Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-21
Copyright 1915. BY Frank I. Paekard

private car. The young woman VINO
had spoken to him at Portland reclined
on couch: the nurse sat. at its foot,
and the man was tilted back in an
armchair against the window.
The young woman raised herself to
. sitting posture and held out her hand.
II am Mrs. Thornton" she said with
a smile. '.This Is my husband, and
this is Miss Harvey, my nurse. It was
very good Of you to come. Mr. She
paused invitingly.
"Coogan," supplied the Flopper.
michael Coogan."
''Let me offer you a chair, Mr.. Coo
gan" said Thornton little ironically,
pushing one toward the Flopper COR
would you be more comfortable on the
Hoor?"
The Flopper's eyelids fell, covering a
quick, ugly CLINT.
"Tanks!" he murmured, and swung
himself by his arms into the chair.
II want you to tell me all about this
strange man in Medley and how you
came to hear Of him." requested Mrs
Thornton.
Oats easy" said the Hopper earn
estly. "Sure I'll tell you. saw
piece about dis Patriarch in one Of de
Moo Yoik papers, so / writes to de
postmaster OF de town to find out If
he was on de level-see?"
EYES," put in Mrs. Thornton eager
". "And what did the postmaster
say?" q
The Flopper took Hiram Higgins
letter from his pocket.
"Youse can read It fer yerself, num-"
he said with the air Of one delivering
4 flnal and irrefutable argument.
Mrs. Thornton read the. letter care
fully, almost anxiously.
IF only part of this is true," she
said wistfully, passing it to her hus-
band. ut is perfectly wonderful
Mr.. Thornton read it with grin.
II don't know, I'm sure" he OBJ
served caustically, handing the letter
to Miss Harvey, "how the medical pro-
fession would stand on this. Would
your school indorse 1t, nurse?"
Miss Harvey read 1t with her back
to the others, then she glanced at Mrs.
Thornton and checked herself as she
was about to speak She folded the
letter slowly and returned it to the
Hopper without comment.
Robert Thornton. master Of millions,
hard headed and practical, leaned for
ward In his chair toward the Flopper.
'Look here" he said bluntly, you
don't mean to say that you believe this
seriously, do your"
ooh, nor rejoined the Flopper soft
". ''Nothin' like dat! OF course I
don't believe It! I'm only guyin. my
self-see! I'm just goin' dere fer fun
an spendin' me last red to get dere.
Say"-his voice snapped-"wot do
youse t'ink am. anyway"
Surely. robert" said Mrs. Thornton
gently, ut is evident enough that he
believes It,"
Thornton did not look at her. He
was still gazing at the Hopper. his
brows knit.
How long have you been like thisy
he demanded sharply.
All me life" replied the Hopper.
II was born dat way"
There was silence for a moment:
then Mrs. Thornton spoke.
Robert" she said slowly, II want
p stop at Medley"
The front legs Of Thornton's chair
came down on the heavy carpet with
dull thud, and he whirled around In his
seat to stare ut his wife.
"You don't mean to say, Naida," he
gasped. that you've got faith in this
thing too7''
'No; not faith" she answered pa
thetically. Il hardly dare to hope. I
have hoped 20 much In the last year,
and
But this Is sheer nonsense," Thorn.
ton broke in, with irritable impatiencs.
II can understand this man here In .
way. He has the superstition, II you
like to call It that, due to lack Of edu-
cation, II he'll pardon my saying 90 in
his presence, but you. Naida-surely
you can't take any stock IN it!''
She smiled at him little wanly.
II have told you that ! didn't even
dare 70 hope.o she said. "But l want
to see-I want to see. I have tried
sanitariums and consulted specialists
until # has all become nightmare TO
me, and I am no better. I sometimes
think never shall be any better"
But" exploded Thornton, rising
from l,,a chsir ..that,. nothing "a ao
WITH this This q r.nk foolishness
Nurse. you"-
Afias Harvev ton had risen ana was