Evening times-Republican., 1920-09-29
The Gift
Supreme
BY
George Allan England
Author Of
Darkness and Dawn"
"The Alibi." etc.

rs he conscious?" whispered he.
NO." answered Tressor. He ges-
,red them out into the hallway, and
closed the door. MIR. Vinton." said
he. ''thfs is most unexpected. after
what you told me over the tele-
phone. l "
"For Gods sake. Doctor, don't
bring that up" entreated the old
man, with terrible earnestness.
What is past does not matter Moth
ing matters but my son. What
what chance is there"
II can't tell. The situation is criti-
cal"
Can nothing be done?'
I'm glad you're here, Mr. Ninton.
so that you can understand the situ-
alton. Frankly, | have decided to
proceed TO extreme measures. | must
resort to blood TRANSMISSION; You un-
derstand. of course. how difficult and
dangerous II must be. under the cif-
cumstances. The patientis very low,
and sinking. A single clot, single
..Transfusion exclaimed Vinton
uXlnE StTuuBc CsSs VIZ W.
face. .You need blood? VIII "ihe
do?" -
"or mine?" pleaded the mo'her'
with clasped hands.
"No. II must be young. fresh. pure
abounding In vitality and warih'h.
Frankly. fear we may have dttficui-
~ in finding subject with the
,eouisite qualities. I'm just now go
tho down to telephone the Polytechnic
for the best subject TO DE n'o,
"can you get one In time! chokea
the shipmaster.
.Ill do my best"
HURRY. Doctor! Hurry" he cx-
claimed. shaken with the immensely
of his fear DO all that money can
do. Go. go."
.wait for me here" bade Tr sssof.
.,,,,t remember, now. no scene. what
ever happens He, opened the no'r
and motioned them to enter MISS
pennell." said he, "see that quiet -
maintained"
!. She nodded silently. The doctor
vanished Two minutes later 'ne
watchers in the reception-ro room sa"
him come dewn the hall, ana. iooR'hs
very worn and anxious, stop III me
door of the office.
..N,,ss Oldham" said he, crisply.
to the day superintendent, caii 'ne
po,yclinic Mt once, and ask tneH "
send their best subject for transius-
ion' .,a
"For that knife wound case?" asked
she. peering thru her glasses.
.tyaa The continual internal heW-
orrha ge hss rendered the saline so'u-
.t,on futile. We're surely goinR 70
lose him If we don't get a liberal sup
n,v of nerfectly pure blood, and ger
1T at once. ,.,
..B,oed -, echoed voice beside
him. .You need blood fer nm! say,
watts de matter wit mine =
"Eh?r calculated Tressor, aston
lshed. as he faced the massive puik
Of Muggs. whats that you say
"Fm your meat, Doc
Tressor peered intently at him Tor
a moment, then shook his head.
.Irm sorry he answered, but you
won't do"
"G.wan!" protested Muggs. I'm
aex-cha mpeen of New England. an
look a. dat now, will yuh." Harden
ing the biceps of his right arm, he
held it outSfor Tressor's inspection.
But still the doctor refused. 4
"No. Muggs. you don't under
stand" said he. "Only pure blood will
do. It mustn't he e<contaminated by
any intemperance. vice or excesses,
and you show signs OF alcoholic
Damn lie! I'm on de wagon
an amt had drop since
Don't argue with me, Mugss |
know best. Your offer is splendid
tribute of affection. You've got the
stuff Of martyrs in you, Muggs:
you're fine, and TIN tell him what
you've said as soon as he can un-
derstand. But in spite of everything.
I can't accept"
"How about me, sir?" broke in the
mariner. mo grog in mine! Amt
tasted it in years, now!"
Tressor shook his head, and turned
to go. A feeble hand plucked at his
sleeve. and a thin voice pleaded with
terrible earnestness:
"Say. Doc! Take mine" The
drawn, anemic face Of the crippled
boy blazed with passionate eagerness.
81 want him to have mine, Doc-all
Of it. Please, Doc-please, please
take it all"
In his ardor Joe clutched the doc
tors hand with feverish energy.
Tressor looked down a moment at
the twisted little body and the with
cred legs, at the painful steel braces
and the crutches that alone made
motion possible for Joe. He tried to
speak, but words would not issue
from his suddenly choking throat.
Miss Oldham touched the doctors
arm.
"The Polytechnic reports there are
no available subjects for transfus-
ion," she said. "And if we can't get
one there, that means we can't find
one anywhere in time"
you'll take me, Doc, won't your
still pleaded the cripple. Take me
take me, please!"
Don't. Joe-don't!" Tressor man
aged to articulate. Then, thrning he
disengaged himself from Joe's des-
perate hands, and hastily retreated
along the corridor. No physician of
standing can afford to be seen with
tears coursing down his cheeks.
CHAPTER xxXIII
nv, p,,,,,h -