Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-07-10
IcoNTINUEpl
CHAPTER XXI.


rectly to st. Luke's hospital on Ca
thedral heights. He paid the charge
expressing his firm conviction that the
price was half the value of the ma
chine and seven times the value of the
thief who drove it-and hurried into
the hospital, where he gave his name
and begged to be taken to his afflicted
son at once.
He was Informed by the house sur
geon that the path was doing fairly
we'll. though his temperature was still
above normal. The physician thought
however, that the fathers presence
might rouse the patients tagging spir-
its, but suggested that the first inter
view be short A trim, fresh checked
nurse was summoned, and without fur
Their ado she led the way to the eieva-
tor. which took them to the fourth
floor. At the door Of his sons room
the Old rnncher paused.
my dear" he said, "are you the
young lady who hns nuHsed my poor
boy through this spell of sickness
Eyes, SIR" answered the brisk young
fui than the gravity Of the occasion
seemed to warrant
GOD bless your the anxious father
murmured in voice choked by his
emotion. "Did-he-ask for me-of-
temp
The experienced young person hesi-
tated, hanging for an instant between
Niciy p1,th M hn -tSh
to spare this kind old gentleman I'M
necessary pain. Womanlike, she de-
cided upon charity rather than verac-
ity.
"Oh, yes" she answered nervously,
though you know, Of course. he-he
has been just-well, q little delirious,
fear You must be careful not to excite
him, to control your feelings. sir"
The Texans great heart was touch
cd. His boy had been shouting out his
name, even while pain and fever held
him in their raging grip. The father,
who could have faced battery of ar
tillery In action without blanching,
was greatly overcome by what he read
In the nurses hating words. He lean
ed for support against the wall and
furtively brushed his eyes, then look
ed up. striving to smile. and asked:
"Was he conscious when my tele-
gram arrived? Did he know? Was he
glad to hear that l was comingT
very" answered the adroit young
woman, blushing to the roots Of her
chestnut hair, that peeped from under
saucy little cap. She had made the
! first plunge and had no hesitation In
going the limit.
The fathers heart went out at once
to this dainty angel Of mercy and eff
cheney who had ministered to grief
and suffering. He fumbled in his peck
ct and produced large. double figured
note. which he pressed into her hand
For you, my dear" he smiled. "a
ribbon or something. There, there; it's
nothing"
"But, Mr.. Williams" she protested
in charming confusion, this is not at
all necessary. | am paid, you know,
by-really. couldn't think off,
Honey" he interrupted, while he
gave her plump shoulder a fatherly
pat 'it's just a little secret between
you and me. Now run along. l want
to see Dickie alone"
Again the nurse hesitated and, like
her prototype in the proverb. was lost
1t was best to be present at the inter
view. yet how could she refuse so sim
pie request from this moist eyed
generous old dear?
Every WE'LL" she nodded; IL will
stand outside. You promise to be very
quiet?"
81 promise" answered Bill Williams
huskily. Then he opened the door
closed it after him and tiptoed softly
across the room.
The father found himself IN a bare
walled little room that was scrupu
lousy clean and neat. The shades were
drawn, yet by the dim religious lighI
he espied a bandaged form apparently
asleep upon narrow brass bed. The
face of the patient was in shadow
yet the Texan felt instinctively thai
he had found his n.ni at last
For moment he could Lot speak. Hii
emotions choked him, while two great
tears rose up and rolled unheedec
down his weather beaten checks. H'
''nk on his knees beside the bed
'ched out his trembling arms ant
,ured brokenly:
'Iy boy! My boyw
The Earl of Croyland rolled over OF
bis lack and stared at the sobbing ap
partition in wonder struck amaze. IL
dropping into a doze he had forgotten
to remove his monocle, which by year
of habit remained tight set In his no
BILE eye.
go wayw he muttered feebly
Don't be a silly ASST