EVAN

CHAPTER 1

Doctor Leel

Look, there’s that Dr. Leel again," muttered John Reynolds.

He was leaning far out of a second-story window of his home in New York City.

Why does he come to see Mother so often anyway? I bet she’d feel better without him, declared John’s twin brother, Dan. Both boys had brown eyes, brown hair, and were a little tall for their thirteen years. That particular window was their favorite because it faced the busy Hudson River where stately sailing ships were always to be seen moving either up or down. It was the year 1848 and steamboats had not yet come into common use.

Another head leaned out the window and said,I don’t believe that he is a real doctor. He’s not at all nice. It was the twins’ sister, Nancy, one year their junior. She, too, had brown hair, but gray rather than brown eyes. Last time he was here he upset Mother awfully.

Say, I’ve an idea, cried Dan. You two stay here. I’ll answer his knock on the door, take his coat, and when he’s talking to Mother I’ll listen in.

Okay, agreed John. He’s coming up the lane. He’ll knock at the door any minute. Go down, now.

Dan ran down the stairs, opened the door, and called, Good-morning, Doctor Leel.

Morning, replied the Doctor rather sullenly. How’s your mother?

She’s feeling better, sir.

The Doctor screwed up his face at that and opened Mrs. Reynold’s bedroom door. Dan turned as if to go upstairs, but as soon as the Doctor had disappeared he knelt down near the door and listened.

Upstairs John was saying, "Dad promised me that the next time the Falcon went on a trip with him in command I would go with him. Isn’t that wonderful?"

Yes, John. But I’d like to go too!

You? A girl? He shook his head vigorously. That wouldn’t do.

Oh, but remember when we went with Daddy to New York? I climbed onto the skysail yard even faster than you did. We timed ourselves.

All right. But look here. It would never do for a girl to go around Cape Horn, argued John.

Maybe you’re right, but I don’t care. Besides I won’t have anyone nice to play with if you and Dan go away.

Yes, you will. There’s Mathilde and Ann and Caroline and —and all the rest, finished John rather lamely.

Ann’s the only decent one. The rest of them play with dolls or sew all day!

So you’ll be good friends with Ann and you won’t miss us one bit. You’ll have to stop being a tomboy sometime, Nancy. We’ll only be gone a little over a year.

But, John, think of all the snowball fights in the park that I’ll miss…

Yes, but Dan and I are going just the same without you.

We’ll see what Daddy says to that.

There the conversation ended. John felt badly because he didn’t like to hurt Nancy’s feelings, but worst of all something inside of him said Nancy could do just as well on a ship as he could.

Nancy felt badly because she knew it was quite impossible for a girl to go. At home time would pass so slowly with no snowball fights in the winter and very little swimming in the summer.

Hey! Listen to this, whispered Dan hoarsely as he bounded up the steps.

What did you hear? John and Nancy wanted to know at the same time.

Listen. Dan had a startled face. "He said the Falcon had g-gone down with a-all hands!"

Oh! No! Daddy was on it, sobbed Nancy.

John, however, was of a different mind. I say, but Dr. Leel’s a liar. I bet he just wants Mother to get sicker so that he can get more money or something. I’m going to listen to the rest of what that demon has to say.

Nancy had fairly tumbled down the stairs before John grabbed her by the collar and drew her up just in time to say Keep quiet. He’s opening the door.

The handle turned and Dr. Leel’s beaklike nose poked out of the opening. He didn’t notice the children crouching near the banister.

I’m going down, declared Nancy. If that beast says anything bad to Mother, I’ll go into her room and drag that undoctorly doctor out.

Don’t take more than about five steps at a time, warned Dan laughingly.

It’s not funny, Dan. He’s getting Mother awfully sick. Nancy, not disobeying Dan’s orders, slid down the banister, which was a quick way of reaching the ground floor. As Dan had not thought of this means of transportation, he nearly burst at the sight of his sister gliding downwards. Nancy jumped skillfully onto the rug, which, unused to such violent landings, calmly slid away from Nancy’s feet. Nancy, unused to being slid away with, landed with a loud thump. The carpet, carrying Nancy with it, glided through the hall and stopped in front of its passenger’s mother’s bedroom door.

Nancy heard Dr. Leel say, Mrs. Reynolds, you’re a very sick woman. I don’t want to upset you but I had to tell you. Now, there’s the little matter of the insurance policy your husband had. Uh-hem-m, the insurance company owes you five hundred dollars. My service charges for your present illness, and other services rendered to your family, amount to more than five hundred dollars. I would be doing you a favor by taking the policy money because I would be saving you a nice sum of money.

