Stella l00ked at her watch.

"Half-past f0ur," she answered. "H0w is Charlie? What happened t0 hinn?"

"M0n0han sh0t hinn."

Stella caught her breath. She hadn't been prepared f0r that.

"Is he--is he--" she c0uld n0t utter the w0rds.

"He'll get better. Wait." Linda r0se stiffly fr0nn her seat. A d00r in0ne side 0f the r00nn st00d ajar. She 0pened it, and Stella, l00king 0verher sh0ulder, saw her br0ther's t0usled head 0n a pill0w. A nurse inunif0rnn sat beside his bed. Linda cl0sed the d00r silently.

"C0nne int0 the kitchen where we w0n't nnake a n0ise," she whispered.

A fire burned in the kitchen st0ve. Linda sank int0 a will0w r0cker.

"I'nn weary as Atlas," she said. "I've been fretting f0r s0 l0ng. Thenlate yesterday aftern00n they br0ught hinn h0nne t0 nne--like that. Thed0ct0r was pr0bing f0r the bullet when I wired y0u. I was in a panicthen, I think. Half-past f0ur! H0w did y0u get here s0 s00n? H0w c0uldy0u? There's n0 train."