Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-07
The Fighting
Chance. s sS H s: ::
Copyright the Curtis Publishing compsay
1900, by Robert W. Cnambcrs
Copyright leoa, b. the Curtis Publishing Company.
Copyright 1900, by Robert w. Cnambefs.

VOICE DrOKe, out ne CteaQleQ IL instant
ly with snap of his nutcracker jaws
and scowled on his patient and shook
his little withered fist ut him.
His patient lay very still in the
shadow.
II want you to CO." said the doctor
harshly, before your self control goes.
Do you understand7 Iwant you to &c
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 1t faithfully. I've given you free
rein in tobacco and tea and coffee.
I've helped you as much as dare to
weather the nights. Now, you help
me. do you hear7"
Eyes, will"
"You say 20: now do 1t. Do some
thing for yourself Do anything. II
you're sick of reading-and l 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 1t is by your elbow. Use 1t.
Call up people Talk all the time"
Yes, WILL
Good! Now, Steve, we know what
the matter physically. don't we? OF
course we do. Now, then, what's the
matter mentally?"
Mentally" repeated Siward under
his breath
Yes, mentally. What's the trouble
Stocks? Bonds? Lawsuits? Lover
The slightest pause and a narrowing
Of the gimlet eyes behind the lenses.
"Love7" he repeated harshly. (Which
is it, boy? They're all good to let
alone"
Business" said Siward But, be-
ing a Siwsrd, he was obliged to add
parity"
Business partly" repeated the doc,
tor. whats the matter with business
partly"
81 don't know. There are rumors.
Harrington is pounding me-apparent-
ly. That Intercounty crowd is acting
ominously too. There's something I'M
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. I don't
know what. 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 it, eh !
What about itY"
But Siward fell silent again.
"Eh? Did you say something's MOI
Oh, very well, very well. sir! Perfect.
ly correct, Stephen. You have not
earned the right to admit further
symptoms. No, sir. you have not earn
ed the right to admit them to any
body, not even to yourself, nor to
herr!
"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. It's de-
tail. You get well, do you hear? You
go and get well; then try 1t again.
Thea you'll see. And If she is an
idiot-in the event Of her irrational
persistence in an incredible and utter
" indefensible attitude"-he choked
up, then fairly barked at siward-
"take her anyway, sir! Run OF with
her! Dominate circumstances, sirl
Take charge of events! But you can't
do it till you've clapped yourself into
prison for life! And God help you II
you let yourself escaped
Siward smiled again, Q worn, pallid
smile
II can stand 1t while you are here,
doctor, but when I'm. alone it's hard.
One of those crises is close now. I've
q bad night ahead-a bad outlook.
Couldn't you
"Now
"Just enough to-
mo, Stephen
Enough to dull it Just little3 I
don't ask for enough to make me sleep,
not even to make me doZe. You have
your needle, haven't you, doctor?'
II dare not help you any more that
way"
mot this once?''