Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-26

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ton. The house had been desion.s
for a far better class Of tenant tbs1
now found a haven within its rail-
1t had originally two suits Of ana-.
| ments of FIVE rooms each on eits.,
side OF the narrow hall which biSectsd
| the house. But long ago these ero
rooms had been divided so that n,n-
| they formed three suits each-txn !.
| two rooms and a single room.
The single rooms. dirty and dart a,
they were. found ready occupancy. n,
the rent was but half that of the tva
roomed suits. But. while nearly an q.
the single rooms were tenanted. man
of the two room suits were emu,y
elders reduced dividends were OF.
planned.
They were making the last rounds
on the top floor when they heard
voice far below hailing Mr. Bursor
The strength and assurance Of It spok.
eloquentIy of full dinner pail
"Ah. that must be Manders. the
plumber" exclaimed Burson. hasten.
7 ing toward the dark and rickety stair.
way. Pardon me one moment, Mr,
Glider. I'll bring him right up"
Left to himself. Glider started slow.
Iy toward the narrow window at the
far end Of the hall. Suddenly a door
was flung open halfway down the hall.
and the anxious face OF one Of the
amateur nurses from the settlement
peered out At sight of Glider her face
cleared and she sprang forward.
=fr I Of fo
My patient is very sick-typhoid.
must have help. The doctor is some
where in the building, probably with
Casey's little girl on the first floor.
Bring him as quick as you can" Then
as she realized the blank look on Gil
der's face anxiety again puckered her
smooth brow.
ooh, you don't think you can find
him? What shall l do? l must-I
know, You stay here-keep very quiet
hes delirous and won't notice the
change. Don't excite him whatever
you dor and before Glider could voice
his protest she had pushed him through
the door and sped down the hall.
Nauseated and highly indignant,
Glider looked about him.
The work of the volunteers from the
settlement was apparent here. for the
room was far cleaner than any Glider
had seen in the house The patient lay
on one of the settlement hospital cots,
which with a deal table and one chair
formed the only furniture in the room.
Glider was a stranger to sickrooms.
and a vagrant curiosity stirred him as
his glance rested on the form of the
sick man. In the dim light his features
were barely distinguished le-his thin
frame twitched restlessly under the
light sheet.
Glider half turned to go when sud
denly the man sat bolt upright and
stretched out his arms in the piteous
appeal of childhood.
..Daddy-daddyr' he walled. Take
me up. daddy; 1 am tired of my bed"
An onlooker might have seen Gu
rious change in Mr.. Glider during this
scene. At the first word from the sick
mans lips he had stopped. one foot ex-
tended toward the door.
The trem bling of his form grew
until it was like a palsy, and the mus
Giles of his throat moved convulsively
I'D and down. Little beads of pespi-
ration that were not caused by the beat
stood out upon his forehead-a great
pounding was in his ears. Then lie
turned.
"Danny-Danny" the whisper sound
ed loud and rasping in the little room.
"Danny-it can't be you. Danny. boy
it can't be you. It's been long time
you've changed, Danny. But your
voice-it's just the same-just the
same"
When the nurse and doctor hurried
into the room few moments later
strange sight met their eyes. Mr.. Gil
der, the great Mr.. Glider. whose
wealth and eccentricities furnished So
much copy for the Sunday suppH-
ments, was on his knees by the side ol
the tenement typhoid patient. and the
face he turned toward them was tear
stained and very old.
''Doctor-my son-he is very Ill. My
son-do you hear? The son OF ba!a'
win Glider. You must work hard
spare no expenSe-see how he clpss
to me-my poor Danny. come back "
me like this! You think he will live
oh. I'm so glad-sO glad
Some time later Burson. with MS
plumber in tow. appeared at the door
way. properly shocked at sight OF MS
patron in the midst or sue"
but his surprise gave
place to wonder at Mr.. elders nis'
voice was so strangely gen
tie.
"Ah. Bursou. | cannot go with you
now. l have more important mattes
here. 1 have found my son-yes, u!
these ten years. shall no.
leave him-be needs me. You w"
have to look after the plumbing your
self And BurSon-we will put NJ"
pipes throughout the houSe-whate'
Is necessary for comfort and healA
Never mind the expense. You sex
son is tenant-that y
he was tennnt-in the Bowes stree'
house"