. She, I gathered, was the Miss Golder whom Lionel had
mentioned. In fact, I felt that she was really much above the level of
such a position.

Loeb's office was elaborately equipped. There were static machines,
electric coils, high frequency appliances, X-ray outfits, galvanic and
faradic cabinets, electric light reflectors of high power, light bath
cabinets, electric vibrators, high pressure nebulizers and
ozonizers--everything, as Craig expressed it later, to impress the
patient that Loeb could cure any disease the flesh was heir to. I know
that it impressed me.

The doctor himself was a pompous man of middle age, with a very
formidable beard and a deep voice that forbade contradiction.

"I've come to you on the recommendation of a patient of yours," began
Craig, adding hastily, "not for myself, but for my friend here, whom I'm
afraid isn't very well."

The doctor eyed me through his gold-rimmed spectacles. Already I began
to feel shaky.

"Who recommended you?" he asked casually.

"My friend, Mr. Darius Moreton of Norwood. I suppose you remember him?"

"Oh, very well, very well. A most peculiar case, that of the Moretons. I
have succeeded in prolonging their lives beyond what anyone else could
have done. But I fear that they haven't all followed my treatment. You
know, you must put yourself entirely in my hands, and there is a young
doctor out there, I believe, whom they have also. That isn't fair to
me. I wonder whether you are acquainted with my methods of treatment?"

Kennedy shook his head negatively.

"Miss Golder," the doctor called, as the fluffy-haired secretary
responded quickly, "will you give these gentlemen some of my booklets on
the Loeb Method."

Miss Golder took from a cabinet several handsomely printed pamphlets
extolling the skill and success of Dr. Loeb. Like everything else about
him, no expense had been spared to impress the reader.

As Miss Golder left the office, Dr. Loeb began a rapid examination of
me, using an X-ray machine. I am sure that if I had not received a
surreptitious encouraging nod from Craig now and then, I should have
been ready to croak or cash in, according to whichever Dr. Loeb
suggested--probably the latter, for I could not help thinking that a
great deal of time was spent in mentally X-raying my pocketbook.

When he finished, the doctor shook his head gravely. Of course I was
threatened. But the thing was only incipient. Still, if it were not
attended to immed