The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-05-11


about him." she said quietly. swell,
that's all over. He never really cared
for me. played his game and lost.
I've been expelled from the school,"
Quite suddenly she dropped on her
knees beside the bed, and put her
cheek close to the sleeping mans hand.
| When after moment she rose, she
was controlled again, calm, very white.
She turned toward the door. But K.
could not let her go like that. Her
face frightened him. 1t was too calm,
too controlled. He followed her across
the room.
"What are your plans?"
81 haven't any. I'm about through
with my training, but I've lost my
diploma"
81 don't like to see you going away
like this"
She avoided his eyes, but his kindly
tone did what neither the Head nor the
executive committee had done that
day. 1t shook her control.
"What does it matter to you? You
don't owe me anything"
perhaps not. One way and another
I've known you long time"
you never knew anything very
good"
"Tll tell you where live, and"
II know where you live"
"Will you come to see me there2 We
may be able to think of something"
"What is there to think of? This
story will follow me wherever I go!
I've tried twice for diploma and
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, a straight figure with
haunted eyes, that he reflected whim-
his own plans for flight.
Sidney brought her letter to Joe back
to K. She was flushed with the effort
and with q new excitement.
''The most remarkable thing has
happened. What day this has been
Somebody has sent Johnny Rosenfeld a
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 a 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 beWil-
dered.
It'll buy the old lady what she
wants for the house, anyhow" he said.
"But ] hope nobody's took up collec-
ton for me. 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 a great surgeon.
Johnny had rejected it scornfully.
But the story had seized on his
imagination.
"Say, Mr.. LIE Moyne."
eyes. Jack"
He called him "Jack." The boy liked
it. 1t savored of man to man. After
all, he was a man, or almost. Hadn't
he driven a carr Didn't he have a
state license7
"They say that you're 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 K. wistfully. Il know
it's lie, but if it's true Don't you
think you could do something for me,
sir?"
When K. did not reply at once, he
launched into an explanation.
"I've been lying here good while. I
didn't say much because l knew I'd
have to take 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
chance, if you will"
Its only chance, Jack"
II know that. But lie here and
watch these soaks off the street. Old,
a lot Of them, and gettin' well to go
out and starve, and Mr.. LIE Moyne,
they can walk, and 1 can't"
Z. 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
astly"
II have thousand dollars. What
ever you charge"
"I'll take it out of my board bill in
he new house!"
At four o'clock that morning K. got
back from seeing Joe off. The trip
lad been without accident.
Over Sidney's letter Joe had shed a
tear or two. And during
he night ride, with X. pushing the car
o the utmost, he had felt that the
IL 1t L. hi aIy Of