The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-24
Mark and HIS Wife
BY GEORGE A. ENGLAND.

Hush! Not so loud!"
"She can hear, them"
yes. she's conscious-how much
longer she will be I can't say"
Sinking, Malcolm"
Nov, now, no questions! You'd
better go out in the hall"
Never" Marks Redeemed eyes
glinted defiance. mo. no. I'm not go
ing to leave her while she's gasping
like that" His voice shrilled hys-
terically.
But you're only harming her by
staying!"
"No. no. she's my"
Malcolm slid broad palm over the
protesting mouth; his other hand
gripped Marks elbow.
"Out you co." he commanded, try.
ing to thrust Mark into the hall, but
Mark chung and the doctor could not
shake him on He had perforce to drag
him out. When they were both in the
hall and the door was shut:
Hang you'll" said the doctor in a
/ voice tense as steel, you get out and
stay out! Don't be a crazy fool!'
"Mally. Mally! She's my wife and
! you're my friend-my best. Oldest"
"All the more reason why I'm going
to keep you out of there till she-ral.
lies! Till then, I'm not your friend
I'm the doctor, nothing else, nothing.
Remember
The hand-grip was gone from Marks
angular elbow; the hall door was shut
the man was alone. He leaned against
the wall for q minute, shivering as he
heard the windows rattle with the Jan
uary gale; then he shuffied to the
stairs and sat down.
His air was that Of a man who has
been painstakingly mangled on the
rack and then given five minutes re
spite. The gas fame over his head cas-
a high light on his salient cheel
bones. After a while he nodded ant
dozed, with pendent arms.
Malcolms hand on his shoulder wax
ened him in half an hour; he starte'
up wild-eyed and shivering.
"What-what time is it," he STAN
mered in confusion. rs Dorry-i
she"
Come, now. pull yourself together.
said the doctor, sternly. I've 60
some work for you. Get your thing
on quick! You've got to 90 down t
the dispensary."
What! And leave"
"Yes. l can't go, Miss Abbott her
can't go. and somebody's got to 60. s
you see how it Is. We've got to have
tank Of oxygen. right off,"
"What?"
Oxygen. It comes in big steel cy
inders like soda water tanks, painte
blue, with q valve at the top-you'v
seen 'em. The quicker you can &c
one up here, the better it will be-"
"What-what are they for. thos
tanks?"
well, when there isn't anythin
else to do, we give oxygen to aera'
the blood and stimulate the heart
sometimes it keeps the patient u
Until the congestion begins to resol'
and then"
Her lungs, you mean. are"
began; but Malcolm interrupted.
Now, you see here, Mark, If ye
= want your wife to die. stand rigl
there where you are and discus
- things. II you want her to live, hust
/ into your overcoat and get whet
7 barrow and bring up cylinder
! oxygen from the dispensary just
Z quick as the Lord will let you! U
i derstand?"
T Eyes, yes--but can't you telephone
+ Can't I? We can save no end Of tin
< that way"
+ Tried it, and can't. Central ga
Z the wires are going down all ov
Z Hampton. This storms recor
( breaker. No. you've got to 60 for
+ yourself. Hustle out with whe
< barrow and follow the car tracks. II
Z snow plows have probably kept e
Z clear. There's fellow named I'll
. othy Foley for night orderly doy
. there this week. He knows me. Ju
Z say I sent you. and he'll let you ha
! 1t all right. Now get along! II you
& not back in half an hour"
) "All right! All right" said MAI
= and tiptoed shakily downstairs.
Tim Foley, reading an old magazi
3 in the dispensary Office. under the y
low circle Of q hooded electric lig
= became vaguely conscious Of a curio
4 sound as Of some one struggling a
3 laundering up the steps with q b.
Z den: then. after q minute or two.
= heard . fumbling at the door.
z Tim dropped the magazine and
: tened; then he got up. went silently
& the door and opened It.
Through the snow eddy that swirl
Z in he saw something that looked II
: man standing outside-a snow-m'
( thin and tall. with teeth that chatter
. like castanets.
2 This man had neither hat I
gloves: he was gripping the hand
Z of a wheelbarrow. He stammer
with bloodless lips:
Z Oxygen! I'll take 1t home on thi
He tried to drag the wheelbarr
Z into the vestibule, but Foley restrain
: him.
Z "Hould on, man-h6uld on! Yo,
can't bring dat in here!"
"Eh?"
; Il say youse can't bring dat wht
barrer into de hall, see?'
~ The man stared, but said nothing
- Say, what dyouse want anywa!
Malcolm sent me-"
o7!: Say, youse is way OF, amt "
)
z Drop dat automobile Of yours,