Jewel: A Chapter in Her Life Part 25

No one for years had heard Mr. Evringham laugh as he laughed at this.

The doctor joined him.

"I'm not surprised," said the broker at last. "If there is anything she does not mention to her Creator, I have yet to learn what it is. How did you get around her, Ballard?"

"Oh, I used a little justifiable hocus-pocus about the medicine. That's all."

"And you think it's not anything very serious, then?"

"I think not. Where there's so much temperature it is a little hard to tell at first with a child. This evening I shall make a more thorough examination. The ice is broken now, and it will be easier. She will be less excited. I see," glancing at the yellow chicken, whose beady eyes appeared to be following the conversation, "the little girl has found her way even into this sanctum."

Mr. Evringham cleared his throat as he followed the doctor's glance.

"No," he responded shortly. "She has not found her way in here yet. That is--my chicken. She bought it for me."

Dr. Ballard lifted his eyebrows and smiled as he arose.

"Come back before dinner if possible, Ballard. I shall be uneasy."

CHAPTER XII

THE TELEGRAM

Mrs. Forbes entered Jewel's room after speaking with the doctor. The little girl looked at her eagerly. A plan had formed in her mind which depended for its success largely on the housekeeper's complaisance, and she wished to propitiate her.

"I want to fix it so you can call me when you need anything, Julia," she said. "The doctor has told you about taking the medicine, and here is a little clock I'm going to put on your table right by the bed, and I've brought up a bell. I shall leave the farther door open so the sound of this bell will go right down the backstairs, and one of us will come up whenever you ring. Dr. Ballard says it's best for you to be quiet."

"Yes'm," replied Jewel. "Do you think, Mrs. Forbes--would it be too much trouble--would he have time--could I see Jeremiah just a few minutes?"

"See who?"

"Jeremiah--the gentleman who lives with the horses."

"Do you mean my son Ezekiel?"

"Oh, yes'm. Ezekiel. I knew it was a prophet. He always speaks very kindly to me, and I like him. I wish I could see him just a few minutes."

Mrs. Forbes was very much astonished and somewhat flattered. "It's wonderful, the fancy that child has taken to me and mine," she thought.

"Well, folks must be humored when they're sick," she replied. "Let me see," looking at the little clock, "yes, Mr. Evringham's missed the second train. There'll be five or ten minutes yet, and 'Zekiel's got to wait anyway. I guess he can come up and see you."

"Oh, thank you, Mrs. Forbes!" returned Jewel.

The housekeeper made her way out to the barn, where her son in his livery was waiting and reading the paper.

"The doctor's gone, Zeke, and the child wants to see you."

"Me?" returned the coachman in surprise. "Why the bully little kid!"

"Yes, come and be quick. There won't be much time. You watch the clock that's side of her bed, and don't you be late."

'Zekiel followed with alacrity. His mother, starting him up the backstairs, gave him directions how to go, and remained below.

Jewel, her eyes fixed on the open back door of her room, felt a leap of the heart as Zeke, fine in his handsome livery, came blushing and tiptoeing into the room.

"I'm so glad, I'm so glad!" she exclaimed in her soft, thick voice.

"Shut the door, please."

"I told you to remember you'd only got to say 'Zeke' and I'd come," he said, approaching the bed. "I'm awful sorry you're sick, little kid."

"Did you ever hear of Christian Science, Zeke?" she asked hurriedly.

"Yes, I did. Woman I knew in Boston cured of half a dozen things. She held that Christian Science did it."

"Oh, good, good. I'm a Christian Scientist, and n.o.body here is, and I want to send a telegram to Chicago, to a lady to treat me. n.o.body would do it for me but you. _Will_ you?"

It would have taken a hard heart to resist the appeal, and Zeke's was soft.

"Of course I will," he answered. "Going right to the station now to take Mr. Evringham. I can send it as well as not."

"Get some paper, Zeke, in the top bureau drawer. There's a pencil on the bureau."

He obeyed, and she gave him an address which he wrote down. "Now this: 'Please treat me for fever and sore throat. Jewel.'"

Zeke wrote the message and tucked it into a pocket.

"Now please get my leather bag in the drawer," said the child, "and take out money enough."

The young fellow hesitated. "If you haven't got plenty of money"--he began.

"I have. You'll see. Oh, Zeke, you've made me so happy!"

The coachman's clumsy hands fumbled with the clasp of the little bag.

"I can do it," said Jewel, and he brought it to her and watched her while she took out the money and gave it to him. He took a coin, returned the rest to the bag, and snapped it.

"Say, little girl," he said uneasily, "you look to me like a doctor'd do you a whole lot o' good."

Jewel gazed at him in patient wonder.

"Who made the doctor?" she asked.

Zeke stood on one foot and then on the other.

"G.o.d did, and you know it, Zeke. He's the one to go to in trouble."

"But you're going to that Chicago woman," objected Zeke.

"Yes, because she'll go to G.o.d for me. I'm being held down by something that pretends to have power, and though I know it's an old cheat, I haven't understanding enough to get rid of it as quickly as she will.