“The doctor is in a hurry to get to his lawyer’s office, and I thought the checks might wait until he returned.”
“Are you going to a lawyer’s office?” asked Mrs. Sandow, with suspicion in her tone.
“I—I believe so—or was it the book store?” replied Dr. Spidderkins.
“The lawyer’s first, and then, if you like, to the book store,” answered Tom with a smile at the old man’s eccentricities.
“You had better stay in,” suggested Mrs. Sandow, in more gentle tones. “It is very cold out, and perhaps I can go for you.”
Dr. Spidderkins hesitated. It was easy for Tom to see that the woman exercised considerable control over the aged physician. But the telephone boy was determined to frustrate her schemes.
“We had better hurry,” said Tom, taking hold of the old man’s arm. “Mr. Boise will be waiting for us.”
“Yes—yes, we must hurry,” assented the doctor. “I’ll be back soon, Mrs. Sandow, and perhaps,” he added significantly, “you will not be so glad to see me.”
“Not glad to see you? Why, I am always glad to see you, Lemuel,” said the woman, with a whine. “I am very fond of you. I was only anxious for your own good, when I spoke.”
“And for your own, and your husband’s,” thought Tom.