“I reckon not, if he read the papers this morning, poor chap!” muttered Dan; then aloud:
“He’ll see me, and be glad enough of it, though I am tough-looking, I know. Please, sir, go and tell him hit’s Dan Ellis, from West Virginny, on a matter of life and death!”
The man said afterward that the message took effect as quick as a dose of the doctor’s own medicine. He said he wanted Dan brought to him at once.
Very ill and wretched he looked, lying back in his armchair with the morning papers all about him.
“Ah, Dan, so it was you I ran into that night? I’ve puzzled over you since, knowing your face so well, though your name eluded me. Well, what can I do for you this time?” he asked kindly.
“It’s me as kin help you this time, doc!” cried Dan, and blundered into a full confession of his wrongdoing at the instigation of the twins.
The doctor’s pale face grew radiant with a holy joy. He put self aside and thought only of Eva.
“If you will come with me to Mr. Hamilton’s Dan, and tell this story, you may restore little Eva’s happiness,” he cried eagerly.
“I’m in your hands, doc. Do anything you like with me!” was the glad reply.
In a few minutes they were in a carriage on their way.