The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-05-10
CHAPTER VI.
a pELICATE sITUATIoN.

-HE old doctors manner was sc
serious as he spoke the words
which told Jim that some mys-
ferrous sacrifice was expected OF
him that he did not hesitate to let his
longing to help speak silently from MS
eyes. And his esgerness, regardless OF
personal thought, was seen and under
stood by the old man. for he slowly
nodded his head as he drew Alton &c
q far corner CT the room.
IT want to ask you few questions.
he said, mot that the answers would
make any difference, as We will have to
rely on you in any event. but 1 will
feel better In taking the step am about
to take If you can answer them salts
factOrily."
Anything, sir responded jim And
I will tell you the truth"
Gazing away from Alton, through the
window and out over the green hills,
DE-. Jordan began.
You live in New York;
II did. SIR. Bst-but 1 don't want to
any more"
"TroubleT'
Yes"
ASHAMED OF it7''
glanced quickly at the expressive face.
''Then-never mind what it was
But I'd rather tell you, sir, if--if
you're going to trust me. He-my
father-told me to 20. He said-he said
I couldn't reform him. on, he has
never done anything bad. sir: but
well, thought that I wasn't doing
any good. and perhaps after a while. II
= ~
he missed me, and then perhaps
would be able to-be with him more
and he'd like it"
The tone was convincing enough. but
the old man had seen much OF the
country world. into which there often
strayed a clever imposter, ana he eyed
the young man suspiciously.
''Kind of reformer, eh7'' he said, a
bit incredulously.
''Oh, no, no, sir; but he's my father.
you see. And he'd enjoy his life so
much more Tiff he knew how much
happiness came from-wen, being
straight and notch, I can't tell you,
sir; don't knife understand It my
self: but I know how different things
have been with me since I started in a
few years ago TO learn something, and
along"
Then. you're not perfeet?'' from the
doctor, with a little sigh of relief.
Perfect
Jim's thoughts left the quiet room
With les restful atmosphere of rich
cleanliness. and penetrated deep INTO
the dirty heart of a great city. There
he saw the repulsive picture OF hu-
FaI ~,
filth, from which the only escape was
the comparatively spacious freedom of
the back room of some saloon.
"Perfect7' he repeated. ibid you
ever see New York's Bowery, sir. and
know the life lived there? How the
young boys are brought up TO under
stand nothing but the qualification Of
the body2 And the-Oh. you can't know.
but DR.. Jordan. only believe this. that
since the time happened to 20 where
good men and women were trying 10
help US who lived down there-and l
went because thought there would be
sport in making fun OF the guys with
kid gloyes'-from that time / have be-
gun 20 see that there was something
else 10 life. and I've tried to find It
out--but please. please never ask me
again II I'm perfect"
Again the old mans hand rested on
Atoms shoulder, and there was afrec-
ton in his touch.
81 understand" he said. But one
question more-your mother7"
II don't remember her. sir" came
from Jim, but with the words there was
an Involuntary squaring of his shout
ders and a lifting OF his head. But she
must have been-well, when my father
thinks or speaks Of her. sir, he's a diff
ferent man. It's only the best things
he does then, and I ike to believe that
my dreams Of her are true"
There was a distinct silence broken
only by the sound OF Or. Jordan's step.
muffled in the deep richness Of the thick
rug on the floor as he crossed TO the
couch where lay the sleeping girl
For some moments he stood there
looking down on her whom he had seen
develop from a child into a gracious.
sweet. old-fashioned woman. Then back
TO Alton he came and his manner 10 the
ragged youth was almost humbly defer
entail
''I asked you those question: he