"I suppose that would be best," Helen said. "We'll go back to the tent as soon as we've seen Benny."
They found the young circus tank-actor propped up in the clean, white hospital bed, with a pleasant-faced nurse hovering about him. Benny looked pale and wan, though perhaps some of his pallor was caused by the white pillows and bedspread.
"Well, old man, how goes it?" asked Joe, as he walked up, with extended hand.
Benny smiled, but did not answer.
"You'll have to speak louder," the nurse said. "He's quite deaf, you know."
Joe, for the moment, had forgotten. He repeated his question in louder tones.
Benny fumbled under the bedclothes and brought out a pad and pencil.
"The doctor doesn't want him to speak for a while," the nurse explained, for the physician, after telling Joe and Helen they might go up, had been called to see another patient. "He will write his answers, and he can hear if you speak quite loudly."
Benny wrote:
"I'm feeling better. Glad you came. What did they do about my act?"