here with all his hot clothes on and swearing he would not take
them off and be made comfortable.

But I could do nothing. He would see none of us. I sent tea and
lemonade and ice and hot-water bags and every conceivable remedy to his
rooms, but with no effect. Nor would he hear of our calling a doctor.

About four o'clock Mrs. Jimmie left him for a few moments, and this was
my chance.

I slipped into the room. He was lying on the couch with his feet in
patent leather shoes,--even his coat and waistcoat on, and a high,
tight collar which rasped his ears.

He grinned sheepishly when he saw me.

"You told me to keep out, I know, but I never do as I'm told, so I came
anyhow."

"I know that," growled Jimmie.

"Your head's as hot as fire," I said. "And those shoes are drawing
like a mustard plaster."

"I don't care. I won't take 'em off," said Jimmie, savagely, raising
himself on his elbow.

I turned on him.

"You always were a fool, Jimmie," I said. "You don't have to take them
off if you don't want to." (He sank back with a groan of pain.) "But
I'm going to do it, and if you kick while your foot is in my lap you'll
hurt me."

Before he could wink I had pulled off those abominable things, and
slipped his narrow silk-stockinged feet into cool slippers. He
couldn't restrain a sigh of comfort. I went in the closet to put his
shoes on their trees, and brought out a white linen coat.

"Sit up and put this on," I commanded.

"I will not!" he answered, flatly.

I looked around and there stood Mrs. Jimmie. If she had stayed away
another ten minutes, I would have got him comfortable. But in spite of
our combined efforts he insisted upon lying there as he was.

I went out and telephoned for the doctor, and when he came it pleased
Jimmie no end that he didn't say a word about taking off those hot
clothes.

"You see," he said to his wife, "that doctor knows his business. He
doesn't devil me the way you women do."

Mrs. Jimmie was wise enough to make no reply.

"He said if you would go to sleep for an hour you would feel better,"
she said. "So put on this thin coat, then I'll close the blinds and go
out."

Jimmie looked at her quizzically. Then he slowly sat up and changed
his coat without a word.

When he wakened his headache was gone. But he was unable to come down
to dinner, and we saw him no more that day.

As he went to bed that night he said:

"I suppose you and Faith chuckled over g