Putnam patriot., 1908-05-22


 enough to make the attempt and influence enough tn succeed ill il 1 to have the limited stopped at One 1 Hundred aud Twenty -hfth street. where l he took fast auto cah for which he 1 had telegraphed. and Was rushed di= l reetly to St I.Hke's hospital on Ca 1 thedral heights He paid the charge expressing his firm conviction that tie l price was half the valne of the nla l chine and seven times the value ef the 1 thief who drove it-ahd hurried int 1 the hospital. Nhere lie gave his name and begged to Ike taken to his afflicted son at once.
 He was informed bs the house sur l geon that the patient whs doing fairly l well. though his temperature was still l above normal The physician thought. l however that the fathers presence 1 might rouse the patients lagging spir- 1 it's hut suggested that the first inter 1 view be shart A trim. fresh checked nurse was summoned and without fur l ther ado she led the WAY to the eleya- l tor. which took them 10 the fourth I fioor At the door of his sons room 1 the old rancher paused. My dear. he said. "are you the young lady who has nursed my poor | boy through this spell of sicknessf' "Yes. sir answered the brisk young 1 person in Il tone somewhat more cheer | ful than the gravity of the occasion seemed to warrant
 God bless yoii. the anxious father murmured in T voice ehoked by his l emotion. Did -he-ask for me-of- ten?'
 The experienced young person hesi- tated. hanging for an instant between irlcompromising truth and the wish ] to spare this kind old gentleman un- l necessary pain Womanlike. sine de l cided upon charity rather than vefac- 1 ity
 .Oh yes" she answered nervously, 1 though you know. of course. he-he l has been just well. little deiirious. I fear. You must be careful not to excite l him to control your feelings. sir The Texan's great heart was toiieh- ! ed His boy had been shouting out his name even while pain and Fever held ! him in their raging grip The fathef l who could have faced a battery of ar | ,illerv in action without hlanehlng was greatly overcome by what he read in the nurses haIting words. He lean ed for support against the wall anc 1 furtively brushed his eyes. then look ed up. striving To sinlle. and asked. tFiE f,ait4
 gram arrivedf Did he know: Was he l glad to hear that l was eomingE
 ~Yery." answered the adroit young
 woman. pushing 10 the roots of her
 chestnut hair. that neeled from under a saucy little cap. She had made the first plunge and had 10 hesitation ih l going the limit
 The fathers heart went out at once
 to this dainty angel of mercy and elf ciency who bad ministered to grief and suffering. He fuInbied in his peek-
 at and produced large double figured note. which he pressed into her hand. "For you. uly dear" he smiled. "a ribbon or something. There. there II s nothing"
 "But MT. N SIt P''eN~- in charming confusion. this is not at all necessary am paid. you know by-realIy. l couldn't fhinS Of Honey he interrupted. wbiie he gave her plump shoulder fatheriy pat. tits just little secret befween you and me. Now run along. l want fo see Dickie alone.
 fa f<6 her prototype Tn the proyerb. was sost If was best to be present at The ibter- view. yet how could she refuse so sim ple a request from this moist eyed generous old dear?
 -yery we'll" she nodded: "i VIII stand outside You promise to be very quIetf"
 .I promise.- answered Bill Williams huskiy. Then he opened the aoof' closed IL after him and tiptoed softly across the room
 Tine father found himself In bare walled Iirtie room that was scriipo- oasly clean n and neat. The shades were drawn. yet by the dim religious light
 be eSpie.i a l,andaged form apparently asleep upon T narrow brass bed he face of the patient wss m snaaoW. yet the Texan felt iastincflveiy thai
 ,e had founl hls marfyred son ~ iasl For moment he could mol speak h's
 4notions choke.8 hil8. while two siea. tears rtsse up and rolled nni'sssas.' down his weather lseaten cheeks. hf sank oa his knees beside sne sesa. sfrssehed oaf his trembling arms and nsnrnluSed brokenly: