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Page 72
"We don't want our records wrong," the head of the hospital resumed.
"We'll wait until he can tell us about himself."
The telephone bell rang at that juncture, and the superintendent
answering it told Larry the patient was now in bed and could be
seen.
"Don't get him excited," cautioned the official. "I want to get some
information from him about himself when you are through."
It is sometimes the custom in New York, in accident cases, to allow
reporters to interview the victims, when their physical condition
admits of it. So it was no new thing for Larry to go into the
hospital ward to speak to Retto. He passed through rows of white
cots, on which reclined men in all stages of disease and accident.
There was a sickish smell of iodoform in the atmosphere, and the
sight of the pale faces on either side made Larry sad at heart.
"There's your patient," said a nurse who was with him, as she led
Larry to the bed where Retto reclined under the white coverings
that matched the hue of his face. "Now don't excite him. You
newspaper men don't care what you do as long as you get a story, and
sometimes all the work we nurses do goes for nothing."
"I'll be careful," promised Larry.
The nurse, who had other duties to keep her busy, left Larry at the
bedside of the mysterious man. He was lying with his eyes shut as
Larry approached.
"Mr. Retto," called the reporter.
There was no response.
"Mr. Retto," spoke Larry, a little louder.
At that the man opened his eyes.
"Were you calling me?" he asked. Then he caught sight of Larry, and
a smile came on his face.
"Well, you've found me, I see," was his greeting. "Only for that
team I'd been far away."
"I suppose so. But now you're here, for which I'm sorry; I hope you
will answer me a few questions."
"What are they?" asked the man, and a spasm of pain replaced his
smile.
"I believe you know the secret of Mr. Potter's disappearance," said
Larry, speaking in a low tone so none of the other patients would
hear him. "I want you to tell me where he is."
At the mention of Mr. Potter's name Retto raised himself in bed. His
face that had been pale became flushed.
"He--he--is----" then he stopped. He seemed unable to speak.
"Yes--yes!" exclaimed Larry, eagerly. "Where is he?"
"He--is----"
Then Retto fell back on the bed.
"He has fainted!" cried the nurse, running to the cot. "The strain
has been too much for him," and she pressed an electric button which
summoned the doctor.
CHAPTER XXVI
A NEW CLUE
Larry moved to one side. The unexpected outcome of his interview had
startled him. He did not quite know what to do.
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