THE IMPERIAL ENGINEER by Judith B. Glad

"There. How's that?"
    He rotated his wrist, found he could close his thumb on the roll. "It feels much
better. And I may be able to use it enough to do the tests tomorrow."
    "If you can't, I could--" she paused as a knock sounded on the door. "That will be
Mr. Eagleton. I'll let him in."
    Tony followed her slowly. In his mind, he completed her sentence. Yes, he would
ask her to help him test the switchboard tomorrow, even if he was able to do it alone. How
had he ever convinced himself he'd be able to forget her?
    Eagleton was accompanied by another man, one whose black bag proclaimed his
profession. Argument did Tony no good. Within a few minutes, he was back in the
bedroom, being unwrapped by Doctor Lewis.
    "Honey, hmmm?" He laid the bandage aside. "Turn a little, get some light on this.
Yep, blistered good. Hmmm."
    Tony felt his fingers touching lightly along the edges of the burns.
    "Got a little too close to the fire, hmmm? Heard you saved Mrs. Tompkins. Broke
her ankle when she fell, but that's better'n burning to a crisp. Hmmm. You're gonna be
sleepin' on your belly for a week or two. Lay down. I want to put more of that honey
on."
    Obediently Tony stretched out.
    At last the doctor pronounced him under excellent care. They both went back into
the parlor, where Mr. Eagleton sat, leafing through a magazine. He laid it aside.
"Well?"
    "He'll be fit as a fiddle in a week or so. The girl knew what she was doing."
    "That's a relief. Thanks, Ned."
    "My pleasure. I'll see you Tuesday, as usual." The doctor left, after refusing
Tony's offer of payment.
    "You look like you've been drug through a knothole backwards," Eagleton said,
once they were alone.
    Tony ran his hand through his hair, knowing it did little good. Soot and grime
coated each strand, stiffening them until he was sure he looked something like an angry
porcupine. "I know. Look. Mr. Eagleton, I'll pay you back for the doctor. My pocketbook's
in the other room--"
    "Ned won't take your money. He'll win more than that from me in our next poker
game. Now, what were you thinking, coming to this woman's place? You trying to blacken
her name?"
    "I couldn't think of anywhere else to go. The office was locked. My keys...I must
have lost them."
    "He won't blacken my name. I've made arrangements to sleep at Mrs. Graham's
tonight," Lulu said, entering from the kitchen. "He'll be much more comfortable here than
on a cot in your office."
    "Well, yes, but--"
    "Mr. Eagleton, I am a respectable spinster, and my neighbor is equally
respectable. Between us we can surely protect my name and Mr. Dewitt's."
    Tony said, "She's right about the cot, Mr. Eagleton. If it won't damage her
reputation, I'd much rather stay here, tonight at least. I'll look for another place
tomorrow."
    "That's settled then." Lulu brushed her hands together. "I've put the kettle on.
What blend of tea do you prefer, Mr. Eagleton? I have Gunpowder, Keemun and
Jasmine."
    "Do you have coffee?"
    "No, I'm sorry."
    "Give him Gunpowder, Lulu," Tony suggested. "I think you'll like it, Mr.
Eagleton. It's a little different from what most people think of as tea."
    "It sounds deadly, but I'll try anything once. Now then, we've got a little time, so I
want you to take it easy tomorrow. I'll see to delivering the batteries and you can run the
tests Thursday instead. Will you need help?"
    Tony glanced at Lulu, who nodded. "No, I don't think so. Don't worry, Mr.
Eagleton. We'll be open for business Monday morning."
    "That's fine, then." He cocked his head, looking at Tony with a peculiar
expression. "I saw Miss King pick up a spectacles case. You'd better wear 'em when you
go out tomorrow."
    "Oh, I forgot. Here they are." Lulu pulled the case from her skirt pocket.
    "I'd forgotten I had these. Do you have some fine wire, Lulu?"
    "I'll see." She went back into the kitchen.
    Tony set the spectacles aside. "Did you talk to George Randall? He said he was
going to sign up for service, but I haven't seen him since. I'd like to get