Middletown transcript., 1917-03-17
"III tell you where I live, and"

81 know where you live
"Will you come to see me there? We
may be able to think Of something"
"What is there to think Of? This
story will follow me wherever 1 go!
I've tried twice for a diploma anu
failed. What's the use?"
But in the end he prevailed on her to
promise not to leave the city until she
had seen him again. 1t was not until
she had gone, straight figure with
haunted eyes, that he reflected whim-
sically that once again he had defeated
his own plans for flight.
Sidney brought her letter to Joe back
to K. She was flushed with the effort
and with a new excitement.
"The most remarkable thing has
happened. What day this has been!
Somebody has sent Johnny Rosenfeld
lot of money. The ward nurse wants
you to come back"
The ward had settled for the' night.
The well-ordered beds of the daytime
were chaotic now, torn apart by toss
ing figures. The night was hot and an
electric fan hummed in far corner.
Under it's sporadic breezes, as 1t
turned, the ward was trying to sleep.
Johnny Rosenfeld was not asleep.
An incredible thing had happened to
him. A fortune lay under his pillow.
He was sure it was there, for ever
since it came his hot hand had clutched
| it.
He was quite sure that somehow or
other X. had had hand in it. When
he disclaimed it, the boy was beWll-
dered.
It'll buy the old lady what she
wants for the house, anyhow" he said.
s.But hope nobodys took up collec-
tion for me. l don't want no charity"
"Maybe Mr.. Howe sent it,
"You can bet your last match he
didn't"
In some unknown way the news had
reached the ward that Johnny's friend,
Mr.. LIE Moyne, was great surgeon.
Johnny had rejected it scornfully.
But the story had seized on his
imagination.
"Say, Mr.. LIE Moyne."
eyes, Jack"
He called him sack" The boy liked
it. 1t savored of man to man. After
all. he was q man, or almost. Hadnt
he driven a car? Didn't he have
state license?
"They say that you're a surgeon;
that you operated on Doctor Wilson
and saved his life. They say that
you're the king pin where you came
FROM" He eyed X. wistfully. Il know
it's lie, but if it's true Don't you
think you could do something for me,
sir?"
When X. did not reply at once, he
launched into an explanation.
"Tve been lying here good while. I
didn't say much because 1 knew I'd
have to take a chance. Either I'd pull
through or I wouldn't, and the odds
were-well, I didn't say much. The
old lady's had a lot of trouble. But
now, with this under my pillow for her,
I've got right to ask. I'll take a
cnance, II you WILL.
''It's only a chance, Jack"
Il know that. But lie here and
watch these sOaks off the street. Old,
lot of them, and gettin' well to go
out and starve, and Mr.. LIE Moyne,
they can walk, and 1 can't"
X. drew a long breath. He had
started, and now he must go on. Faith
in himself or no faith, he must go on
Life, that had loosed it's hold on him
, for time, had found him again.
"Pll go over you carefully tomorrow
Jack. I'll tell you your chances hon
estly."
| Il have a thousand dollars. What.
: ever you charge"
"Tll take it out Of my board bill in
the new house!'
At four o'clock that morning K. got
back from seeing Joe off. The trip
; had been without accident.
Over Sidney's letter Joe had shed
shamefaced tear or two. And during
7 the night ride, with X. pushing the cal
+, to the utmost, he had felt that the
! boy, in keeping his hand in his pocket
!. had kept it on the letter. When the
road was smooth and stretched ahead
r a gray-white line into the night, he
r tried to talk a little courage into the
!. boys sick heart.
you'll see new people, new life,' ht
. said. "In month from now you'll
;. wonder why you ever hung around the
Street. l have a feeling that you're
going to make good down there"
And once, when the time for parting
was very near
mo matter what happens, keep or
believing in yourself. 1 lost my faitl
in myself once. 1t was pretty close tt
hell"
Joe's response showed his entire self
engrossment.
"If he dies, I'm murderer"
"He's not going to die" said K
stoutly.
At four o'clock in the morning h
left the car at the garage and walked
around to the little house. He hat
had no sleep for forty-five hours; hi
eyes were sunken in his head; the ski
over his temples looked drawn ant
white. His clothes were wrinkled; th'
soft hat he habitually wore was whit
with the dust of the road.
AS he opened the hail door, Christin
stirred in the room beyond. She cam
out fully dressed.
''K., are you sick"
Rather tired. Why in the worl'
aren't you in bed?
palmer has just come home in
terrible rage. He SAYS he's been robbie,