nstantly
the sobs ceased and the room became still. Kate put her lips to the
crack and said in her off-hand way: "It's only a school-marm, rooming
next you. If you're ill, could I get anything for you?"
"Will you please come in?" asked a muffled voice.
Kate turned the knob, and stepping inside, closed the door after her.
She could dimly see her way to the dresser, where she found matches and
lighted the gas. On the bed lay in a tumbled heap a tiny, elderly,
Dresden-china doll-woman. She was fully dressed, even to her wrap,
bonnet, and gloves; one hand clutched her side, the other held a
handkerchief to her lips. Kate stood an instant under the light,
studying the situation. The dark eyes in the narrow face looked
appealingly at her. The woman tried to speak, but gasped for breath.
Kate saw that she had heart trouble.
"The remedy! Where is it?" she cried.
The woman pointed to a purse on the dresser. Kate opened it, took out
a small bottle, and read the directions. In a second, she was holding
a glass to the woman's lips; soon she was better. She looked at Kate
eagerly.
"Oh, please don't leave me," she gasped.
"Of course not!" said Kate instantly. "I'll stay as long as you want
me."
She bent over the bed and gently drew the gloves from the frail hands.
She untied and slipped off the bonnet. She hunted keys in the purse,
opened a travelling bag, and found what she required. Then slowly and
carefully, she undressed the woman, helped her into a night robe, and
stooping she lifted her into a chair until she opened the bed. After
giving her time to rest, Kate pulled down the white wavy hair and
brushed it for the night. As she worked, she said a word of
encouragement now and again; when she had done all she could see to do,
she asked if there was more. The woman suddenly clung to her hand and
began to sob wildly. Kate knelt beside the bed, stroked the white hair,
patted the shoulder she could reach, and talked very much as she would
have to a little girl.
"Please don't cry," she begged. "It must be your heart; you'll surely
make it worse."
"I'm trying," said the woman, "but I've been scared sick. I most
certainly would have died if you hadn't come to me and found the
medicine. Oh, that dreadful Susette! How could she?"
The clothing Kate had removed from the woman had been of finest cloth
and silk. Her hands wore wonderful rings. A heavy purse was in her
bag. Everything she had was
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