“Tell me all about it,” said the physician kindly, taking a chair and drawing up one for Larry. “Where is your sister?”
Then the boy told him all about Lucy, and how much pain she had, telling how patient she was. He related the experience with the diamonds and told about getting the thousand dollars.
“Please come and cure my sister,” he ended up with. “I know I can’t pay you what it is worth, but I’ll work hard until I can make it up,” and he paused to regard the doctor anxiously.
“I—er—ahem!” said the physician, who seemed to find it hard to proceed. “I don’t want your money, my boy,” he said at length.
“Isn’t it enough?” asked Larry in a disappointed tone.
“It is far too much,” replied Dr. Carrolton. “I have wanted to do something for you ever since you saved my watch for me. I would rather have lost ten thousand dollars than that watch, which I prize for the memories it brings. So you can consider me in your debt to a large amount. As for your sister, I will come and examine her.”
“Thank you,” exclaimed Larry.
“I don’t say I can cure her,” the physician went on, “but I will try, and, if I can, I will be only too glad to do so in return for what you have done for me, also because I like you, and I am sure I shall like your sister, if she is anything like you.”
“She’s a lot better,” said Larry, hardly knowing whether to laugh or cry.
“All right, I’ll write you a letter soon, and tell you when I can come and see your sister. Now you had better run along, for the paper might want the picture,” and, shaking hands with Larry, the great doctor went back to his room, while the boy, almost in a daze over his good fortune, started back for the office.