New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-07-19

The Big Doete
now she blames herself for not goin,
sooner; she just adOres her niece. Sh'
isn't too rich herself, but she solt
stocks or something, and got hold O.
enough cash to take Nourma a long SET
trip. which a doctor there said nigh
possibly give a new tone to the girl's
constitution, late as it was to try ex
periments. But the day l met thu
ladies', Miss Nourma was no stronger
than the day she left home. And to
day she's no better than the day We
started motoring. Yesterday Miss
Dalrymple told me something else
which she hadn't mentioned before, be
cause, as she said, there seemed nc
use speaking of it.
"It's that l want to ask your advice
about, Mr.. Race. 1t seems that when
they got to London, Miss Dalrymple
took NOurma to see a great specialist
a doctor in New York had recommend.
ed her to consult. His opinion was
that there might be a good chance OF
saving Miss NOurma, making her strong
and well as any girl. Only neither of
them saw how the thing he suggested
could be done; and she didn't eve tell
her niece what he'd said"
"What was the thing?' Christopher
asked, intensely interested.
"Oh, l guess you've heard of it most
ly in stOry-bOOks, where beautiful girls
do 1t to save their lovers lives. But
the question is, could a chap like me,
so much beneath her in every way, and
almost a stranger as far as time of
acquaintance goes, have any right to
propose it? Would it be a monstrous
liberty that a lady would resent like a
kind of insult? l don't see how l could
bear 1t If she did,"
"YOu forget you haven't told me yet
what the thing u.s." Christopher remind
ed him.
"Oh. SO I didn't. I was just thinking
out loud. Why, that doctor said, If a
perfectly healthy person, who never
drank alcohol or took any other poison
into the system, would give his or her
blood to Miss Nourma, it could make
her all over again like new. She might
marry, and be happy, and live to a
good old age"
"You would do that for her" asked
Christopher.
IF l dared to propose 1t. If you
don't think it would be considered too
great a liberty"
"A liberty! And you'd do it to save
her-for another mani"
"Of course, that would be a great
happiness for me to keep in my mind,
Mr.. Race, when l thought back on what
you call my missing chapter I do
wish you would tell me what you
think"
Il think you're the best and most
unselfsh-yes, absolutely selfess-
chap I ever met" answered Christie
pher.
Mr.. James Hardness sprang up and
shook hands with him very hard, sew
eral times over.
thank you, sir" he exclaimed. 1T
seems funny you should think that, you
know, because, Tiff it was allowed to
happen, 1t would be the greatest honor
and Joy that could come to me-great-
er than anything I ever dreamed of:
to feel I had done something for her
girl like her. Say, Mr.. Race, would
you just mention 1t to Miss Dalrymple
as coming from me? I shouldn't have
the courage to, myself, and l have her |
to tell you this story about
Miss Nourma."
So 1t came about that Christopher
was induced to grant the 'big favor"
and Miss Dalrymple not only thought
Mr.. James Hardness worthy of the
high honor he solicited, but agreed
with Christopher In thinking some very
good things about the little mans
which would have surprised
the little man himself.
They motored back to London, with
out b%roaching the matter to Nourma
but on arrival there was q
with the great specialist,
who approved Of Hardness physically
as much as the others did spiritually.
Then NOurma had to be told, and after
utmost difficulty persuaded to con-
sent to the experiment which might
mean life for her. That was where
Scarlet Runner and Scarlet Runners
master slipped out of the story. But