Page:Mistress Madcap (1937).pdf/252

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

"How came he here?" asked John absently. Mehitable, who had joined them as they stood upon the doorstep, spoke for her mother.

"We brought him home with us. Tolliver—I mean, Doctor Carter was fearful o' his life and so we brought him that Jaffray's crew might not——"

"Doctor Carter!" repeated John in vast astonishment.

"Where saw ye him."

"He it was who bound up Master Jones's wound that night. He goes under the name o' Tolliver, having's caped to Jersey after his wealth was confiscated by ye British in New York. He is an American spy, serving at this outpost and——"

"So my dear friend is here in Newark!" John mused. "Perhaps we may have him for house guest upon one o' my leaves of absence." His glance rested once more upon Sturgins's unconscious face. "Who knows—we may be able to restore that man's sight. 'Tis doubtless a portion o' bone pressing upon some nerve!"

"Oh, John, an ye could!" And Mehitable clapped her hands so joyously that even Sturgins looked up with a sympathetic grin, though he could see neither the blue sky above him nor the pitying faces gazing at him.