The Press., 1916-04-26

band would efface himself Tor mJ sake. Letters came, many and often all dated from New York. How he had managed to get there could moi know"
 In silent sympathy old Charlie reach ed over and touched the little mothers hand
 "And does it," asked the child at evening, s'take so many dollars to buy tombstonew Charlie was counting the money back into the box, his fin- gers moving shakily. He nodded. Reckon you'll have to take keer O your cat for day or two, Joy," he said. "I've got to go into town"
 "Oh," she cried, her eyes wide and shining, "are you going to find my papa now? you said some day, meb- be-" Charles horny palm closed in promise over the little soft one. "If l kin," he answered simply.
 From hospital to hospital went the bent old figure, and then Charlie turn ed into the broad gateway of the place of his last hope. New York, he felt sure, was not the true hiding place of the crippled father. Letters might be forwarded from there in order to keep from the loved one the humiliating fact of the home city "poor farm" !" And Charlie found that he was right. His sharp old eyes soon sought out the wheel chair even in it's secluded corner. A young man, lifting his head in quick alarm at a strangers ap- proach, dropped it again at sight of the seaman's bent figure.
 "How do?" said Charlie pleasantly. Pretty tiresome, I reckon, a-settin' round all day. Been like this long?" The young man nodded brusquely.
 "And they ain't no cure?"
 "None." The word was shortly spok- en. Sympathy, deep and true, shone in every line of Charlie's wrinkled face. The sick. man, regarding him quietly, smiled in sudden friendliness. "Un- less," he added, 'I were rich; then there might be a chance"
 "Show Charlie was interested. "How's that?"
 There's a clever old customer, an Austrian surgeon, who sometimes fixes up job like me. He's in New York now, but 1t would take more money than I'll have in all my crippled life just to bring him to look me over."
 "Landr' murmured Charlie softly. That's too badv'
 The young man laughed. "Oh, well," he said, "don't you worry about it."
 Too bad" Charlie repeated as he shuffled down the long corridor to the doctors door.
 Come in," called brisk voice, and old Charlie entered the attending physi- clans office.
 Joy was waiting for him when he re- turned at evening-waiting upon his doorstep in the early twilight, the white kitten in her arms.
 "You didn't find my daddy" she sigh ed resignedly. But maybe another day you'll bring him back to me-"
 "Mebhe," said old Charlie.
 When the little mother came again upon visiting day she hurried eagerly across the sands with Joy.
 "Listen, kind friend" she called, and waved aloft a letter. "It is from my husband" She paused breathlessly. Such wonderful news. I must share it with you. He feared to write too hopefully, yet could not keep his hope from me. Some great Austrian sur geon has consented to take his case-to operate there in New York. The doc tors have arranged everything. If the operation is successful my husband will walk again." The girls voice sang. Charlie turned reverently from the radiance of her eyes
 "An' then you'll be happyY' he asked. There was a subdued eagerness in the question.
 "Happyw She breathed the word tremulously. ....
 Reckon said Charlie slowly, that's real livin'-makin' folks happy"
 It was Joy who finally told him the great news. How daddy had been sent to New York, where a great surgeon, like the wizard in fairy tale, made broken limbs straight and strong. "And soon," said Joy, nestling close in the old mans arms, "my daddy will walk home again. But I'll come to see you after because love you so, and-and I'll be sorry when you have your mon- nment'
 s As for that monument" said Char lie, I've changed my mind. Reckoned it'd be better to rejoice in Twin mon- ument here than to have a piece O marble when I'm dead"
 'I'l bring you fowers," murmured the child sleepily. Old Charlie gazed >enderly down upon the little head against his breast. Over his rugged features came look of great content. Reckon, dearie," he said, you're a-bringin' me flowers right now"