The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-11-03

Professional instinct came to the
doctors aid. He sharply reprimanded
the half hysterical woman and sent
her on an errand TO bring those
whose duty it is to render the last
services to frail mortality. The boy
he led downstairs. He was a busy
man, with many claims on his time,
but this strange youngster interested
him, and he resolved to turn the
boys thoughts forcibly away from
the all absorbing horror of his
mothers death.
Have you tumbler or a cup?" he
said. sharply.
Phil handed him tumbler. The
doctor poured out some wine taken
from the nurses basket. soaked a
piece of bread in the liquor and gave
Ii to the boy with an imperative
command to eat 1t instantly.
Somewhat to his surprise, he was
obeyed. While Phil was devouring
. the food of which he stood so greatly
In need the doctor reviewed the cir
cumstances Of this poverty stricken
household so far as they were known
to him. Mr.. and Mrs. Arson had oc-
cupied a fairly good position in
Dieppe, where Philips father was the
agent of an old established London
firm of coal shippers About two
years earlier both husband and wife
were seriously injured in q motor car
accident. Mr.. Arson sustained con-
cussion OF the brain. and practically
never regained his senses. though he
fingered for some weeks and was
subjected to two operations. Mrs. An
sons spine was damaged, with the
result that she changed from a bright
and vigorous woman into a decrepit
invalid doomed TO death from slow
paralysis.
When the great expenses attendant
on these mishaps were paid she found
herself not only absolutely poor, but
rendered incapable OF the slightest
effort to turn her many and varied
talents to account in order to earn q
livelihood. She came to London,
where he late husbands employers
generously gave her rent free posses
sion of the tenement in which she
was lying dead, helped her with funds
to furnish 1t modestly. and found a
clerkship for Philip. with promise
or early promotion.
| But the cup OF sorrow Is seldom left
half filled. Barely had the widow
settled down to hopeful struggle on
behalf of her beloved son than a
quarrel between partners led to the
sale of the firms business to a 1im-
tied liability company. Economies
were effected to make way for sala-
| rfed directors Philip was dismissed
| with several other Junior employees
| and the stable yard was marked out
| as a suitable site for the storage OF
coal required by the local factories
HARD TIMES
| This development took place early
| in the new year, and the new com
/ pany allowed Mrs. Arson 70 occupy
her tiny abode until the last day Of
March. 1t was now March s, and how
| the widow and her son had lived dur.
ing the last two months the doctol
could only guess from the gradua
depletion OF their little store OF fur
niture.
1t was odd that such an intellisen
and well bred woman should be d,
completely shut OF from the rest o
the world. and his first question t,
Phil sought to determine this mys
terry.
Surely" he said, sthere il som
one to whom you can appeal for help
Your father and mother must havl
had some relatives--even distan
cousins-and. II they are written tc
q friendly hand may be forthcoming.
Philip shook his head. The fntr
taste of food had provoked a raven
GUS appetite. He could not eat fae
enough. The doctor stayed him.
4 Better wait couple of hours
Phil, and then you can tackle
hearty meal. That's the thing. Xix
to see such prompt Obedience blu
you certainly have wonderful self
control for one 80 young. / may tel