Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-05-19

ton" lived, and there was no time Tor
further inquiries.
Watch out there" he exclaimed. as
CROPPED my way in the darkness.
That there ninth stairs broken and
yern have TO climb over it
I counted eight stairs and climbed
over the ninth, and with eyes now more
accustomed to the darkness | followed
Wolfe. who was siding up the stairway
some distance in advance.
Two. three. four flights. At last we
were at the top of the house where
Wolfe and his '''doption" lived. and
Wolfe. drawing himself up with an air
| of dignity. announced: This Is where
live. Sec?"
l looked and saw" a miserable.
dirty room. Il chair. a wooden stool so
tiny that 1t seemed as if strong draft
"f air would blow it up the chimney. a
| table and in one corner of the room, a
bed.
- 'Sthat you. Wolfe?" came in a
sharp, childish ire BILE from the corner.
Yes. Joey, it's me and I've brung
the doctor lady to make your back
we'll
On the bed lay poor little emaciated
form with 4 mass of tumbled. curly hair
thrown back on the pillow and big
black eyes that looked bigger and
blacker from the purple shadows under
them.
My back won't never be well" said
| the child. turning his head YEARLY on
on the pillow. but it don't ache 50 bad
| now nor it did"
Let me see" said. passing my hand
over the pathctically thin little back.
How did il happen" / asked OF VOL
fe. who pcrched on the stool. was re
garding me with look of clfsh iutelli-
gencc.
Yer see his mother was drunk nd
she pushed him downstairs nd that's
how it happened. got pushed down
stairs myself onct. 1T DIDN'T make
much difference on me COS I'm tough.
but | kinder felt for Joey, and that's
why 'dopted him.-see?"
Where i his mother. move" | asked.
Wolfe jerked his thumb outward
with an expressive nod that probably
would have conveyed information to
the initiated. but left me as much in
the dark a. TO her whereabouts as be
fore.
Joey amt goin' to die, is he?" he
| asked. in an eager whisper, drawing
| me over to- the window.
oh. no, hope he isn't" replied, as
encoura giEgly as | could.
BE yer taikin' about me?" sounded
in Joey's shrill voice from the corner.
- was showing the doctor lady yer
garding. said Wolfe, recovering his
sang tioid
This we're. yer see. is g'ranium."
| raising his voice that Joey might hear
him. and that we're is what folks call
heartscase, leastwise t was afore the
top got broke off" he corrected. point
ing to Il headless and withered stalk in
Il broken flower pot. Joey he sets a
heap of store by his garding and it does
look purity with the sun a-shinin' on
it
/ mentally wondered how the sun
could manage to shine through those
dirty window panes. but Wolfe went on
pleasantly: 'Bein "a rear tenement
we has heap of sun nd that's savin'
on coal as well as bein' better for the
health.
How would Won like to have Joey
go away for a few weeks. Wolfie?" /
asked. tentatively.
ain gOlu W TAKE away
from me- is yer?" said Wolfe, his eyes
dilating with apprehension.
No. no. not for long" | assured him,
only for few weeks where he will
have a clean. soft bed and plenty of
good food, and maybe get strong and
we'll"
And me not see him?" asked Wolfe.
piteously.
You shall come to the hospital every
week and see him." | promised.
kin /. certain sure? But hospitals
is where they cut folks up and sell EN-.
amt it?" ne asked. suspiciously.
oh no. indeed, hospitals are where
they try to make sick people well, and
they would take the very best care in
the world of joey"
We'll. / s'pose he kin CO." he said, re-
fiectively: but it'll be mighty lonesome
'thout yer. Joey" rubbing his ragged
sleeve across his eyes.
Il amt like other kids. yer know: |
s'pose it's on account of my havin' of
crooked back and lame leg. The
boys they kinder jibe HE nd jibe EN-
back: nd Joey's he's all | hev to be
fond of. Yer likes me, too. don't yer,
Joey" he said. burying his head beside
Joey > wan little face.
You bet" responded Joey. with cor
dial affection. and after leaving Il sleep
ing draught for Joey. | went away leav-
ing them curled up together like two
kittens on the hard, straw bed.
A few days later. Joey was snugly
cnSconced in I clean little bed 1t the
childrens hospital. The comfort and
cleanliness of it all was great sur
prise to HIM and it was some time be-
fore he became accustomed to it.
MY. If Wolfe were here. he would
say. passing his hand over the snowy
coverlet with pleased wonder. But the |!
pain in mis- back would soon make him |
forget even Wolfe and the clean cover |
let
Every day Wolfe came to inquire for |
Joey. When it was known that Joey |
was Wolfie's "'doption" he was allowed |
To come into the ward whenever he |
came. for it was only question of time, |
and 4 very short time that Joey would |
stay. In spite of all that care and skill |
could do the pain in the poor little back |
grew worse and worse. and JoeyS |
strength grew less and less able to |
bear it.
But his face never failed to brighten
when Wolfe came. and Wolfe would |
sit for hours by the bed stroking Joey's
fingers and talking to him in a grooming !
voice. Sometimes Joey would fall |