The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-05-08
CHAPTER XXI.

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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 patient was doing fairly
well. 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 eleva-
tor. which took them to the fourth
floor. At the door of his sons room
the old rancher paused.
my DEAR he said. "are you the
young lady who has nursed my poor
boy through this spell of sicknessW
Eyes, SIR" answered the brisk young
person in tone somewhat more cheer
full than the gravity Of the occasion
seemed to warrant.
"God bless you" the anxious father
murmured in a voice choked by his
emotion. "Did-he-ask for me-of-
temp
The experienced young person hest
tated. hanging for an instant between
lncompromising truth and the wish
to spare this kind old gentleman I'M
necessary pain. Womanlike, she de-
cided upon charity rather than verac-
ity.
ooh. yes" she answered nervously,
though you know. of course, he-he
has been just-well, 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 coming?'
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
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
pat. Its just little secret between
you and me. Now run along. 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
Pile q request from this moist eyed.
generous old dear?
Every WELL" she nodded; 81 will
stand outside. You promise to be very
quiet?
II promise" answered Bill Williams
huskily. Then he openedNthe door.
closed it after him and tiptoed softly
across the room.
The father found himself In bare
walled little room that was scrupu-
lousy clean and neat. The shades were
drawn. yet by the dim religious light
he espied bandaged form apparently
asleep upon q narrow brass bed The
yet the Texan felt instinctively that
he had found his martyred son ut last
For a moment he could not speak. His
emotions choked him, while two great
tears rose up and rolled unheeded
down his weather beaten cheeks. He
sank on his knees beside the bed.
out his trembling arms and
brokenly:
"My boy! My boy!'
The Earl Of Croyland rolled over on
his back and stared at the sobbing APP
partition In wonder struck amaze. In
dropping into doZe he had forgotten
TO remove his monocle, which by years
of habit remained tight set in his no.
BILE eye.
go wayw he muttered feebly.
Don't be a silly ASST
Bill Williams still remained upon
his knees, his mouth wide open, into
which the two tears aforementioned
trickled unheeded He was too be-
wildered fully to realize his ridiculous
position all at once. That he had
travelled over 1000 weary miles for
the dubious pleasure of kneeling by
me bedside of this glass eyed lunatic
was a thought which at first refused
to percolate through his stunned cere-
Drum. He returned the stare and an
swered, with series of hoarse, mar
ticulate gasps: