“He’s coming to,” said Tom suddenly. “Mr. Barton! Mr. Barton!” called Tom gently. “Don’t you know me?”
The man opened his eyes, stared vaguely, and then tried to arise. He fell back again instantly, however, with a moan of weakness.
“No use!” he gasped. “My head is splitting and I’ve got no strength left in me at all. It was a fearful shock, a header full force, and—the doctor!” he shouted suddenly, almost in a scream.
“What doctor, Mr. Barton?” inquired Tom solicitously.
“From Rockville.”
“What about him?”
“My child—dying!” wailed the man. “Dr. Burr, the only one in Rockley Cove, is away.”
“That’s so, I remember hearing of that,” assented Tom.
“Lights in town shut off, telephone lines all down—the doctor, quick!”
With these last words pronounced in a painful gasp, Mr. Barton succumbed and fell back unconscious again.