Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-17

fighting chance. On my soul of honor there is. Steve, fighting chance for you! Now, now, boy! Buckle up 1 tight! Tuck up your sword sleeve! At 'em, Steve! Oh, my boy, my boy, I know; I knowr' The little mans voice broke, but he steadied it instant ly with a snap of his nutcracker jaws and scowled on his patient and shook his little withered fist at him.
 His patient lay very still in the shadow.
 "I want you to go," said the doctor harshly, before your self control goes. Do you understand? want you to go before your decision is undermined; {; before you begin to do devious things, sly things, cheating things, sinking things-anything and everything to get at the thing you crave. I've given you something to fight with, and you won't take it faithfully. I've given you free rein in tobacco and tea and coffee. I've helped you as much as I dare to weather the nights. Now, you help me, do you hear?"
 'Yes, I will"
 "You say so; now do 1t. Do some thing for yourself. Do anything. If you're sick of reading-and I don't blame you, considering the stuff you read-get people down here to see you: get lots of people. Telephone 'em. You've telephone there, haven't you? There it is by your elbow. Use it. Call up people. Talk all the time."
 "Yes, l will"
 Good! Now, Steve, we know what's the matter physically, don't we? Of course we do. Now, then, what's the matter mentality"
 Mentality" repeated Siward under his breath.
 'Yes, mentally. Whats the trouble? Stocks? Bonds? Lawsuits? Love!" The slightest pause and a narrowing of the gimlet eyes behind the lenses. "Love?" he repeated harshly. (Which is 1t, boy? They're all good to let alone"
 Business" said Siward. But, be- ing a Siward, he was obliged to add partly"
 "Business-partly." repeated the doc. tor. What's the matter with business partly"
 "I don't know. There are rumors. Harrington is pounding me-apparent- ly. That Intercounty crowd is acting ominously too. There's something un- derhand somewhere" He bent his head and fell to plucking at the faded brocade on the arm of his chair, nut tering to himself: Somewhere. some how, something underhand. don't know what I really don't"
 "All right; all right" said the doctor testify. Let 1t go at that. Business symptoms admitted. what about the partly Stephen? What about 1t, eh? What about itT'
 But SIward fell silent again
 "Eh7 Did you say something7 Nol Oh, very we'll. very well. sir! Perfect ly correct. stephen You have not earned the right to admit further symptoms. No. sir. yOd have not earn ed the light 10 admit them to any body, not even to yourself. nor to her."
 "She has refused me" Siward said simply.
 The little doctor, after an incredulous stare. began chattering with wrath. Refused you. Pah. Pooh! That's nothing. That signifies absolutely nothing. It's meaningless. Its a de- tail. You get well. do you heari You 70 and get well; then try it again. Then yOuH see. And if she Is an ldiot-In the event of her irrational persistence in an incredible and utter Iy indefensible attitude--he choked up. then fairly bsrked at SIWard- take her anyway. sir! Run ofT with her, Dominate circumstances. sir. Take charge Of events, But you can't do it tkI you've eiapped yourself into prison for life. And God help yO1 if yOu let yourself esczpe-
 Siwarsi sn.sci again. a wOEn. paIIid smile.
 T can s.az1 It while yuu are here. doctor. but vhen I'm alone It's hard One sf th1se e-ssss Is those nou. I've q hz1 niEst aEezd-a taI Ogtiook CO1ltn't yo7--
 ~No~
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