The midland journal., 1916-08-11
CHAPTER vllI-continued.


sit often happens that way" said
Jackson. 81 had already guessed as
much. Now If you think you wish the
treatment to be given, if you feel that
you want to take the risk, can assure
you that there is very good ground to
hope that in two or three more years
your boy will have pair of fairly
usable legs; not you understand, per-
fectly normal, but sound enough for
reasonable amount of locomodon. And
another result will be a much more
stable and rugged health than he can
ever attain unless this condition is re-
Iieved."
Martha asked some timorous ques-
tons. With the divine selfishness Of
motherhood. she would perhaps have
clasped her boy tight and fought on
the shining hope Of deliverance II it
cast shadow of ill-chance.
s'Le's ask Charlie" said Sam. "He's.
pretty old-headed. Besides, he's the
one that's most concerned He led
the way into the sitting room where
Charlie sat, contemplating his newly
awakened vision.
"Charlie, dear" said Martha, did
Doctor Jackson tell you he might make
yen well?'
"He's goin' to-" said the boy.
"But did he say that-that the
things he does to boys don't always
work p
ITS goin' to work with me.n
did you understand that it is a
long. hard struggle and that there
would be lots of pain?''
II understand I'm goin' to have
good pair o. legs, and / can bear the
pain cause Gods fixin' up a plan
about it, and If it's part O. the plan
for me to have pain, all right. It's the
legs I'm after. Say, Boss, let me ask
you somethin'. S'posin' you was lost
out on prairie, and you didn't have
any water for a long time, and. your
tongue swolled up and your eyes
bulged out and you was At to perish.
And s'pose somebody come along and
said: Boss, here's a.nice, cool drink o
iced tea. Do you want it?' And s'pose
you said, Yes and the felier with the
tea says: We'll, it'll cost you all the
money you got What'd you say?"
"Cost be blowed!" said Sam prompt
~.
@What do care for little painT
demanded the boy. "What I'm alters
legs. I'll fix it up with God about the
PAIN"
''John," said Dr. William Jackson, as
the automobile took them swiftly be-
tween spreading fields of snow toward
Sheffield. "do you know it Is an expe-
rience like this that makes life worth
living to me? Think of the joy of be-
ing able to hold out a little hope to
those people. to know that 1t is more
than probable that you will be able to
give that amazing cherub the one thing
he wants"
"You say it Is more than probable?"
"The percentage of successful cases
Is growing greater. purposeIy showed
the dark side of the picture to those
people. One mustn't promise too much.
All that said to them was true; there
Is danger. there is percentage of fall
ures which must not be ignored"
He looked thoughtfully off across
country to where range Of noun
tains rose, blue and hazy and delicate
" edged with cleaning ice. He was
thinking of Little Sir GaIahad." as
he called Charlie; and he was thinking
of his own Quest. and the Holy Grail
at the end. and the heartening odor of
hopef If, helpful ministry to pain
which came waiting down the Hill of
Doubt up which he climbed so sturdily.
He wondered how much wealth 1t took
to compensate business man like
WiIlett for want or that almost fanatic
exaItat'cp .sliich only tiie idealist can
ksins