"No more than you like to have your own way."
"Is there a man named Jim there?"
"Speaking, Kate."
"I've a message from Belle."
"What is the message?"
"She is in bed with a cold and fever and wants you not to come tonight. As soon as she is up she will let you know."
Belle held her peace till Kate left the telephone. "I can't make Doctor Carpy out," she grumbled. "If he didn't want Jim Laramie to come down here what did he ask you to call him up for? If he doesn't know any more than that about doctoring," she added, contemptuously, "I'd hate to take his medicine."
She waited for Kate's comment but Kate possessed the great art of saying nothing. "I guess," continued Belle, at length, "it's time to take that pill he left, but I guess I won't take it. What do you think about it?" she asked, referring again to Carpy.
Kate was not to be drawn out: "I found out a long time ago that Doctor Carpy doesn't tell all he knows," she observed dryly. "But I do know he wants Mr. Laramie to stay in his room. He says his shoulder will never heal if he doesn't keep still."
Belle made no response, but when Laramie knocked at the door in the evening she knew who it was. Kate received him.