"Joe, he wouldn't let me," protested the younger woman. "He'd say 't was
a waste."

"But ye'll be cured," cried the other in exaltation. "Think of it. Ye'll
sleep again o' nights."

The woman's hand went to her breast, with a piteous gesture. "Oh, my
God! D'yeh think it could be true?" she cried.

"Accourse it's true! Didn't yeh hear whut he sayed? Would he dast swear
to it if it wasn't true?"

Tremulously the younger woman moved forward, clutching her shawl about
her.

"Could yeh sell me half a bottle to try it, sir?" she asked.

The vender shook his head. "Impossible, my dear madam. Contrary to my
fixed professional rule. But, I'll tell you what I will do. If, in three
days you're not better, you can have your money back."

She began painfully to count out her coins. Reaching impatiently for his
price, the Professor found himself looking straight into the eyes of the
well-dressed stranger.

"Are you going to take that woman's money?"

The question was low-toned but quite clear. An uneasy twitching beset
the corners of the professional brow. For just the fraction of a second,