The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-06-03
CHAPTER 1.
7 S there no hope, doctor"
4 Absolutely none-now."

IF she had gone TO tle-tne
= workhouse infirmary-would she
have lived?"
The doctor paused. The gulp before
that hateful word was not lost on him.
He tried professional severity and be-
slowed some care on the buttoning of
glove.
Il am surprised he said, that an
excellent woman like your mother
should encourage your feelings of-er-
repugnance toward-er- Confound it,
boy, have you no relatives or friendsT'
mo, sir. We are alone in the world"
"And hard up, eh?'
The boy dug q hand into d pocket
with the stOlid Indifference of despair.
He produced sbillings and some pen
MES. He picked out the silver, and the
man Redeemed in protest.
Don't be stupid, Philip. That Is
your name, is it not? When 1 want my
fee l will ask for 1t. Your mother
needs a nurse, wine, chicken broth.
You are old enough to realize that a
doctor practicing in a neighborhood
like this might want such things him
self and whistle for them. But in the
-er-inf1rmary they are provided by
the state"
Would my mother have lived had
! she consented to be taken there q
month ago?"
Again the man wondered at the stony
persistence of the questioner, a fear
less looking, active boy Of fifteen, at
tired in worn clothes too small for him
and wearing an old pair Of boots sever
al sizes too large. The strong, young
face, pinched with vigils and privations;
the large, earnest eyes, heavy with I'M
shed tears; the lips, quivering in their
resolute compression over a chin that
indicated great strength of character.
appealed far more to the doctor than
the whimpering terror with which the
children OF the poor usually meet the
grim vision of death.
The wrestle with the glove ceased,
and a kindly hand rested on Philips
shoulder.
NO" came the quiet answer MAY
God help you. she would not have
lived"
God does not help anybody" was
the amazing retort
The doctor was shocked, visibly so.
THAT is a foolish and wicked state
ment." he said sternly. do not lei
your mother hear such awful words
She has lived and will die a true Chris
tan. I have never met q woman OF
greater natural charm and real piety
She has suffered so much that she
merits the life eternal. 1t is q reward
not a punishment. Cast away these
terrible thoughts. Go, rather, and knee
by her side in prayer"
For an instant the great brown eye
blazed f1ercely at him.
Am to pray that my mother shall
be taken from me?'
Even that If it be Gods will"
The CLEAN of passion yielded to ute
helplessneSs. The boy again brough
forth his tiny store of money.
Surely" he said, II can buy SOM
small amount of wine. In the shop
they sell things in tins that make chick
en- broth, don't they? I have a fire ant
q kettle Would you mind telling me-
There. there! You go to your moth
err and endeavor to cheer her up.
will see what 1 can do. What. Woul
you argue with me? Go at once. l il
sist. Listen. She is calling for you
: In that poor tenement there were n
secrets. 4 rlckety staircase, crudel
built against the retaining wall Of tn
only living room on the ground foo
led steeply to an apartment above an
eliminated in an opening that sugges
ed a trapdoor. The walls. roughl
paneled. were well provided wit
shelves and pegs. The back door wa
= fastened with a latch. q contrivano
=. rarely seen in the London of toda.
The front window looked out into
badly paved court girt by tumbledow
I stables. A smaller window at the baC
revealed q dismal yard darkened ,
lofty walls. Although little more tina
a stones throw removed from the bus
Mile End road, the place was singula
" quiet 1t was already dead ar
only waited the coming of men Wit