The Democratic advocate., 1908-06-12

"You can come again, as often as the
rules permit, but do not stay too long,
The next time he made the rounds
Dr.. Lindsay found Moreton oddly
quiet, his fever reduced, his pulse nor.
NAL.
Doctor" he said, with smile, "that
girls coming did me more good than
all your dope. It's good to know that
there's one person that hasn't forgot
you"
And then the young doctor saw that
something more than an organic dis
ease was aiming for the old boss
heart
Daughter Of an old friendY" he
asked casually.
"Not much-just kid picked up in
tenement; took her from a sodden
old thing who was beating the life and
spirit out of her. 1 turned her over to
the sisters. They did the rest.''
Lindsay smiled, but he understood.
1t was the eX-boss who had paid the
sisters for the girls care and put her
through a business school and set her
on her feet, saving a girlhood like his
own boyhood from the sIums and the
gutter.
After that Moreton slowly but surely
began to mend. There was no curing
the disease, but there was every chance
to prolong his life for years if he want
ed to put up the fight. And every time
that Betty Vynne came to the hospital
he seemed stronger for the fight.
For time DR.. Lindsay watched the
case with purely professional interest,
but gradually this feeling became dis
tinctly personal. He generally met
Betty in the reception room Of the hos
pital, fingered near Moreton's bedside
during her stay and escorted her to the
entrance when she departed.
And, oddly enough, he found many
excuses for sitting with Moreton and
learning more about "the kids" plucky
fight for education and self support.
Before the first year Of his sentence
had passed the ex-boss read young
Lindsay's secret, and one night after
Betty had paid her usual call the two
men talked it over.
mind you, she amt anybody. Nei-
ther she nor know where she sprung
from. So it's up to you," said Moreton
warningly and yet with loving anxiety
in every word.
Young Lindsay studied the cracks in
the flooring for few seconds, and then
he turned resolutely to his patient.
"She's true blue. There are not many
like her, no matter what sort Of blood
was behind her, and I'm going to take
chances If she'll have me. And, what
is more, I am going down to see her to-
morrow when I'm off duty"
"Is it all right, Betty" inquired the
ex-boss as he stroked her hand tender
ly the next time she came. SIS it all
right, little girl?"
The girl smiled into his anxious eyes.
"Oh, Mr.. Moreton, do you think Pm
half good enough for him?"
mind that, will your inquired the
invalid, as if addressing an audience;
then he drew the girl close. "Let me
tell you something, Betty. He wouldn't
let me tell you before for fear you'd
think you owed him something. He
wanted you to love him for himself.
See? But DR.. Lindsay's got some Of
the boys started, and it looks like a
pardon, Betty; it certainly does"
She sank on her knees beside the
bed.
"Oh, that is too good to be true"
"And that amt all, Betty. 1 had
some shares in gold mine; thought it
was a dead one, but Lindsay he's been
looking into it, and mebbe-well, just
mebbe l can take you and Lindsay on
a wedding trip over to Germany. Lind
say says the springs over there would
do wonders for me, and Lindsay needs
change, and-well, Betty, I'd been
dead by this time if it hadn't been for
your coming"
He looked up to meet the shining
eyes of young DR.. Lindsay.
"Say, Lindsay, ain't there something
in the good book somewheres about the
least of these? I want to find that
verse. Pm going to learn it. GER
tainly am. All, there is so much for
me to learn and so little timer