zy things----"

"I told him not to," said Captain Stubbs, who had kept hitherto in the
background, "but there's no fool like a young fool, and I said it at the
time. But it was God's own providence that we were there when he fell.
And if any one can fix him up it's Anthony."

Bettina heard, and thought of her former fear of this place, which
seemed now a sacred house of healing. Was she the same girl who had
railed so bitterly against Anthony's profession? She felt that she
wanted to tell him how great he was. Why, he was a wonderful man--and he
was going to save Justin as he had saved others. Daily he fought battles
with death and conquered. He must conquer now!

Up-stairs in the operating room was being played a game of skill which
had for its pawns human life and human reason.

The worst trouble lay in the wounds about the head. But there were other
dreadful complications, and many times in the hours that followed it
seemed that the game was lost.

All through the tiresome ordeal not once did a muscle of the great
surgeon quiver. Not once did he show dismay at that which was most
baffling; not once did he show weakness at that which was most pitiful.

But when at last his great task was ended, his face was worn and gray.

Yet as he went to change his clothes, through the fabric of his
weariness and of his anxiety ran a thread of joy in the thought that the
barriers were down between himself and Diana, and that he might love her
now without reproach.

When at last he descended to his little office, he spoke hopefully. "His
strength and youth are in his favor--and I'm going to pull him through."

Yet he knew in his heart that he was flinging a defiance at destiny.

He arranged to keep Bettina at Harbor Light.

"Justin might ask for you again," was his explanation.

So Bobbie and Doris and Sara and Sophie went away together, and when
there was no one else to hear, Anthony said to Bettina, gently, "My
dear, why didn't you tell me?"

Curled up in a big leather chair, she spoke of her fear of hurting him,
of being inconstant--like her father.

She seemed such a child in her blue serge suit with its red silk tie,
and with the shady hat which had been pinned on hastily when the summons
came. But the things she was saying were womanly things, and for the
first time since he had known her Anthony perceived the possibilities of
which Diana had been so sure--this little Betty child, transformed by
love, would one