The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-02

this away and was glad to see that no
more followed the first flow. He poured
out some whisky, this time not mixing II
with water. and made her swallow 1t. She
| lay still for some time casing stolidly up
| with her siRhtless eyes. but presently
made a sign that she wished to speak
| again. Mr. Mitchell tried TO dissuAde her.
| fearing fatal result n she should furth-
er exert herself. but she insisted upon
| having her will, 80 he stopped over her,
| bidding her to speak low. that she might
| not tire herself unnecessarily.
"An right" she said, almost In whis-
| per. "Tll go easy. But I amt finished yet.
| You said you was Jims friend. Wen, I'm
| dreadful afraid for him She Ind now re-
1 lapsed into her coarser manner OF speech.
why need you fear for him. asked
| Mr.. Mitchell. Jim can take care OF him
self"
"Yes: Jim's clever. and It'll he ny
! cop ASH take him But they all get pinch
| ed some day. 7 shouldn't mind if IL was
| only for burglary or something hke
| that but think OF that monkey, ana
| when dream OF II often the monkey
| changes, and It's Jim as is hanging there
my Jim. my own boy. hanging by the
| neck oh. no. no. God in heaven. II there
| is one. hear a poor dying woman's pray
| er and don't let my boy come to that'
| Save him. save him"
Come, come! This is merely a night
fear. Why should you think Of such
dreadful thing
"Ah. I've thought OF II and thought Of
It many's the long night through rye
worked II all out, 80 natural that some
times think It's fate and must come
true"
but why7"
"Iistenl Suppose Jim was ever TO find
out who his father Is. He's alive yet and
lives in this town. I know, because ]
saw him myself not a month ago. He's
the same beast he always was, too.
cause l seen him look about slyiike, and
when he thought nobody was watching
he kicked a little child that was lying on
the pavement. and when IL screamed he
laughed and walked away. Now. sup
pose my Jim had seen that and had
known the man for his father Do you
know what2 Jim would have been at his
throat like a tiger and would have stran-
gled him to death. Wouldn't II be awful
for my Jim TO hang for killing beast
like his father"
"Ah, but he does not know who his
father is does hep"
Now we come to It, Now you'll see
why I've told you all this yarn. Jim don't
know now: leastways I've never told
him. But there's papers as would tell him
IL he found them after I'm gone papers
I ought TO have burnt long ago. but
never had the heart. I've lit fire spe-
cial to do It. Then would think Ia Just
read them over once more, and In the
end Ia tie them up and put them away
again"
And where are these papers,
"I'll tell you. want you TO take them.
to keep them away from Jim and yet to
keep them for Jim too"
How do you mean for Jimg
why, don't you see II the worst come
TO worst why. you could maybe snow
them papers to the Judge and tell him as
how Jim couldn't help II; that he was
born criminal and that the very man ne
killed brought him into the world with
the brand of Cain on him. That would
count, wouldn't 1t? 1t ought to. don't
you think? No judge would nave the
heart to hang my Jim altar that. would
he? No. The papers IL save him. Inc
papers IL save him! You take the papers.
there In that old box on the shell tnere'
Jim thinks It's my workbox, cause
there's needles and thread on top. 6ut
the papers is on the bottom all right You
find them. don't your You've got them All
right? You'n keep them to save Jim with.
won't YOU? I'm dying, and you woudnt
betray an old woman like ms, would
you? You'll--look-out--for JIM!
Mr.. Mitchell had gone to the shelf and
opened tho box. and as she heard him
rummasing through the miscellaneous
lot Of trash her anxiety had grown SO
that she had raised herself up In bed and,
forgetful OF her blindness. was gazing to-
ward him, while her words howed fast
and fevershly until at last she was Iorc-
ed to stop because Of another gush OF
blood from her mouth. Mr.. Mitchell had
lust found the papers when he heard her
eroan as she sank back on the cot. One
glance showed him that she was now In
desperate condition, and, thrEung the
packet into his breast pocket he hasten-
ed TO her assistance.
At this opportune moment the door
burst open, and Preacher Jim rushed In,
followed by the doctor.
lis she alive?" cried Preacher Jim,
rushing up and falling to his knees be-
side his mother. MY God, where does
all that blood come from?
She has been doing very we'll until Just
a moment ago" said Mr.. Mitchell, when
this hemorrhage came on Then rising
he addressed the doctor. She tells me,
doctor. that she became suddenly blind
and fell on the stairs. She thinks she has
injured herself internally and stated that
she had flow OF blood from the mouth
before her son and myself came In. rear
this ts a serious case.
II will examine and see, said the doc
tor But first we must stop this blood.
He prepared some medicine, which ne
poured Into the womans mouth. and In
few minutes she was comparatively at
ease again the hemorrhage having been
controlled Then the doctor proceeded to
make a thorough examination.
IL am afraid that rib Is broken" said
he, "and that II impinges on the lung, or
else that there is a ruptured vessel. My
advice Is that she be removed TO the hos
pital as soon as possible.
III you would prefer, said Mr.. Mitchell,
speaking to Preacher Jim, who was now
standing by. gazing at his mother. with
jaws irmy set and all the muscles OF his
Dody at a tension, II will have your
mother taken TO my house, where no ex
pcnse shall be spared i'm the endeavor TO
save her life What do you sayy
Preacher Jim made no reply. but the
doctor said
'''rhe hospital will he infinitely the best
place for herr II YOU choose To pay for
her attendance why, OF course, you may
do So But charity patients are treated
with the same care and skill at our i'm
stitution as are the wealthlest'
II am sure 90 q. doctor" said Mr.
Mitchell courteously. n was merely anx-
ious TO consult the sons wishes in the
matter what do YOU say JIM