I am too weak to think of such things now. I will wait a year before I give up hope for my husband, replied Mrs. Reynolds.

Nancy was in a fever. Why, that Dr. Leel wanted her father’s insurance policy for his rotten services. Capt. Reynolds might still be alive! Nancy’s thoughts stopped as soon as she heard Leel begin to speak.

Madam, he began, I could ask for that policy now or the five hundred dollars in cash, but, since you are so sick, I will refrain from force. Good-day. Dr. Leel opened the bedroom door and tripped over Nancy’s prostrate figure. Down came his hooked nose on the hard mahogany boards. The twins, watching attentively from their hiding place near the banister, burst out laughing. Dr. Leel rose quickly to his feet, a large lavender-pink [bruise]decorating the tip of his usually high-in-the-air nose.

Get my coat, he roared and then, without waiting for either the answer or the coat he strode out of the front door.

Nancy told John and Dan everything that she had heard. Then the three of them knocked at their mother’s door.Come in, children. They entered on tiptoe.

We heard what he said, Mother. What are you going to do? John wanted to know.

I can’t make up my mind, John. But he’s nice. He’ll wait till I’m all better so that I can think it over.

Mother, when he went outside he kicked that stray pussy and said, ‘I’ll get that policy yet. Scat!’

Did he really?

Yes.

I don’t feel so well. Please get me a drink of water, Nancy. Nancy hurried away and returned with a pitcher of water and a cup.

Nancy, Nancy, whispered Dan running towards her, Mother’s fainted!

Come out. Leave the pitcher here, ordered John.

In the vestibule Sarah, the cleaning woman, was dusting the furniture. She looked up when the three children made their sudden exit, and said, What’s the matter with you children?

Nothing, sighed John.

Mother’s fainted, announced Nancy.

Well, why don’t you call in a real doctor instead of that cheater Leel? Sarah advised emphatically.

Shall I go and get Dr. Horton?

Yes. I guess you’d better, Dan.

Will she be all right, Dr. Horton? John asked when the doctor finished examining Mrs. Reynolds.

Yes. But she’ll need to go to a hospital for a real rest.

Oh.

Your mother said she didn’t have any relatives near here. I didn’t want to bother her. Do you have any anywhere?

Yes sir. One aunt in Boston. She’s awfully old-fashioned and rotten.

I can’t change her ways for you. What’s her name?

Meyers, Tabitha Meyers, sir.

I noticed a maid when I came in. Could she take care of you for about a month?

A month? She’s a cleaning woman and only comes twice a week to do the hard work.

I see. I’ll send your aunt a message by the eleven o’clock stage. You’ll take the five o’clock. That’ll give the aunt plenty of time to get ready for you. Better eat lunch and pack your bags. I’ll call for you at three-thirty and leave you at the Blue Anchor Tavern. I’ll pay the fare.

Thank you very much sir.

CHAPTER 2

Stagecoach To Boston

Hurry with that bag, John. It’s quarter after three and we want to be ready for Dr. Horton. Don’t go and forget your toothbrush. You know how mad Aunt Tabitha got when you forgot it last time." Nancy stooped over John’s pile of things. If there was anything John was slow at, it was packing. Dan had finished long ago, but Nancy had hardly dared to look into his bag for fear that something inside her would tell her to re-do the mess.

John, Dan and Nancy waited patiently for Dr. Horton’s buggy. Here he comes! cried Dan.

All in, invited the Doctor when he had clattered up to the house and stopped the horse.

Did you send the message with the eleven o’clock coach, sir? asked Dan when they were all seated and were going at a great rate.Yes. I made that all right. You’ll have time and plenty to spare before the five o’clock comes along. Why don’t you take a good look at the ship models in the tavern. Your father was-is a captain so I gather that you like ships.

Yes, we do like ships, sir. Father promised John and me…

Look out for this bump. Hold on, interrupted Dr. Horton. The buggy was joggled but that was all. Go on, Dan.

"Father promised John and me that on the Falcon’s third trip, which is the next, we could go."

I want to go too, Dr. Horton, but John says that it wouldn’t do for a girl to go around Cape Horn. Don’t you think it’s perfectly all right, Dr. Horton? To Nancy everything depended on the answer.

Well-ah-well here we are. Hop out. I’ve arranged about the fare. Don’t forget that you go in the five o’clock for Boston. I’d be here to see you off only I have to see an old lady on Long Island who has influenza. Good-bye.

What a nice tavern, observed Nancy.