He turned to look at her. She was standing beside the bed. He almost reached out and took her hand, but drew his own back at the last minute. "How soon will you be leaving?" she asked. "The wound was superficial. I really didn't need to be hospitalized. I'm being released tomorrow morning. I'll probably leave immediately." "You'll make a fine doctor, Frank." "Thank you, I'll try." "Good-bye, Frank." "Good-bye--darling." She turned and fled. And judging by the deep sadness in his soul, he knew he had hit bottom. There was no place to go but up. * * * * * Brent Taber's phone rang. "Hello, Taber. Halliday here." "How are you, Halliday." "Tops, old man. Ragged by the stress of it all, of course, but tops." Taber waited. Halliday waited. Seeing that he would get no help, he said, "By the way, that little ... misunderstanding we had, the Senator Crane thing, I'm sure you realized that our talk was ... well, the words were put into my mouth. I felt the same way about the oaf as you did. But sometimes, in the line of duty, old man ... well, I know you were reading between my lines all the time." "I'm pretty good at that." "I knew we understood each other." "Is that what you called about?" "Yes, but I've got a little tip for you. They want to see you upstairs. I happen to know they liked the way things turned out. Just between you and me, the humiliation of Crane made certain high officials pretty happy. I was queried and I gave you all the credit." "Before or after the good Senator fell on his face?" Halliday laughed. "Okay, pal. You're entitled to your little dig. But you know this--I'm with you and I always will be." "And I'm with you, too, pal," Brent said wearily and hung up. The phone rang again. Automatically, Brent picked up the receiver. "Brent? Porter on this end. How is it with you, old man?" "Ducky. Just ducky." Porter laughed. "Just called to say, 'Good job well done.'" "Thanks." "Want to give you a little tip, too. They want you upstairs. A commendation. Not generally known, though. And you deserve it. You'll be called up tomorrow." "You never know the day or the hour." The laugh came again. "You're humor is priceless, old man." "Isn't it?" "Another thing--I got pretty hot when I got wind of how the ground was being cut out from under you. I made it my business to do something about it. I hate to see a good man pushed around. Of course I okayed the orders cutting you down--a matter of routine--I had to follow through. But then I got busy. A thing like that won't happen again." "Thanks, Porter. It warms a man to know he's got a friend--a friend like you." "Just between us, old man, I'm one of your admirers." Porter laughed and sprayed charm through the phone like perfume from an atomizer. "But if you quote me, I'll deny it." "Oh, I wouldn't think of quoting you, old man," Taber replied in a kindly voice and put down the phone.