The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-01-27

tleuL WIS luDOiei. 11c lclC Il family.
I've sent them money from time to
time. used to sit and think about
the children he left, and what would
become of them. The ironic part of IT
was that, for all that had happened, l
was buster all the time. Men were
sending me cases from all over the
country. 1t was either stay and keen
on working, with that chance, or-ouit.
l quit"
"But If you had stayed, and taken
extra precautions"
"We'd taken every precaution we
knew"
Neither of the men spoke for time.
X. stood, his tall figure outlined against
the window.
''That's the worst, is it?" Max vii.
son demanded at last.
'That's enough"
"It's extremely significant. You -
an enemy somewhere-on your Stu,t
probably. This profession of ours is
big one, hut you know its jralousies.
Let II man get his shoulders above the
crowd, and the pack is after him." lie
laughed Il little. "Afixcd figure, but
you know what mean"
IL. shook his head. He had had that
gift of the big man everywhere, In
every profession, Of securing the loyal
ty of his followers. He would have
trusted every one of them with his life.
"You'rc going to do 1t, Of course"
stake up your work?"
Eyes"
He stirred rcstlessly. To stay on, to
be near Sidney, perhaps to stand by
MS Wilson'S best man when she was
married-it turned him cold. But he
did not give decided negative. The
sick man was flushed and growing fret
full; it would not do to irritatc him.
"Give me another day on it," he said
at lust. And SO the matter stood.
Max's injury had been productive of
good, In one way. 1t had brought the
two brothers closer together. In the
mornings Max was restless until Doc
tor Ed arrived. When he came he
brought books in the shabby bng-his
beloved Burns. although he needed no
book for that, the "Pickwick Papers"
Remains Lives of the Disciples" Very
often Max would doze Off; but ut the
cessation of Doctor Eds sonorous
voice the sick man would stir fretfully
and demand more. 1t pleased the older
man vastly. 1t reminded him of Mnx's
boyhood, when he had read to MIX at
night. For once in the lust dozen
years, he needed him.
eco ON, Ed. What in blnzcs makes
you stop every five minutes?' Mux pro-
tested, one day.
Doctor Ed, who had only stopped to
bite Off the end of a stoglc to hold In
his cheek, picked up his book in
hurry, and eyed the invalid over it.
"Stop bullying. I'll read when I'm
ready. Have you any idea what rm
readlng?
"Of course"
swell, haven't. For ten minutes I've
been readIng across both pngcs!'
Max laughed, and suddenly put out
his hand. Demonstrations of affection
were so rare with him that for mo-
ment Doctor Ed was puzzled. Then,
rather sheepishly, he took IT.
"When l get out" Max said, "well
have to go out to the White Springs
again and have supper"
That was all but Ed understood.
On the day when X. had told Max his
reason for giving up his work, Sidney
spent her hour with Max that evening
us usual. His big chair had been
drawn close to window, and she
found him there, looking out. She
kissed him. But instead of letting her
draw away, he put out his arms and
caught her to him.
"Snilc Mt me. You don't smile any
more. You ought to smile; your
mouth"
II am almost always tired that's all,
Max"
She eyed rim bravely.
"Arcn't you going to let me make
love to you ut all? You get away be-
yond my reach"
II was looking for the paper to read
to yOu."
A sudden suspicion famed in his
eyes.
Sidney, you don't like me to touch
you any more. Come here where Gun
see YOU"
The fear of agitating him brought
her quickly. For a moment he was ap-
peased.
'"That's more like it. How lovely you
are, Sidney" He lifted first one hand
and then the other to his lips. Are
you ever going to forgive met"
IF you mean about CarIottu, for
gave that long ago."
He was almost boyishly relieved.
What a wonder she was! So lovely,
and SO sane. Many woman would
have held that over him for ycars-not
that he had done anything really wrong
on that nightmare excursion. But SO
many women are exigent about prom
Uses.
"When are you going to marry met"
1--WE needn't discuss that tonight.
Max. Can't we talk things over when