y something, fell over in a dead
faint.

"Quick! Help me carry him into the house!" cried Tom. "Then telephone
for Dr. Gladby, Mr. Jackson."

The physician looked grave when, half an hour later, he examined his
patient.

"Mr. Swift is very much worse," he said in a low voice. "The excitement
of the fire has aggravated his ailment. I would like another doctor to
see him, Tom."

"Another doctor?" Tom's voice showed his alarm.

"Yes, we must have a consultation. I think Dr. Kurtz will be a good one
to call in. I should like his opinion before I decide what course to
take."

"I'll send Eradicate for him at once," said the young inventor, and he
went to give the colored man his instructions, while his heart was
filled with a great fear for his father.

Chapter Eighteen

The Broken Bridge

Dr. Kurtz looked as grave as did Dr. Gladby when he had made an
examination of the patient. Mr. Swift was still in a semi-conscious
condition, hardly breathing as he rested on the bed where they had
placed him after the fire.

"Vell," said the German physician, after a long silence, "vot is your
obinion, my dear Gladby?"

"I think an operation is necessary."

"Yes, dot is so; but you know vot kind of an operation alone vill safe
him; eh, my dear Gladby?"

Dr. Gladby nodded.

"It will be a rare and delicate one," he said. "There is but one
surgeon I know of who can do it."

"You mean Herr Hendrix?" asked Dr. Kurtz.

"Yes, Dr. Edward Hendrix, of Kirkville. If he can be induced to come I
think there is a chance of saving Mr. Swift's life. I'll speak to Tom
about it."

The two physicians, who had been consulting together, summoned the
youth from another room, where, with Mrs. Baggert and Mr. Jackson he
had been anxiously awaiting the verdict.

"What is it?" the young inventor asked Dr. Gladby.

The medical man told him to what conclusion he and his colleague had
arrived, adding:

"We advise that Dr. Hendrix be sent for at once. But I need hardly tell
you, Tom, that he is a noted specialist, and his services are in great
demand. He is hard to get."

"I'll pay him any sum he asks!" burst out the youth. "I'll spend all my
fortune--and I have made considerable money of late--I'll spend every
cent to get my father well! Money need not stand in the way, Dr.
Gladby."

"I knew that, Tom. Still Dr. Hendrix is a very busy man, and it is hard
to induce him to come a long distance. It is over a hundred miles to
Kir