To
Donald, Gerald
and Jimmy

Contents

I AN UNCONSCIOUS INTRUDER 9

II MURDER 36

III AUTOPSY FINDINGS 67

IV THE FIRST DOLL 109

V A BRAVE NURSE 133

VI THE SECOND DOLL 163

VII THE NEW PATIENT IN BED ELEVEN 197

VIII THE CONTROL 231

IX THE THIRD DOLL 259

X THE CUPOLA 292

»I«
An Unconscious Intruder

“Docterr Ste-earling, Junyior,Doct-terr Eth-err-ridge Ste-earling, Junyior.Calling Doct-terr....”

The loud speaker whined through laboratories,permeated kitchens, rasped in corridors. In theservice corridor of Medicine Clinic the orderly rollingthe laundry bin halted to listen and expectorate.Four floors above, Cub Sterling pulled in his longstride and reached for a nurse’s desk ’phone. Hisvoice pushed through the mouthpiece and almostimmediately severed the monotonous breathing ofthe loud speaker. He said:

“Doctor Ethridge Sterling, Junior, is answeringfrom Ward D, Medicine Clinic.”

The dead voice of the operator responded:

“Doc-terr Ste-earling, Jun...?”

Cub’s patience and his ear were closely allied.He cocked his head and barked:

“Well, what is it?”

Her voice dropped several octaves. She cooed:

“Justa minnit, Docterr Sterrling. Docterr Barton’scalling....”

Barton’s voice intervened:

“Cub? Harold Barton. Will you go over toWeber’s and telephone me at my home, please?Right away.”

Five minutes later, Doctor Ethridge Sterling,Junior, turned from an elevator on the first floorof the Medicine Clinic of the Elijah Wilson Hospital,gave a vacant nod to two internes and shambledthrough the door, into the accident corridor andout into Beeker Street.

In Weber’s restaurant he folded himself into atelephone booth and said:

“Riverside 7863.”

While waiting for the connection his long fingersmanipulated a cigarette. He was more excited thanhe dared to admit.

What the hell could Dr. Barton, a life-longfriend of his father and Pediatrician-in-Chief ofthe Elijah Wilson even before he was born, haveto say which was too confidential to transmit over ahospital telephone?

The operator invaded his curiosity.

“Deposit a nickel. Five cents, please.”

Cub Sterling’s rangy legs b

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