Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1921-03-03
BY GRACE MILLER WHITE
I'm one Doctor Pendehaven," hi

| SDlenuOr she who had been used to
canal boats and rough benches to sit
| on.
"1'm kinda mussed up" she said In
excuse. I've come to make q dicker
with-with DR.. Paul Pendehaven."
"To.. me what you want of my
brother?" he said gently. "Do you
want him TO help your"
Yep, "A hull lot" she responded. "a
great lot. My mothers awful sick.
But | can't tell how she got that way.
so don't ask me. But-but thought
mehbe If brought Doctor Paul's baby
back" She paused drew out of her
blouse the picture and handed II out,
Il thought If didn't take any money
for 1t. he'd help me. and mebhe wouldn't
| make me tell where | got It,"
John Pendlehaven made no move to
touch the little card she was holding
out to him. and Tonnibel came nearer.
Her fingers let go their hold on the
picture, and It fell to the floor. And
there before the startled mans eyes.
she dropped down and began to sob.
long bitter sobs such as John Pende-
haven had never heard from any of
his own women kind.
Il want some one to help my mummy
so bad" came to him from among the
curtis
Then he shook himself. deep sym.
pathy striking at him.
Listen to me. my dear: you've done
my brother the greatest favor IN the
world by bringing back this picture"
He stopped and picked 1t up. "He
loved 1t dearly; no money could have
bought It."
Tonnibel's eyes, filled with tears,
gazed up at him, and the red lips
trembled.
II don't want money" she faltered.
"But my poor little mummy's sick. So
| said to myself IL the picture was
worth cash. then mehbe could get
| some medicine as change off,"
| "We'll 60 to her instantly" said
Pendlehaven. "Wait until get my
hat and coat and I'll tell my brother
you brought this to him.
In few minutes he was hack. find
ing her standing where he had left her
Without word they walked out In
to the night.
AS they passed the Salvation army
quarters the girl turned her head and
looked nj it. But she made no remark,
and SO rapid did she walk that peadle-
haven found himself taking long
strides to keep up with her.
To say he was surprised when they
| drned from the boulevard road to Il
path leading to the west shore of the
lake would 0e putting it lightly. But
| he didn't ask where they were going;
somehow 1t made no difference to him.
| His strong, warm hand held the small
brown one, and something in the touch
of the girls fingers made him thrill
with pleasure, He found himself VOW
Ing that anything this strange child
should ask of him, he'd do. no mat, n
what 1t might be.
They passed over n cuIvert through
| "l'Nb NH'Nis III lhittltlIIS tbuiSs Louh
its way down the hill. Just on the
north side the girl stopped
Here we are to the ragged rocks"
she said. There's the boat where my
mummy is. See that little light? Stand
here a minute till | come back and get
you"
1t had suddenly occurred to TOnn.
bel that perhaps her father might
have ventured home. If so. then she
must prepare him for the doctors COM
ing.
She went Immediately to her mother
and looked down unOn her The
swollen lids were still closed and the
wan white face brought rush of
tears to the girls eyes.
I've brung some one to help you.
darlin'," she whispered but the WON
an made no move, Ii by chance size
heard.
Clambering up the steps, Tonnibel
was back at the doctors side before
he scarcely realized 1t.
'Mummy's alone" she said. "Come
on"
Pendlehaven stopped over Edith De
Won, gently taking her wrist In his
fingers. For some time he sat beside
her, then mixing draught, succeed d
in pouring 1t down her throat The
weary lids didn't lift, but one thin arm
came rigidly upward, then fell back
Imply.
Some one struck her, ehT" asked
the doctor.
Yep" replied the girl, and that was
all.
Pendlehaven didn't ask anything
more. In accepting the picture he had
tacitly promised not to question her.
What did 1t mattef to him how the
woman had come into her present CON-