Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-12-30
rents TO last until next pay day won
der what one ought to do:'


stairs Of Mrs. l,amsril gloomy house.
whistlcd through HE TALL. He started
down the stairs aud ll0nora heard
ripping sound u >harp exclamation
and the thud OF u heavy fall. Then all
was quiet for moment
By the time she had reached the foot
VI the stairs there WAS IN excited gath.
ering OF women about the prostrute
form OF the happy man."
Mrs. Ramsell was loud in her lamen-
iations las II didn't have enough on
my hands tonight. she walled. with
out him falling downstairs and killing
himself"
1T might be cheaper II you'd put
new carpet on those stairs. Mrs. Ram.
SELL" said bleached looking woman
in red silk waist
THAT carpet was new last spring."
OF the tattered furnishing OF the third
floor he oughter looked where he
was going"
Has any one sent for doctor?"
asked Honora quietly.
mo Mary. you telephone TO the hos.
pital for an ambulance"' screamed
Mrs. RamseI over the banisters to the
floor below
why not send for doctor" urged
Honora. bending over the unconscious
man She had noted his evident re.
finement. and the quality of his cloth.
ing indicated that he must have known
better days. although his presence in
the cheap boarding house was mys
terry He has Il room Perhaps he
would prefer TO be taken care Of here
Who's going 10 pay Il dollar FOR a
doctor demanded Mrs Ramsell
shrllly. How do know I'll ever get
1t back from him"
I'll take the risk" said IIonOra i'm.
telephone for the nearest physician
Mr.. Ramsell was rooted out OF some
lower basement retreat. and. together
with the stout armed Mary and the
lesser efforts Of Ionora and pale
faced youth from the third floor front
room, the still form of the no longer
happy man" was conveyed to his
room on the floor above aud laid OH the
bed
After that Mrs. Ramsell announced
that she left the case in the hands of
Miss Burr. who didn't seem TO mind
meddling In other folks affairs" she
acidly remarked, and at once disap.
peared to attend to the interrupted
supper The other boarders scattered
to forget the affair In the more ab.
sorbing topic OF approaching Christ
mas. and IIonora was left alone with
Paul Davis
The doctor arrived five minutes aft.
erward and announced that the pa
tient was merely stunned and would
recover under the application OF Ger.
tain reStoratives. which. with Honora's
help. he proceeded 10 employ. Their
efforts We're rewarded by the opening
OF pair OF dark eyes. followed by y
prolonged stare and dazcd questioning
Its miracle that your husband did
not break his neck" said the doctor
gcnially rs he pocketed his fee and
FASTENED away. for 1t was Christmas
eve. and he was in hurry
Honora blushed crimson and a look
of concern came into Paul Davis face
I'm under the greatest obligation 10
you" he said frankly. and am sorry
TO have been the cause of any embar-
rassment Please tell me who you are
so that can realize the situation.
| The doctor has ordered me TO keep in
bed till morning. aud | feel dizzy
enough to never get up
Honora told him briefly that she was
his neigibor on the same floor and that
MS she had more leisure than any OF
the other boardCrs she had merely
undertaken To look out for him until
the doctor came The others had so
many things to do Tomorrow will be
Christmas. you know" she ended.
ITS Christmas for you, too. isn't it,
he asked sharply.
ut used To h. but II isn't any more"
she said sadly
The pale fnced young man thrust his
head IN the door 10 say that he would
sit up all night with Mr.. Davis. and
so Ilonora with u warm hand clasp
from the HAPPY man." who looked es-
pecinlly happy whenever he glanced az
her charming face. went back 10 her
little room To face Christmas alone
Morning brought delightful sur.
prise From her door handle there
hung all sorts OF gifts perhaps pur.
chased In haste thar morning. but Sc
lccted with taste lust the presents
thar lionora rould accept too big
box OF roses and n glorious potted aza.
len. i've pound box OF candy. n bas-
kei of fruit book aud an envelope
containing n couple OF matinee tickets.
This should keep you busy an Christ.
mas day" WAS scrubbed on blank
card for the donor was anonymous.
but. of course. Ilonora knew who IL
was
II was happy Christmas for Homo.
m inter NIL The dollar she had emt,.