Partners by Grace Livingston Hill

old sinner may turn up on any corner and snatch her brother from her."
    "Poor child!" said the doctor. "I don't wonder! Were you able to calm her?"
    "Oh, I hope so. I told her she had a lot of friends here who would protect her. Of course, I mean to investigate more fully and see what can be done to frighten the old reprobate, or put him somewhere that he can't harass her. If he's meddled with their money, even though it may be but a small amount, we'll have some ground for having him arrested. But meantime, what do you think of her? When can she go back to work? She is wild to go. Insists that she must, and is hard to help because she is exceedingly proud."
    "I see! Of course! They evidently come from fine stock. Well, thanks, Mr. Remington, you've cleared the atmosphere a little, and perhaps there will be more to discover. If you find it convenient, drop in again toward night and maintain your friendliness. Perhaps she'll give us more light and you can give her further assurance of her security. Now about her stay here. I think she should remain at least a week where I can see her every day and she can have proper care and rest and the right food. Then if she could go to the country or the shore somewhere with maybe a nurse along, that would be the thing for her. That'll run into money, of course. You'd better find out what the company will do for her. Or there might be a quiet place where she could board. And where the boy could be nearby and see her every day. But that, too, might involve too much anxiety for her. I don't suppose you are at liberty more than briefly, of course. We'll have to think it over and talk it over. Meantime, can you carry on, or make some arrangement for the boy for a few days? I suppose you have to be going back to your office soon."
    "This is my vacation," said Reuben quietly. "I have a month, and I'll stick around for as long as I'm needed."
    The doctor eyed him with admiration.
    "But that's no vacation, Mr. Remington. You've been great to look after them. You deserve a good time and a swell rest."
    Reuben grinned.
    "What is a vacation?" he said. "Doing what you please and getting all worn out trying to have a good time, or forgetting yourself and trying to rest somebody else? I'm not sure. Maybe I'll try it out and see what comes of it. However that is, I'm sticking while I'm needed."
    The doctor reached out his hand and grasped Reuben's, his eyes alight.
    "Congratulations!" he said heartily. "You seem to be a true person. I haven't met so many."
    "Thanks!" said Reuben. "And now, when do you want us to appear again? Sometime this afternoon? Or have we done enough damage to the patient for one day?"
    "Come around five a few minutes and give her a comfortable feeling for the night. I don't think she had much real sleep last night. It looked to me as if she had been doing a lot of worrying. Get her mind off her troubles if you can."
    "I'll try," said Reuben thoughtfully, and then he went back to the patient's room, with orders not to stay much longer this time.
    There was an almost happy look on Gillian's lips as she lay there listening to her small brother. As Reuben opened the door, he heard the young voice chirping gently and clearly.
    "No, Gillian, I didn't forget to pray. We prayed together, just like you and I always do. Reuben prays very nicely."
    Reuben paused with the door barely unlatched to get the reaction of the sister, wondering if he ought to wait just a little before he entered.
    "Noel, my dear, do you mean that Mr. Remington prayed with you? You shouldn't call him Reuben. That's not respectful. You should call him Mr. Remington."
    "But he said I was to call him Reuben," answered the boy firmly. "He said I was used to being a brother to somebody. And we would feel more at home with each other if I had somebody to be a brother to, so he told me to call him Reuben!"
    Then Reuben swung into the room.
    "That's right, Miss Guthrie. Have you any objection to that? I thought we'd get