ongue; the surgeon had been
fumbling at his blouse, under the pretext of opening it for air, he was
looking in a queer, intent way at Spruce's chest.

Of a sudden the eyes of doctor and soldier, who had been nurse, met and
challenged each other. There was a dumb terror in the soldier's eyes, a
grave pity in the surgeon's. "I seen them spots yesterday," said Spruce,
slowly, in a toneless voice, "but I wouldn't believe they was typhoid
spots, nor they _ain't_!"

"You get inside and get a drink, Spruce, and go to bed," said the
doctor. "Of course, I'm not certain, but as good a nurse as you knows
that it isn't safe to try to bluff typhoid fever."

By this time Spruce was on his feet, able to salute with his reply:
"That's all right, Major, but--I got to keep up till Danvers gits off
with his folks, or he'd be kicking and want to stay. Jest let me see him
off, and I'll go straight to bed."

"No walking about, mind, though," said the doctor, not well pleased, yet
knowing enough of the two men to perceive the point of the argument.

Spruce saw Danvers off, with a joke and a grin, and an awkward bow for
Danvers' sister. Then he went back to the hospital and went to bed,
having written his aunt's address on a prescription pad (one of his
acquirements in his foraging trips) with a remarkably spelled request
that his pay be sent her, and his other property be given his friend, R.
E. Danvers, to divide among his friends, giving the captain first
choice.

"Lots of folks die of typhoid fever," he remarked quite easily, "and it
don't hurt to be ready. I feel like I was in for a bad time, and I ain't
stuck on the nursing here a little bit."

Before the week was out he recognized as well as the doctors that he was
a very sick man.

"If you'd only gone off with your regiment three weeks ago," the doctor
growled one day, "you'd have missed this, Spruce."

"That's all right," said Spruce, "but some of the boys are home that
wouldn't be, maybe. I guess it's all right. Only, you know captain and
Danvers; I wish you'd write back to the old town and tell the committee
I done my duty. I can't be a credit to the company, but I done my duty,
though I expect there's folks in town may think I was malingering."

"Stop talking!" commanded the doctor. "Did you know the women are coming
to-morrow; you are to have a nurse of your own here?"

"Time," said Spruce; "if my town had its way they'd been here long ago.
Ever been in my town, Major