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But after a time, a Mexican porter, with a lantern, seeking every nook and corner, plodded stealthily around a corner of the McCormick. He heard a gasp beside him, and turning his lantern he looked directly into the window, where four white, tense faces peered at him with staring eyes. He returned their stare, speechlessly. Then he saw Miss Landbury. "Ain't you lost?" he ejaculated.
Miss Landbury, frightened out of her senses, and not recognizing the porter in the darkness, shot into her bed on the floor, and David answered the man's questions. A moment later an outraged matron, flanked by two nurses, marched in upon them. "What is the meaning of this?" they demanded. "Search me," said David pleasantly.
"Our friends and neighbors got lonesome in the night and refused to sleep alone and let us rest in contentment. So they moved in, and here we are." Both Gooding and Miss Landbury positively declined to go home alone, and other nurses were appointed to guard them during the brief remaining hours of the night.
"I can't carry them alone through those long dark halls," Gooding insisted. Miss Landbury would not accompany him without a third party, Carol flatly refused to leave dear sick David alone in that porch, and at last in despair David donned his bath robe and the four of them crossed the wide parlor, traversed the dark hall to Gooding's room and returned with mattress, pillows and blankets.
But if she meant to stand on ceremony and go into that awful big black room without a minister, she could go by herself, that was all. Carol lay down decidedly, and considered the subject closed. "I don't want to sleep," said Miss Landbury unhappily. "I am not sleepy. I just want a place to sit, where I I won't keep seeing things." "Turn on the light, Carol," said David.
I can't go to sleep and Heavens, what's that on the floor?" "It is I and my friend, Miss Landbury," said Carol quietly. "We are having a slumber party." "Yes, all party and no slumber," muttered David. "Well, I am glad I happened in. I was lonesome off there by myself. You know you do get sick of being alone all the time. Shove over, old man, and I'll join the party."
You had first shot at Miss Landbury, didn't you?" "I am not a nigger baby at a county fair, three shots for ten cents," interrupted Nancy resentfully. But when the others laughed at her ready sally, she joined in good-naturedly. "You don't look like a lunger," said Barrows, eying her critically. "Mr. Duke thinks I came out for the benefit of my disposition." "Good idea."
Hurriedly, and with bated breath, they raided Carol's bed, tugging the heavy mattress between them, quietly ignoring the shaking of David's cot which spoke so loudly of amusement. "I'll crawl right in then," said Miss Landbury comfortably. "I sleep next to David, if you please," said Carol with quiet dignity. Miss Landbury obediently rolled over, and Carol scrambled in beside her.
"Oooooooo," moaned Carol, diving deep beneath the covers. David sat up quickly. "Who is there?" "It is I, Miss Landbury," came a frightened whisper. "Can't I stay with you a while? I can't go to sleep to save me, and honestly, I am scared to death." This brought Carol forth, and with warm and sympathetic hospitality she turned back the covers at the foot of the bed and said: "Yes, come right in."
Miss Landbury swayed dizzily and fell back, half-conscious, upon the pillows. Gooding, with one bound, landed on David's bed, nearly crushing the breath out of that feeble hero of the darkness. Lights flashed quickly from tent to tent on the mesa, frightened voices called for nurses, doors slammed, bells rang, and nurses and porters rushed to the rescue. "Who was it?" "Where was it?" "What is it?"
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