"Alcohol, now, please," said the doctor. When Juliet had disappeared again Barnes drew from his pocket a pearl-handled pocket-knife and tried its blades. "It's a fortunate thing somebody made me a present of such a good one to-day," he observed, "but it needs sharpening a bit. Have you an oil-stone handy?" With tightly shut lips Anthony watched the doctor put a bright edge on his smallest blade, then, satisfied, drop the open knife into the water bubbling over a spirit-lamp. Anthony turned his head away for an instant from the struggling little figure on the bed. Barnes eyed him keenly. "You're game, of course?" he said. Anthony's eyes met his and flashed fire. "Don't you know me better than that?" "All right," and the young surgeon smiled. "But I've seen a medical man himself go to pieces over his own child. This is a simple matter," he went on lightly. "Luckily, boiling water is a more potent antiseptic than all the drugs on the market--and alcohol's another. I shall want a new hairpin or two--if Juliet has a wire one.--That the alcohol? Thank you. Now if you've the hairpins, Juliet--ah--a silver one--all the better." This also he dropped into the boiling water. Then he spoke very quietly to Tony's mother, as she bent over her child, fighting for his breath. "It's a bit tough to watch," he said, "but we'll have him all right presently. Suppose you go and get his crib ready for him. You might fill some hot-water bags and bottles and have things warm and comfortable." The telephone-bell rang below. After a minute Carey dashed upstairs. He looked into the room and spoke anxiously. "The messenger just missed the 9:40. He and the nurse will come on the 10:15." "All right," said the doctor, as if the delay were of small consequence. "We're going to want your help presently, Carey, I think. Just ask Mrs. Carey to keep Mrs. Robeson with her for a few minutes, if she can." Carey went down and gave his wife the message, then he hurried back and stood waiting just outside the door. And all at once the summons came. In a breath the doctor had changed his role. He spoke sharply: "_Now, Robeson--now, Carey--we've waited up to the limit. Keep cool--hold him like a rock--_" * * * * * Wayne Carey came down to his wife, ten minutes later, smiled tremulously, sank into a chair, and fell to crying like a baby--softly, so that he could not be heard. "But Juliet says he'll be all right," murmured Judith unsteadily. "Yes, yes----" Carey wiped his eyes and blew his nose. "I'm just a little unnerved, that's all. Lord--and he's dropped off to sleep as quiet as a lamb--with Barnes holding the gash in his throat open with a hairpin to let the air in. When it comes to emergency surgery I tell you it's a lucky thing to have an expert in the house. Completely worn out--the little chap. When the nurse comes they'll get out the whistle and sew the place up. She ought to be here--I'll go meet that train."