Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-09-18
Janet
IN
BY MADGE WESTON
Copyright. 1919. by Western Newspaper Union.

boarding house Just IN time Tor meals,
and rushed ont again afterward either
90 business or 10 Lcila's; 81 he made
no acquaintance among his fellow
guests. or i'm fact, noticed them par
ticularly. His mind also, was usually
upon business. or-laila.
Ii was for riie girls sake that he
J. nj his every endeavOr toward sue
ccSs. Laila, beautiful favored daugh-
t.r o. forune had promised To wait
ur hii uu.h he should have achieved
re financial success which her faith
e., considered necessary TO their union.
Laila in her promise nad not en-
IRE. iven up her freedom. II was
agreed that She might still attend var
ious festivities 10 which She WAS ac-
customed in the companionship OF
men of her choosing, while Bob Brere-
ton toiled by the light of the hgurative
evening lamp.
Little Janet sitting al the opposite
side of the boarding house table in
her neat gray dress with its white
collar. Janet with new weary circles
beneath her violet eyes-glanced at
the fine absorbed face of the new
boarder and wondered wlstfuly how
some women were blessed by finding
their ideal.
Janet coming early to the breakfast
table one morning missed him. The
room seemed unaccountably deSolate
For ii moment she stood with the mis-
tress of the house alone.
That Mr. Brereton is sick" Mrs.
Hutchns said irritably, and I'm
afraid he's taken with this catching
epidemic II the folks here learn
about 1t | won't have u soul in the
house by night. They're all deadly
afraid of the disease, an | cant wait
on him. Land knows He's got an
awful fever. wouldn't be surprised 10
have him go on his head. Seemed too
sick TO even make plans for himself.
Told me impatient like 10 call up that
swell girl of his an she'd arrange
things for him. Then he went Oft 10
sleep. Maybe you'd do that for me.
Mrs. Hutchins suggested. IL haven't
So Janet seated herself and gave
the vaughns' telephone number. Her
heart beat rapidly as she waited the
answering voice of Brereton'S sweet
heart. IL was rs though she had mys-
teriously changed places with him.
"SickT' came Miss Vaughns horri-
fled query. Il will send in call for
Or Minor at once. and il the doctor
says that Mr.. Brereton has the FLU
YOU will let me know at once, won't
YOU? | shouldn't Ike 10 risk exposing
myself by going 10 see him. And then
have Or. Minor call II nurse. Thank
YOU let me hear from you later
Mrs. HutchinS' worst fears were re-
allied, her boarder was suffering So
verely from the prevailing malady,
while the doctor positively forbade his
removal. And II developed that no
nurse could be- found in the exigency
and the doctor who was exceedingly
busy hurried away.
Janet crept softly to the stair. "A
moment she heSltated before the door
entered.
II will take care of Mr.. Brereton."
She told Mrs Hutchins My room Is
directly across the hall. We will keep
him secluded and | shall carefully
obey the doctors directions"
"Seems IL ought 10 be a nearer WON
an doing all that for him" Mrs.
Hutchins said dryy.
Little Janet's lips closed in IA firm
line. She had notified Miss Vaughn
of her fance's latest condition. aud
the return message had been
Doctor Minor will undoubtedly find
someone 10 look after him and please
will YOU tell Mr. Brereton. not 10 at
tempt 10 come 10 our house until il il
quite quite safe and-l'll send him
roses every day
The roses came. Janet busy with
her FIGHT against death. left them piled
I'm The hall The doctor had ordered
rhai They were not To be I'm the pa
TENTS room
"Brcrcton needed every bit of oXy-
gen that he could get he said Il
would be- desperate fight il they
could pun him through as it was"
But together they did 1.-THE doctor
and his tirele~s assistant Patting the
girls shoulder. the doctor assured her
that her part in the case was greater
than his own Janet with trembling
sigh turned aside
III get some sleep now" she said
"Soon I'll have to 20 back to the
office"
Weakly but TREMENDOUSLY the sick
man called To her.
"Now that can talk little angel Of
light" he said, 81 want To talk To
you"
But when Janet tried to explain
tactfully The refusal Of his sweetheart
10 visit him in his extremity Brereton
put forth a quieting hand.
Never mind" ne said smiling
There are many things which we
learn lying in silence The true mean
ing OF the word love, perhaps. Laila
has that ~tlll to learn"
81 must 20 now" Janet began
hastily Bur Brerrton's cla-ping hands
restrained her.
"Not until Won promise to come
back-to mo-" ne said shakily You
must always come back hccaus"--T
Shall need yuu always dear"