“Diphtheria be hanged!” replied Haines insolently; “I examined them carefully last night.”
“They have diphtheria this morning. I have just taken the liberty of looking into their throats.”
“The deuce you have! I like your impudence! Who sent you in here to interfere with my practice, young man? Where did you get your professional manners?” Dr. Haines was the older man and resented the intrusion of this smooth-faced young stranger, who added to the crime of his youth that of being guilty of a serious breach of professional etiquette.
“I ought to apologize for looking at your patients,” said Dr. Bailey. “I came in thinking I might be of some assistance in dealing with this outbreak of diphtheria, and I was naturally anxious to see—”
“Diphtheria!” blurted Haines. “Nothing of the sort.”
“Dr. Haines, the man you sent out last night had it.”
“HAD it?”
“He died an hour after arriving at No. 1.”
“Dead? Cursed fool! He WOULD go against my will.”
“Against your will? Would you let a man in the last stages of diphtheria leave this camp against your will with the company's team?”