The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-11
CdydnaQh,
The Great Conserva-
ton Novel
Gontinued.)


and his serene presence helped her to
recover complete control Of herself.
She remained coldly blank to every
compliment. and by this means she
subdued them.
The doctor. appearing suddenly In
the door. beckoned to her. and. leav-
ing her place. she crossed to where he
stood "Your mother needs you" he
said CURLY. "Go to her and keep her
quiet for an hour or two If you can"
What Is the matter. doctor?"
81 can't tell you precisely. but you
must get her on a diet and keep her
there. i will write out some lists for
you after my luncheon"
Lee found her mother sitting In such
detection as she had never known her
to display, though she fired up sufi-
GENTLY TO say: "That cussed little
thimblerigger has been throwing a
great big scare into me. He says I've
got to get outdoors, live on raw meat
and weak tea and walk Eve miles a
day. That's what he says" she add
ed In renewed establishment at the
mans audacity. Who's at the cash r.
~Mr. Redfeld." replied Lee. an go
right back"
mo, You won't I'm no dead horse
yet" She struggled to her feet and
started for the cash register. II won't
let no little Omaha doughie like that
put me out Of business
Despite all warnings she walked out
into the dining room and took her &C
customed seat with set and stern fare.
while her daughter went to the table
where the doctor sat and explained
her inability to manage her mother.
That's your problem" be replied
coolly. Then rapidly. succinctly and
clearly he went over the case and laid
out a course Of treatment. Out Of it
all Lee deduced that her mother was
very iii indeed. though not In danger
Of sudden death
''She's on the chute.'' said Fessen-
den. 'and everything depends upon her
own action whether she takes the
plunge this winter or twenty years
from now. She's strong woman. or
has been. but she has presumed upon
her strength. She used to live out of
doors. she tells me. during all her ear
~ LIE. and now. shut in by these
walls. working sixteea hours a day.
she is killing herself. Get her out IL
Jon can and cut out stimulants."
As he rose and approached the coun-
ter Lie showed a couple Of gold pieces
across the board. THAT wipes you
or my map" she grimly declared. '1
hope you enjoyed your ride"
Its up to you. madam" he replied.
pocketing the gold. Good day"
I'll be down again in a day or
two" called Redfield.
The machine began to pur and spit
and the wheels to. spin. and Lee vir-
ginia was left TO face her mothers OBJ
denly very desolate. very weak and
very poor What, If mother should
die? she asked herself.
Gregg was standing before the coun-
ter talking with Lie as Lee returned.
and he said. with broad smile, i've
Just been saying Id take this hotel
OF your mothers hands provided you
went with it,
In the mouths OF some men these
words would have been harmless
enough. but coming from the tongue
OF one whose life could only be OBJ
scureiy limited at the jest was an In
suit. The girl shuddered with repul-
sion. aud Lie spoke out:
-Now. see here. BaIlfrog. I'm dead
on the hoof and all that but neither
you nor any other citizen like you can
Be funny with my girl. She's not for
you. Now, that's final! She amt your
kind"
She turned to Lee. I'm hungry.
Where's that grub chart of miner"
Lee brought the doctors page of
notes and read it through. while her
mother snorted at intervals: "Hah.
Dry toast. weak tea. no coffee. no al
cohol. Huh, / might as we'll starve!
Eggsish-milk. Why didn't he say
boiled live Holsters and champagne?
tell you right now I'm not going to
60 into that kind Of q game. If / die
I'm going to die eating what l blame
pleasew
The struggle had begun. With des-
perate courage Lee fought. standing
squarely in the rut of her mothers
daily habit. You must not hive up
here any longer" she insisted. You
must. get out and walk and ride.
can take care OF the house, at least
till we can sell It."
Ii was like breaking the pride Of an
athlete, but little by little she forced
upon her mother a realization Of heI
true condition. and al last Lie con.
scented to offer the business for sale
Lee ionged for the presence of Ross
Cavanagh at this moment. when al
her little world seemed tumbling into
ruin. and almost in answer to her word
less prayer came a messenger from the
little telephone office, Some one wants
to talk TO you"
She answered this call hurriedly
thinking at first that 1t must be Mrs
Redfield The booth was in the little
sitting room of private cottage, and
the mistress Of the place. a shrewd
little woman with inquisitive eyes
said. Sounds to me like Ross Cava
nagh's voice.
Lee was thankful for the booths pri
vacy. for her cheeks famed up at this
remark, and when she took up the re
ceiver her heart was beating so loud
n seemed a. Il the person ut the other
sad OF the wire must hear it. wv he