Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-07-15
The Broken Barrier.

The Broken Barrier.
arhere is no likelihood of any change
during the next five or six hours. Should
mere be-call me up. You're on the tele
rhone aren't YOU
the Young doctor who, for the last two
bo,,rs had been waging war with the
grim visitor that. eluding all Samuel Jexs
,irnance had crept into those hot rooms
above the shop where the creaking, swing
Inc sign of the Toby Jug made melan-
cboly music o nights, took up his coat
and prepared tc go downstairs
The shaded light standing on the basin
stand threw a long, wavering shadow of
him across the wall over against the bed
and on the ceiling above it, where it
seemed to hover menacingly over the
sun figure that lay below Samuel Jex
roticfng this laid his hand on the doctors
arm ana drew him a little aside The
movement brought the young man within
sight Of the couch at the foot of the he'd
where the red-haired little girl lay
asleep
Even in sleep her face had lost nothing
of ITS pert unchildlike look. 1t was
dirty and tears had made long. fantastic
channels through its CRIME but these evi.
dences Of grief did not make for pathos.
She looked like some gnome that had
stumbled on the capacity for tears and
had been making experiments with it.
Something uncommonly like aversion
crossed the doctors face as he glanced
at the child He turned to Jex
rs there no other room where this child
can Sleep" he asked. "A sick room is
not the place for child"
Jex shook his head In the half light
he looked very old and wan. There was
something witchike In his profile the
doctor thought, glancing at him. and shiv-
cred family at the thought of this trio
The grim old man, the elflike child, and
the woman on the bed, who, motionless
now had for these awful hours been
struggling with the dumbness of her par
alyzed throat as with some giant hand
that compressed it.
Ghoulsh Child.
she won't rest. Ike away from he1
many lex said She's faithful-Iike
dog
The doctors shoulders elevated them
selves Morbid little beast" he said to
himself not a spark Of affection in tho
ghoush little wretch" He had looked
up once and encountered the childs eyes
as she watched him across the bed and
toe look he had caught In them had been
very ugly one.
She mustn't he allowed to disturb her
mother he said, curtly as he left the
room
For moment lex stood looking at
the child
lennys child he murmured to him
self Ave. but it's hard to believe her
Jenny child.
He rave NO da6,,i+a tarr, +o5+.o +t,o,,crL+ +
that was In his mind; yet he was con
scious. NOT by any means for the first
time. despite his fondness for his daugh-
ters child. Of a strange feeling that she
was something less than human lust
for a moment as he stood there, he
seemed 10 see in her the NATURALIZATION
Of 'he ugly spirit that inhabited the body
OF he man the world knew as Paul SAKE.
Ana at that thought light that was
almost hatred shone in the old mans
eyes then as quickly passed. He drew
me rug that covered the sleeping child
more closely over her with a tender
hand and went softly back to his watch
by he bed
Ns he stood there looking down at the
child so now he stood looking down at
he mother The woman lay motionless.
she had lain since the doctor had
gwen the last injection Of morphia save
PF me heavy breathing broken now and
assn bY souud-haf moan. half sigh;
hight nave seemed that the enemy at
me gate had claimed his prey
No likelihood Of any change the doc
,of mad said but already it seemed to
9eA mat a change had come That there
Nss deepening of the shadow on the
ael tace, sharpening Of the feat
Tes always finely chseled. that gave
ZEN the look Of a suffering face carved
tear cutched at the old