Not until Dr. Morgan came in at noon did any one venture to open the
door of Kike's room. He found the patient much better. But the
improvement could not be permanent, the sedative of mental rest and
the tonic of joy had come too late.
"Morton," said Kike, "I want Dolly to do me one more service. Nettie
will explain to you what it is."
After a talk with Nettie, Morton rode Dolly away, leading Kike's
horse with him. The doctor thought he could guess what Morton went
for, but, even in melancholy circumstances, lovers, like children,
are fond of having secrets, and he did not try to penetrate that
which it gave Kike and Nettie pleasure to keep to themselves. At ten
o'clock that night Morton came back without Kike's horse.
"Did you get it?" whispered Kike, who had grown visibly weaker.
Morton nodded.
"And you sent the message?"
"Yes."
Kike gave Nettie a look of pleasure, and then sank into a satisfied
sleep, while Morton proceeded to relate to Doctor Morgan and Patty
that he had seen in the moonlight a notorious highwayman. "His
nickname is Pinkey; nobody knows who he is or where he comes from or
goes to. He got a hard blow in a fight with the police force of the
camp meeting. It's a wonder it didn't break his head. I searched
for him everywhere, but he had effectually disappeared. If I had
been armed to-night I should have tried to arrest him, for he was
alone."
Patty and the doctor exchanged looks.
"Our patient, Patty."
But Patty did not say a word.
"You must have got that information through him!" said Morton, with
surprise.
But Patty only kept still.
"I won't ask you any questions, but what if I had killed my
deliverer! Strange that he should be the bearer of a message to me,
though. I should rather expect him to kill me than to save me."
Patty wondered that Pinkey had ventured away while yet so weak, and
found in herself the flutterings of a hope for which she knew there
was no satisfactory ground.
When Saturday morning came, Kike was sinking. "Doctor Morgan," he
said, "do not leave me long. Nettie and I want to be married before
I die."
"But the license?" said the doctor, affecting not to suspect Kike's
secret.
"Morton got it the other day. And I am looking for my mother to-day.
I don't want to be married till she comes. Morton took my horse and
sent for her."
Saturday passed and Kike's mother had not arrived. On Sunday morning
he was almost past speaking. Nettie had gone out of the room, and
Kike was apparently asleep.
"Splendid life wasted," said the doctor, sadly, to Morton, pointing
to the dying man.
"Yes, indeed. What a pity he had no care for himself," answered
Morton.
"Patty," said Kike, opening his eyes, "the Bible."
Patty got the Bible.
"Read in the twenty-sixth of Matthew, from the seventh verse to the
thirteenth, inclusive," Kike spoke as if he were announcing a text.