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"Well, Miss Van Gorder," he said, picking up the bag by its blackened handle, "I can't wish you a coht but I can wish you a quiet one"

Miss Cornelia watched hio, she spoke

"We're all of us a little upset, naturally," she confessed "Perhaps you could write a prescription--a sleeping-powder or a broreed the Doctor at once He turned back Miss Cornelia seemed pleased

"I hoped you would," she said with a little treht easily occur in the voice of a nervous old lady "Oh, yes, here's paper and a pencil," as the Doctor fumbled in a pocket

The Doctor took the sheet of paper she proffered and, using the side of his bag as a pad, began to write out the prescription

"I don't generally advise these drugs," he said, looking up for a moment "Still--"

He paused "What time is it?"

Miss Cornelia glanced at the clock "Half-past eleven"

"Then I'd better bring you the powders myself," decided the Doctor "The pharmacy closes at eleven I shall have to make the is any trouble if I can be helpful," he assured her, sly And Miss Cornelia also slanced at it once, as if out of idle curiosity about the unfinished prescription, and then laid it down on the table with a careless little gesture Dale gave her aunt a glance of dumb entreaty Miss Cornelia read her wish for another moment alone with the Doctor

"Dale will let you out, Doctor," said she, giving the girl the key to the front door

The Doctor approved her watchfulness

"That's right," he said ss locked up Discretion is the better part of valor!"

But Miss Cornelia failed to agree with him

"I've been discreet for sixty-five years," she said with a sniff, "and sohed easily and followed Dale out of the roo The detective, seeking for so irritation which seeoat of his wrath

"I guess we can do without you for the present!" he said, with an angry frown at the latter Bailey flushed, then remembered himself, and left the room sub an unmerited rebuke The detective turned at once to Miss Cornelia

"Noant a feords with you!"