A great many years from to-day--centuries, no doubt,--the world
will think as I do now. Thank you, gentlemen, for your courtesy in--"

"Have you heard that James Marraville died last week, Dr. Thorpe?" broke
in one of the reporters.

"No," said he, quite unmoved. "I am not surprised, however. I gave him
five or six months."

"Didn't you expect him to get entirely well?" demanded the man, surprised.

Braden shook his head, smiling. "No one expected that, gentlemen,--not even
Mr. Marraville."

"But every one thought that the operation was a success, and--"

"And so it was, gentlemen," said Thorpe unsmilingly; "a very terrible
success."

"Gee, if we print that as coming from you, Dr. Thorpe, it will create the
biggest sensation in years."

"Then I haven't the least doubt that you will print it," said Thorpe.

There was a short silence. Then the spokesman said: "I think I speak for
every man here when I say that we will not print it, Dr. Thorpe. We
understand, but the people wouldn't." He deliberately altered the
character of the interview and inquired if German submarines had been
sighted after the steamship left Liverpool. The whole world was still
shuddering over the disaster to the _Lusitania_, torpedoed the week
before, with the loss of over a thousand souls.

Thorpe drove uptown with Simmy Dodge, who would not hear of his going to
an hotel, but conducted him to his own apartment where he was to remain as
long as he pleased.

"Get yourself pulled together, old chap, before you take up any work,"
advised Simmy. "You look pretty seedy. We're going to have a hot summer,
they say. Don't try to do too much until you pick up a bit. Too bad
they're fighting all over the continent of Europe. If they weren't, hang
me if I wouldn't pack you onto a boat and take you over there for a good
long rest, in spite of what happened to the _Lusitania_. We'll go up into
the mountains in June, Brady,--or what do you say to skipping out to the
San Francisco fair for a few--"

"You're looking thin and sort of pegged out, old boy," began Simmy
soothingly.

"I'm all right, Simmy. Sound as anything. I don't mind telling you that it
wasn't my health that drove me out of the service,--and that's what hurts.
They--they didn't want me. They thought it was best for me to get out."

"Good Lord!" gasped Simmy, struggling between amazement and indignation.
"What kind of blithering fools have they got over--"

"They are not blithering