"Don’t you vorry," he said; "der oldt man only got von leg, but he don’t sign no damned oldt baper." He shook his head on the pillow sagely, and then added: "You bet!" "That’s splendid!" said Elizabeth. "You’re very wise, Mr. Koerner." She paused and thought a moment, her brows knit. Then her expression cleared and she said: "You must let me send a lawyer." "Oh, der been blenty of lawyers," said Koerner. "Yes," laughed Elizabeth, "there are plenty of lawyers, to be sure, but I mean--" "Der been more as a dozen here alreadty," he went on, "but dey don’t let ’em see me." "I don’t think a lawyer who would come to see you would be the kind you want, Mr. Koerner." "Dot’s all right. Der been blenty of time for der lawyers." "Oh, pa," Gusta put in, "you must take Miss Elizabeth’s advice. She knows best. She’ll send you a good lawyer." "Vell, ve see about dot," said Koerner. "I presume, Mr. Koerner," said Elizabeth, "they wouldn’t let a lawyer see you, but I’ll bring one with me the next time I come--a very good one, one that I know well, and he’ll advise you what to do; shall I?" "Vell, ve see," said Koerner. "Now, pa, you must let Miss Elizabeth bring a lawyer," and then she whispered to Elizabeth: "You bring one anyway, Miss Elizabeth. Don’t mind what he says. He’s always that way." Elizabeth brought out her flowers and fruit then, and Koerner glanced at them without a word, or without a look of gratitude, and when she had arranged the flowers on his little table, she bade him good-by and took Gusta with her and went. As they passed out, the white rubber-tired carts were being wheeled down the halls, the patients they bore still breathing profoundly under the anesthetics, from which it was hoped they would awaken in their clean, smooth beds. The young women hurried out, and Elizabeth drank in the cool wintry air eagerly. "Oh, Gusta!" she said, "this air is delicious after that air in there! I shall have the taste of it for days." "Miss Elizabeth, that place is sickening!"--and Elizabeth laughed at the solemn deliberation with which Gusta lengthened out the word. [Illustration: Elizabeth] V "Come in, old man." Marriott glanced up at Dick Ward, who stood smiling in the doorway of his private office. "Don’t let me interrupt you, my boy," said Dick as he entered. "Just a minute," said Marriott, "and then I’m with you." Dick dropped into the big leather chair, unbuttoned his tan overcoat, arranged its skirts, drew off his gloves, and took a silver cigarette-case from his pocket. Marriott, swinging about in his chair, asked his stenographer to repeat the last line, picked up the thread, went on: "And these answering defendants further say that heretofore, to wit, on or about--"