, 1918-10-10

sourceful. For days at a time she
would STAND and hold those two
threads, n in each hand. But when
she attempted to bring them together
her arms would stlffen.
Six months before it was time for
him to celebrate his t~wenty-eighth an
niversary something put into Jacks
head the idea OF touring the States.
AS he had accumulated n comfortable
pile of the metal so much desired on
this globe, and as he had taken in a
partner who was capable of conduct
ing the business alone, there was no
reason why he should not carry the
idea into effect.
1t was on the outskirts of Chicago
that h accident occurred. The train
hit a broken rail or something and the
parlor car left the track. Only one
person was severely injured, and that
was Jack Watson, whose arm was
broken.
He wa taken to a Chicago hospital,
where the arm was set. His condition,
physically and financially, warranted a
nurse being assigned to special duty on
the case.
This was the first opportunity he
had had to study woman at close
range, and it proved decidedly interest
ing. The nurse was in constant at
tendance during the day n ready to
answer his call at any time during the
night. She was continually putting
thermometers into his mouth and TAX
ing them out again, feeling his pulse,
feeding him ice cream and other deli
cacies, and smiling. And she had n
pretty face, always shining with good
cheer, and a lot of other nice ways
about her.
That's funny" Jack told himself
frequently. 81 never knew a woman
could be so useful in this busy world"
And he got to wishing that his arm
wouldn't be in any hurry about getting
mended, and his mind began thinking
strange thoughts; that is, strange for
him.
OF course, you know the nurse was
Esther Richards. But lie did not. A
lot of changes take place in a person
between the ages of eight and twenty
five; and there was no more reason
why he should associate this Miss
Richards with the one of hfs school
days in Ohio thai that she should
recognize her childhood sweetheart in
this Mr.. Watson who was her patient.
Had Jack been less reticent about
himself their former acquaintanceship
would have leaked out in the "small
talk" that usually develops between n
nurse and a convalescing patient; but
as he was one who took things for
granted and never displayed curiosity,
especially concerning the affairs of
women, he had not ever asked the
customary "Where is your homer"
Naturally her professional reserve, &C
quired during nearly three years of
training, precluded the possibility of
her taking the initiative in such per-
sonal matters; so the fact that they
had not been schoolmates and puppy
love- sweethearts remained unre-
vealed.
He fought against the peculiar feel.
ing that IA creeping over him, but II
} was a losing fight. He ave up tbs
l struggle and confessed, first to himself
{ and later to her, that he was in low
with her. He told her all about 1t OF
the day he was to leave the hospital.
"Do you believe in lover" she in
quired, as she stood beside the bee
and retained that professional de
meanor sufficiently to keep him from
Selling her hand. "These days, PEG.
pie are beginning to have the idea that
marriage is only a business contract"
Jack laughed and forgot all about
Melbourne and real estate, business
club dinners and hermits' lives.
"Love!" he echoed. "Surely, 1 be-
lieve in love. Every one was made for
some one and / was made for you. I've
felt that ever since I first saw you
standing by this bed and counting my
heart-beats. Haven't you felt the same
way?"
She forgot about "being profess
sional' and her hand found it's way
into his.
Perhaps" she confessed. "That's
what we always read in books; and
there may be something tc it. Really,
I feel as If / had known you always"
Lachesis smiled a smile of triumph.
She drew the W threads together and
held them side by side in one hand.
With the other hand she reached into
the happiness box and dabbed some of
the contents on the threads. Then she
carefully and methodically knotted
them together.
You can't defy Lachesis and get
away with II.