They were wide
open to the May breeze and the sunshine, but no pots of daffodils or
other flowers stood on their empty sills. He knew it was useless to send
them now.
"But if she does pull through," he said to himself between his teeth,
"I'll bring her such an armful of roses she can't see over the top of
'em. God send I get the chance!"
CHAPTER V
SUSQUEHANNA
Red Pepper Burns drove into the vine-covered old red barn behind his
house which served as his garage, and stopped his engine with an air of
finality.
"Johnny," said he, addressing the young man who was accustomed to drive
with him--and for him when for any reason he preferred not to drive
himself, which was seldom--and who kept the car in the most careful
trim, "not for man or beast, angel or devil will I go out again
to-night."
Johnny Carruthers grinned. "No, sir," he replied. "Not unless they
happen to want you," he added.
"Not if they offer me a thousand dollars for the trip," growled his
master.
"You would for a dead beat, though," suggested the devoted servant, who
by virtue of five years of service knew whereof he spoke, "if he'd
smashed his good-for-nothin' head."
"Not if he'd smashed his whole blamed body--so long as there was
another surgeon in the county who could do the job."
"That's just the trouble," argued Johnny. "You'd think there wasn't."
Red Pepper looked at him. "Johnny, you're an idiot!" he informed him.
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