that sufferer. The wide, uncurtained windows, all open to the softmorning air, the snowy walls, the cleanliness and repose impressed her.
"Why--it's nice! I thought it would be dreadful; and where is Ephraim?Can I go in? How shall I find him among so many?"
"Don't you understand? This way, I said, Lady Jess. The sharpshooterwants to see his captain."
She turned swiftly at that, and the smile he had hoped to rouse was onh
er face as she caught the reporter's hand.
"Why--how did you know _that?_ Who told you I was Lady Jess, orcaptain?"
"Who but 'Forty-niner' himself? Here he is," and he gently forced herthrough an open doorway into a little room, which seemed a miniature ofthe great ward beyond. There was the same white spotlessness, anotherkind-faced nurse, and another prostrate patient.
"Ephraim! Ephraim! You poor, dear, precious darling!"
She was beside him, her arms about his neck, her tears and kisses rainingon his wrinkled face--a face that a moment before had been full ofsadness and impatience, but was now brimming with delight.
"Little Lady! Little captain! I'm a pretty sort of a guardeen, I am!But, thank God, I'm not the only man in the world, and you've foundthem that can help you more than I could, with all my smartness. Did youhear about that turn-tail, Stiffleg? Wasn't that enough to make a mandisgusted with horseflesh forever after? Ugh! I wish I had him, I'dlarrup him crossing before the 'accident' alley beside the main well!And to think you, Cassius Trent's daughter, spent your first night intown at a station-house! Child, I'll never dare to go home and face the'boys' again, after that. Never."
"Don't talk too much, sir," cautioned the nurse, offering her patienta spoonful of some nourishment.
"No, Ephraim, I'll talk. Oh! what wouldn't Aunt Sally give to be herenow! To think she's lost such a chance for dosing you!"
"Forty-niner" laughed and the laughter did him good; though he soonexplained: "They say I'll have to lie here for nobody knows howlong, without moving, scarcely. That pesky old leg of mine did the jobup thorough, while it was at it. Thought it might as well be hung fora sheep as a lamb, I s'pose. Well, it was the luckiest thing everhappened--you getting lost and me getting hurt. That's the only way tolook at it. But--Atlantic! How'm I ever going to stand it? Having otherfolks do for you and I, that'd give my right hand to help you--useless."
"Easily, Ephraim. If it's a good thing, as you say, why then it can'tbe a bad one. Here's your money. You must use it to pay for anythingyou want. Or give it all to Mr. Hale about the business. You know."
"Money! I don't want that. All I had they took away from me. Put it inthe hospital safe till I'm ready to go out. But you can't live in acity without hard cash in every pocket. Oh! dear! I don't see what isto be done! One minute it all is clear and I think what I said about myaccident being lucky for you; the next--I can't stand it. What is tobecome of you, little captain?"
"I'm going to stay right here with you."
"You are? You will?" demanded the patient, eagerly. "You wouldn'tbe afraid? But, maybe, you wouldn't be allowed. Hospitals are for sickfolks and old fools that don't know enough to sit a horse steady.They're not for a happy little girl, who can make new friends forherself anywhere. No. I guess, maybe, that Mr. Hale'll find you aplace, or get you on the cars to go home again. Oh! child, I wish youwere safe back at Sobrante this minute!"
"And our work not done? Foolish 'boy!' As if I'd leave you alone,either, when you're ill and--and Aunt Sally so far away."
Ephraim groaned and Jessica looked toward the reporter, who was talkingearnestly with the nurse, just outside in the corridor. She heard him say:
"If it could be arranged it would be a solution of the whole difficulty.Her board would be assured, and at the first opportunity she shall besent to her home. For the present----"
She felt it no shame to listen intently. She knew that they werediscussing herself and what was to be done with her. On that subjectshe had already made up her own mind; so she slipped her hand fromEphraim's and stepped to Mr. Sharp's side.
"I want to say right here in this hospital. I will not make anybody abit of trouble. I will mind everything I am told. I'll not talk orlaugh or anything I should not. I'll help take care of Ephraim andthere's nobody who knows him here but me. He's the best man there canbe, and he's old, though he doesn't look it. Please let me stay. Anywayuntil all the money is spent. There's enough for a while, I think.Please."
In answer to the reporter's look, rather than Jessica's words, thenurse replied:
"Yes, we do often have friends of the patients here. If there happen tobe rooms empty and so to spare. But a child--we never had a child-boarderbefore. I'll consult the head nurse and let you know at once. Or,better why not go and see her for yourself?"
"I'd much prefer," said Ninian, who had more faith in his ownpersuasive powers than in hers. "And I'll take Jessica with me."
The result was that the little girl was allowed to "remain for thepresent," and was assigned a room very near Ephraim's. Upon her goodbehavior, as viewed from a hospital standpoint, depended the continuanceof her stay.
"She can have her clothes sent here, but only what are necessary,"added the lady, as she dismissed them.
"My clothes! Why--I don't know where they are."
"Whew! What do you mean? I--I never thought about clothes," said NinianSharp.
"Nor I, before, since I came. I had only a change of underwear andanother flannel frock. Ephraim was to buy me more if I needed, thoughmother thought I should not. But what I did have were in the saddlebagson Stiffleg's back."
"And he marched off to glory with them, the old soldier, eh? Well,that's soon remedied. There are lots of stores in Los Angeles and lotsof girls your size. I'll get a nurse to fix you out, when she can,and now, back to Ephraim and good-by."