Five Little Peppers Abroad | Page 4

at his Grandfather, "you
wouldn't get in such a funk."
Polly was busy smoothing the hot forehead under the white hair, and
appeared not to notice a word he said.
"Your Grandfather really appears ill," said Jasper. "And the doctor
might give him something to help him."
Tom burst into a short laugh and kicked his heel against the table. "Hoh!
hoh! I say, you don't know him; oh, what muffs you are! He's well
enough, only he's determined not to go to his state-room where he
belongs, but to kick up a row here."
"Very well," said Jasper, coolly, "since you are determined to do
nothing for his relief, I shall take it upon myself to summon the
doctor." He stepped to a table a bit further off, and touched the electric
button back of it.
"Here, don't do that," remonstrated Tom, springing forward. But it was
too late, and the steward who attended to calls on the library stepped in.
"It isn't the hour for giving out books," he began.
Tom was stamping his foot impatiently, and scowling at Jasper,
alternately casting longing glances out the nearest port-hole.
"It isn't books we want," said Jasper, quickly, "but this old
gentleman"--whose head was now heavily sunken on his breast, and
whose cheek was quite white--"appears to be very ill, and to need the
doctor."
"Is that so?" The steward leaned over and peered into the old face.
"Well, he doesn't look just right, and that's a fact. Is he your father?"
"Oh, no," said Jasper, quickly, "I don't know who he is. But, do hurry,
for he's sick, and needs the doctor at once."
"I'll get Dr. Jones." Off ran the steward toward the surgeon's cabin.
"See what you've done," cried Tom, in a towering passion. "Kicked up

a pretty mess--when I tell you I've seen my Grandfather just as bad a
hundred times."
Jasper made no reply, and Polly continued to stroke gently the poor
head.
"Well--well--well!" exclaimed Mr. King, coming in, "to be sure, it's
very stupid in me not to think of looking in the library for both of you
before. O dear me--bless me!" And he came to a dead stop of
astonishment.
"Father," cried Jasper, "this poor man seems very ill."
"Oh, yes," breathed Polly, pitifully, "he really is, Grandpapa." And she
put out her hand to seize one of Mr. King's. "And Jasper has sent for
the doctor."
"And none too soon, I should say," remarked Mr. King, grimly, with a
keen glance into the old man's face. "Raise his feet a little higher,
Jasper; put a pillow under them; there, that's it. Well, the doctor should
be hurried up." He glanced quickly around. "Here, you boy," seeing
Tom, "run as you never have run before, and tell the doctor to come
quickly."
"There isn't any need," began Tom.
"Do you _go_!" commanded Mr. King, pointing to the door. And Tom
went.
"Father, that boy is his grandson," said Jasper, pointing to the sick man.
Mr. King stared into Jasper's face, unable to make a reply.
"He is," declared Polly. "Oh, Grandpapa, he really is!" Then she buried
her flushed face up against Mr. King's arm.
"There is no need to waste words," said Mr. King, finding his tongue.
"There, there, Polly, child," fondling her brown head, "don't feel badly.
I'm sure you've done all you could."
"'Twas Jasper; he did it all--I couldn't do anything," said Polly.
"Oh, Polly, you did everything," protested Jasper.
"Yes, yes, I know, you both did," said Mr. King. "Well, here's the
doctor, thank the Lord!"
And then when nobody wanted them, the library seemed to be full of
people, and the news spreading out to the decks, many of the
passengers got out of their steamer chairs, and tried to swarm into the
two doorways.
Tom, who never knew how he summoned Dr. Jones, being chiefly

occupied in astonishment at finding that he obeyed a command from a
perfect stranger, did not come back to the library, but kept himself with
the same amazed expression on his face, idly kicking his heels in a
quiet corner of the deck near by. He never thought of such a thing as
being worried over his Grandfather, for he couldn't remember when the
old gentleman hadn't been subject to nervous attacks; but somehow
since "a row," as he expressed it, "had been kicked up," it was just as
well to stay in the vicinity and see the end of it. But he wasn't going
inside --no, not he!
After awhile, Tom was just beginning to yawn, and to feel that no one
could expect him to waste time like that, and probably his Grandfather
was going to sleep it out on the sofa, and the stupid doctor would find
that there