Chapter 16

           JubalHarshawdidnotwaitforGilliantodigherproblemchildoutofthepool;heleftinstructionsforDorcastobegivenasedativeandhurriedtohisstudy,leavingAnnetoexplain(ornotexplain)theeventsofthelasttenminutes."Front!"hecalledoutoverhisshoulder.

           Miriamturnedandcaughtupwithhim."IguessImustbe‘front,’"shesaidbreathlessly."But,Boss,whatinthe-"

           "Girl,notoneword."

           "But,Boss-"

           "Zipit,Isaid.Miriam,aboutaweekfromnowwe’llallsitdownandgetAnnetotelluswhatwereallydidsee.Butrightnoweverybodyandhiscousinswillbephoninghereandreporterswillbecrawlingoutofthetrees-andI’vegottomakeacoupleofcallsfirst.Ineedhelp.Areyouthesortofuselessfemalewhocomesunstuckwhenshe’sneeded?Thatremindsme-MakeanotetodockDorcas’spayforthetimeshespenthavinghysterics."

           Miriamgasped."Boss!Youjustdaredothatandeverysingleoneofuswillquitcold!"

           "Nonsense."

           "Imeanit.QuitpickingonDorcas.Why,Iwouldhavehadhystericsmyselfifshehadn’tbeatenmetoit."Sheadded,"IthinkI’llhavehystericsnow."

           Harshawgrinned."YoudoandI’llspankyou.Allright,putDorcasdownforabonusfor‘extrahazardousduty.’Putallofyoudownforabonus.Me,especially.Iearnedit."

           "Allright.Butwhopaysyourbonus?"

           "Thetaxpayers,ofcourse.We’llfindawaytoclip-Damn!"Theyhadreachedhisstudydoor;thetelephonewasalreadydemandingattention.