Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-09-23


"You said l was your good angel,
said Joan lightly.
TT was more than chance" said
Lancaster seriously. 1T was the hap
piest thing that hes ever come to mo.
Doctor Lancaster. l am only too
glad to have had the opportunity
OF being of service. 1t is what every
nurse would have wished"
NO" he corrected her" you
have brought more than service me-
the institute. "Do you know what
you have brought? Hopel"
She could hardly restrain her tears,
so deeply was she moved. She put
her hand upon his doctor Ian
caster 1t must never leave you again
she answered. Lift up your eyes
and look at the hills. How can inc
help but hope Hope lies all about
you"
when a, man lives in darkness,
said Lancaster gravely. "he cant lit
up his eyes. / was broken long DO
fore / became a victim of that dainh-
able drug. fell into the hands OF un-
scrupulous men. | had nothing to
live for. dwelled in shadows, hardly
knowing the dream from the reality
and all the men and women about me
seemed like shadows until you came.
I could endure my life only because
OF its unreality; 1t was like a dream.
nightmare, which. / knew, could
not last forever"
She did not answer. and he re-
mained silent for a long time. 1t be-
gan to tighten. Streaks OF saffron ap-
peared against the tops of the hills
Broad swaths OF mist were rolling
down the valleys A bird awoke ana
called; another answered her.
but this IL hope" said Lancaster. I.
taking Joan's hand. you nave
brought 1t to me, and am never go
ing to lose 1t again. i am going to
win my fight against the drug and
then am going to regain all else that
| haye lost"
lie seemed upon the verge Of reve-
lation, but he said nothing more. anu
now the day was dawning. II became
light the rim of the sun appeared
suddenly over the mountain horizon,
the mists went rolling upward, ana
the whole land was revealed in sun
light
The hall clock struck 6. Joan
looked ut Lancaster. His face was
twisted with pain, his lips were blood
less from compression.
"You have made a splendid fisn,,
Doctor Lancaster" she said. Now
you shall have your hypodermic."
Ilt TOSt up 'bbNiiN d'' oi'S ''NiN
see the terrific strain that he was un-
dergoing IN the trembling of his limbs.
the eager look in his eyes. They wen,
back into the house. A light still
| burned inthe secretary's room. but no
sound came from 1t. At the dovr ..
| I.ancaster's room he stopped.
Miss Wentworth" he said, IT have
something to say and something TO
promise. / am not going to take that
dose. Tonight, perhaps, but not now.
| II take IT and free my body from IT.
| that hope which you have given me.
| And-I want to give you this"
He handed her little bottle OF
morphine, three-quarters full.
"It Is the bottle which You took
from the drawer of my desk yeste. =
day." he said 81 stole il from your
pocket when you leaned over me last
night when you told me l was winn'is.
] was a thief-but am a penitent
thief and restore II intact"
NO, Doctor Lancaster" answered
the girl. smiling as she took the bottle
from him. THAT has no bearing up
on your character; 1t was a symptom
of your disease"
"Wen. I didn't take any" said Ian
caster with the transient flash OF
humor lighting up his face. II nat
the hardest conceivable battle over
that bottle. set 1t up before me and
l held my right hand back with my
left. and said I am winning, in Joan
Wentworths name And at last the
| drug devil was beaten. And no mor,
morphine until tonight"
Doctor Lancaster you have beer
brave and wonderful!' cried Joan
profoundly stirred. "Rememb Der that
one of the bravest men l have evel
known. Never tell me again that yor
have lost your power Of will. We az
winning fast"
He placed his hands upon hel
shoulders and stood looking at her
Upon his face was an expression Ol
indulgence, as II he was considerinl
her enthusiasm in the light of his eA
perience of life, so much deeper thar
hers, so much the more profound
Then the look passed; the years
seemed to fall from him, and strenglf
came into his face.
God bless you, my dear" he said
and bent TO kiss her forehead
She turned and run upstairs. lie,
heart was singing in her breast TIL,