But instead of vague terrors there was now
the real fear that he might be lying in some strange hospital
receiving the casual attention commonly given to the charity
cases. Even this, had we known it, would have been paradise to
the terrible truth. I wake yet and feel myself cold and
trembling with the horror of Halsey's situation for three days
after his disappearance.
Mr. Winters and Alex disposed of the tramp with a warning. It
was evident he had told us all he knew. We had occasion, within
a day or two, to be doubly thankful that we had given him
his freedom. When Mr. Jamieson telephoned that night we had news
for him; he told me what I had not realized before--that it would
not be possible to find Halsey at once, even with this clue. The
cars by this time, three days, might be scattered over the Union.
But he said to keep on hoping, that it was the best news we had
had. And in the meantime, consumed with anxiety as we were,
things were happening at the house in rapid succession.
We had one peaceful day--then Liddy took sick in the night. I
went in when I heard her groaning, and found her with a hot-water
bottle to her face, and her right cheek swollen until it was
glassy.
"Toothache?" I asked, not too gently. "You deserve it. A woman
of your age, who would rather go around with an exposed nerve in
her head than have the tooth pulled! It would be over in a
moment."
"So would hanging," Liddy protested, from behind the hot-water
bottle.
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