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At that point I expected the doctor to invite Starr to New Jerusaleorical the nature of his life’s as But he held his tongue, and he, too, glanced toward the doorway Both

"It is a hard and lonely life," whispered the oldso in the wilderness For fifty years I’ve provided an invaluable service to er donations and philanthropic grants I could have taken a steady and certainly more lucrative position at a university, but I chose instead to dedicatethe poor unfortunates whom fate and circumstance have washed up upon my shore Mistake me not, I do not complain, but it is hard Hard!"

Rerin had fled, and in its place were a quivering lip and a solitary tear trailing down his weathered cheek

"And this is how I end my days!" he cried softly "A destitute wretch with hardly enough in his purse to cover the expenses of his burial You asked for the diagnosis of my affliction, and I spoke truthfully there is none, for I cannot afford the services of a physician I, a doctorupon the altar of altruis end because I refused to worship the golden calf! Ah, Warthrop, ’tis a pity-but I beg for none! ’Tis pride s, either, but I’d rather die honorably poor than dishonorably live"

He dissolved into another raucous coughing spell, pressing his skeletal hands to his collapsing chest The sleeves of his coat fell to his elbows, exposing his boney arms He see mass of withered flesh and oversize yellowy teeth

The doctor made no move He did not speak He watched the old fellow repeat the ritual with the handkerchief, saying naught, but his eyes burned with that sa backlit quality, and his fists remained clenched at his side

He waited until Starr was still, then quietly stepped forward and dropped a gold coin beside his teacup The teary old eyes darted to the coin, darted away again

"I do not require your charity, Dr Warthrop," the cureon croaked "You add insult to injury"

"That is certainly not my intention, Dr Starr," replied the doctor "This is a loan You must repay me The only other stipulation is that you use this to see a doctor"

Dart, dart went the eyes "My only hope is in finding a specialist"

A second coin joined the first

"In Boston"

A third When Starr failed to speak, but sighed loudly in answer to the gentle clink of hed, and the attendant rattle in his chest sounded like beans sourd Warthrop dropped a fifth coin onto the pile; Starr sat bolt upright, hands falling to his sides, and cried out in a loud, clear voice, "Mrs Bratton! Mrs Braaaatton!"

She appeared in the doorway instantly, the irascible crone who had greeted us at the front door, as if she had been awaiting the suht Her entrance was accompanied by the unmistakable odor of bleach

"Escort Dr Warthrop to Captain Varner’s room," instructed Starr He did not attes of his tea, holding the cup with a hand old that the doctor had dropped beside the saucer had steeled him

"Yes, Doctor," answered the old woman "Follow me," she said to Warthrop

As we started from the room, Starr called to the doctor, "Perhaps the boy should remain here with me"

"The boy is my assistant," my master reminded him curtly "His services are indispensable to me" He followed the old woman from the room and did not bid me come, or look behind to see if I would; he kneould

Led by the black-clad, chlorine-infused Mrs Bratton, weto the second floor Halfway up, the doctor murmured into my ear, "Remember what I told you, Will Henry" As we cliinate froether huuttural voice rose above the din, jabbering a furious ue peppered with profanities A woain, for so like a swift undercurrent beneath this unsettled sea of disehter I had heard since entering the sanatoriu odor I had noted in the parlor beneath us, its malodorous co potpourri of unwashed flesh, old urine, and hu second-floor hall were heavy wooden doors, each fitted with iron dead bolts and padlocks the size of my fist, each with a six-inch-wide slot cut into it at eye level, the opening covered by a hinged piece ofthe occupants of these barricaded rooms to our presence, and their cries rose to a fever pitch, tripling in volues as the denizen within hurled hiist’s rooainst the ja of execrations worthy of the saltiestcries for Hanna vibrated in our ears I glanced up at the doctor’s face, seeking so and n His countenance was as cal in the park on a warm summer’s day