Obadiah was desirous of placating his counsel. "You misunderstand me." "I probably understand you better than any one else on earth." The remark made the manufacturer uncomfortable. "Forget it," he pleaded. "I agree to any arrangement which you have made, because of my friendship, if for no other reason." He shook the lawyer's hand. "Explain the agreement. I consent." Hezekiah's manner was too calm. It was like the lull before a storm. "You pay no money to the injured man," he announced. Obadiah's face registered his surprise. "What the devil?" he cried. Hezekiah gave no heed to this remark but went on with the solemnity of a judge sentencing a prisoner. "You have agreed to furnish and to endow for a period of five years, a private room at the South Ridgefield Hospital to be used exclusively for the care and treatment of injured motorcyclists." CHAPTER XIII VIRGINIA HELPS AGAIN When Obadiah received the formal notice from the hospital authorities of the acceptance of his gift, being unversed in the ways of philanthropists, he sent for Hezekiah and handed him the letter. "I want nothing to do with this matter," he snapped. The lawyer bowed with great complacency. "You may be interested to know, as you didn't take the trouble to find out," the mill owner sneered, "that this fellow, Joseph Tolliver Curtis, is employed by the State Board of Health. He spent his time prior to the accident riding up and down the river taking samples of the water to make a case against me." "Ahem," coughed the lawyer. "If that fellow were getting a cent out of the agreement," Obadiah threatened, "I would break it." "No, you wouldn't," replied the lawyer calmly. "I drew it and it's enforceable. If necessary I would go into court myself to make you keep it." Obadiah glowered, but his eyes fell before those of his attorney. "Well," he growled finally, "we won't quarrel over it. You handle the matter." A look of distress came into his face. "I'll sign the checks but I don't want to talk about it." So, even though her father refused to discuss the subject Virginia took up the matter of furnishing the room with great enthusiasm. She sought advice from many persons but particularly from Joe Curtis, who was deemed, through sad experience, capable of expressing the desires of injured motorcyclists, and Miss Knight, who by long service had learned those things which were not good for them.