Wanted--A Match Maker | Page 7

to snivel.

"Ah, you have no right to be so cruel to him," protested Miss Durant.
"It's perfectly natural. Just think how we would feel if we didn't
understand."
The doctor fumbled for his eye-glasses, but not finding them quickly
enough, squinted his eyelids in an endeavour to see the speaker. "And
who are you?" he demanded.
"Why, I am--that is--I am Miss Durant, and--" stuttered the girl.
Not giving her time to finish her speech, Dr. Armstrong asked, "Why
are you here?" while searching for his glasses.
"I did not mean to intrude," explained Constance, flushing, "only it was
my fault, and it hurts me to see him suffer more than seems necessary."
Abandoning the search for his glasses, and apparently unheeding of her
explanation, the doctor began a hasty examination of the now naked
boy, passing his hand over trunk and limbs with a firm touch that paid
no heed to the child's outcries, though each turned the onlooker faint
and cold.
Her anxiety presently overcoming the sense of rebuke, the overwrought
girl asked, "He will live, won't he?"
The man straightened up from his examination. "Except for some
contusion," he replied, "it apparently is only a leg and a couple of ribs
broken." His voice and manner conveyed the idea that legs and ribs
were but canes and corsets. "Take him into the accident ward," he
directed to the orderlies, "and I'll attend to him presently."
"I will not have this boy neglected," Constance said, excitedly and
warmly. "Furthermore, I insist that he receive instant treatment, and not
wait your convenience."
Once again Dr. Armstrong began feeling for his glasses, as he asked,
"Are you connected with this hospital, Miss Durant?"

"No, but it was my carriage ran over him, and--"
"And is it because you ran over the boy, Miss Durant," he interrupted,
"that you think it is your right to come here and issue instructions for
our treatment of him?"
"It is every one's right to see that assistance is given to an injured
person as quickly as possible," retorted the girl, though flushing, "and
to protest if human suffering, perhaps life itself, is made to wait the
convenience of one who is paid to save both."
Finally discovering and adjusting his glasses, Dr. Armstrong eyed Miss
Durant with a quality of imperturbability at once irritating and
embarrassing. "I beg your pardon for the hasty remark I just made," he
apologised. "Not having my second sight at command, I did not realise
I was speaking to so young a girl, and therefore I allowed myself to be
offended, which was foolish. If you choose to go with the patient, I
trust you will satisfy yourself that no one in this hospital is lacking in
duty or kindness."
With a feeling much akin to that she had formerly suffered at the
conclusion of her youthful spankings, Constance followed hurriedly
after the orderlies, only too thankful that a reason had been given her
permitting an escape from those steady eyes and amused accents, which
she was still feeling when the litter was set down beside an empty bed.
"Has dat slob tooken me money for keeps?" whimpered the boy the
moment the orderlies had departed.
"No, no," Constance assured him, her hand in his.
"Den w'y'd he pinch it so quick?"
"He's going to take care of it for you, that's all."
"Will he guv me a wroten pape sayin' dat?"
"See," said the girl, only eager to relieve his anxiety, "here is my purse,

and there is a great deal more money in it than you had, and I'll leave it
with you, and if he doesn't return you your money, why, you shall have
mine."
"Youse cert'in dere's more den Ise had?"
"Certain. Look, here are two tens and three fives and a one, besides
some change."
"Dat's all hunky!" joyfully ejaculated the urchin. "Now, den, wheer kin
we sneak it so he don't git his hooks on it?"
"This is to be your bed, and let's hide it under the pillow," suggested
Constance, feeling as if she were playing a game. "Then you can feel of
it whenever you want."
"Dat's de way to steal a base off 'im," acceded the waif. "We'll show
dese guys wese oin't no bunch of easy grapes."
Scarcely was the purse concealed when a nurse appeared with a pail of
water and rolls of some cloth, and after her came the doctor.
"Now, my boy," he said, with a kindness and gentleness in his voice
which surprised Constance, "I've got to hurt you a little, and let's see
how brave you can be." He took hold of the left leg the ankle and
stretched it, at the same time manipulating the calf with the fingers of
his other hand.
The boy