Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-04-22


uN GOD, dear Cod" she prayed
" beating her hard little brown hands
together, don't go back on US, dear God
Put the gimp into Doc again; he's MOI
scared to do it, Lord, he's just lost his
grin for a minute; he's not scared
lord Il looks like It, but he isn't. Yor
car bank on Doc, Lord, he's not scared
Bear with him, dear Lord. just min
utc--just n minute--he'n do 1t, and
he'll do It right. Amen"
When Pearl rose from her knees the
doctor had lifted his head.
"Do you want hot water and sheets
and carbolic?" she asked.
lie nodded. ...
When she came back with them the
Doctor was taking off his coat His in
struments were laid out on the box.
"Get a lamp" he said to Pearl.
PEARLS happy heart was singing with
ioy. 20 Lord, dear Lord. You never
fail" she murmured as she ran across
to the kitchen. ,., a.. ,..
and a chair to set 1t on, the doctor was
n;nning sheet above the bed. His face
Was white and drawn, hut his hand was
frm and his mouth was straight line.
Arthur was tossing his. arms con-
The doctor listened with his ear a
minnie upon the sick mans heart, then
tho rauze mask was laid upon his face
snd the chloroform soon did its merci-
full work. ,
The doctor handed Pearl the bottle.
"a drop or two IL he moves" he said.
Then Horace Clay, the man with a
mans mistakes, his fears, his heart
bnrnings, was gone, and in his place
stood Horace Clay, the doctor, keen,
olert, masterful, indomitable, with the
look of battle on his face. He worked
rapidly, never faltering; his eyes burn
ing with the joy of the true physician
who fights to save, to save a human
life from the grim old enemy, Death.
"You have saved his life, Pearl the
doctor said two hours later. Arthur lay
sleeping easily, the flush gone from his
face, and his breath coming regularly.
The doctor put his hand gently on
her tumbled little brown head.
"You saved him from death, Pearl,
md me-from something worse"
And then Pearl took the Doctors hand
in both of hers, and kissed 1t reverently.
That's for Thursa,' she said,
sravely.
Tom was awakened by some one
shaking him gently.
"Tom, Tom Motherwell, what are
you doing here?' i
A woman knelt beside him. Her eyes
we're sweet and kind and sad beyond
expression.
Tom, how did you come here?" she
asked, gently. as Tom struggled to
rise.
He sat up, staring stupidiy around
Lin. "Wha' s matter? Where's
this?" he asked thickly.
You're in the sitting room at the
hotel" she said.
He would have lain down again, but
she took him firmly by the arm.
Come, Tom" she said. Come and
have n drink Of water"
She led him out of the hotel to the
pump at the corner Of the street. Tom
drank thirstily. She pumped water Oh
his hands. and bathed his burning face
IN it. The cold water and the fresh air
began to clear his brain.
Seary '%s morning. Il she ne asfda ssd atou @ft
half past 8, think" and Tom knew
even in the darkness that she had lost
more teeth. 1t was Mrs. Skinner.
Tom" she said. did you see Skin
ner in there? / came down to get him
] want him--the child is dead an hour
ago" She spoke hurriedly.
Tom remembered now. Yes, he had
seen skinner, but not lately; it was n
long. long time ago.
Now, Tom, 60 home" she said
kindly. This is bad work for you, my
dear boy. Stop it now, dear Tom,
while you can. 1t will kill you, body
A thought struggled in Toms dull
brain. There was something he wanted
to say to her which must be said but
she was gone.
He drank again from the cup that
hung beside the pump. Where did he !
how it pounded! She had told him
10 go home. Well, why wasn't he at {
home? What was he doing here? c
Slowly his memory came back--he
had come for the doctor; and the doctor t
was to be back In an hour, and now it /
was nearly morning, didn't she say?
He tried to run, but his knees failed r
lm-what about Arthur? He grew !
hill at the thought-he might be dead j
by this time. h
He reached the Doctors office some h
way, His head still throbbed and his n
feet we're heavy as lead; but his mind I
was clear.
A lamp was burning in the Office. but
no one was In. 1t seemed month u
ago since he had been there before. The ,
air of the Office was close and sitting,