The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-04-20
llIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITIITIIIIIIITiIiIIIIIITIIIIIITII=
ConHright. lq2l By The Mhaalar sYndicnta Inc
BY FANNIE HURST

quiet of dead O night thick as
shroud around them, the watchers be-
side a property couch moved stimuli
taneously. A doctor rose from his stiff
knees, his lips pursed and perpleXed
beneath his messy beard. Charley Lee
lifted a basin and towel from the floor
and placed them nOiselessly on the
gold property table. Miss LOlo Lala-
day, her silver skirts crushed to her
figure, rose from her crOuching attitude
at the base of the couch, and beneath
the mask of rouge her little face
seemed suddenly as fleshless as the feet
of a bird and slashed with tears, as if
rain had beat against It,
"Doc! My God, Doc, don't you
know yet? You want us to die wait
ing, do you? Don't you know nothing
YETI"
I'VE gotta catch that fourteen train,
Doc, and she feels like before we go
we Oughta-"
Cant you tell girl, Doc? Amt he
ever coming to again? Amt he, Doc?
Oh, my God, amt her"
The doctor snapped his spectacles
into a case and regarded her above
remaining pair that straddled his nose
halfway down. His voice was DELHI
crate and as slow as treacle in the
pouring.
1--WE are going to move him now,
young lady, just as soon as the hospital
wagon arrives. Then we can tell
more"
Fear lay on her face like a death
mask.
SIS he"
Il have set three fractures, but l
can't look at that back until we get
him to the hospital, little lady"
"Oh, my God! His backw
Mr.. Charley Lee smoothed a nervous
hand up and down the back of his
CLOSED hair
what she's trying to get at Is this,
Doc. We gotta get that fourteen train
out and"
Don't listen to him, Doc, We"
1--WE gotta get that train out and
If he amt done for she wants to know
II he'll come around all right. He will,
won't he. Doc?'
HE will, Doc, won't he? He will,
Doc, for Gods sake tell me he surely
will"
Il won't know how much, little lady,
until we get him to the hospital, but it
looks to me like he will come around
all right"
"See, Lo; now 60 get your buds"
"Oh, my God, Doc" She caught at
his hands in frenzy of suppliance and
fell on her knees a huddle at his feet.
"Just pull him around, Doc. That's all
/ ask. Pull him around, Doc, and I'll
make it up to you. III work my fingers
to the bone for you. I'll black your
shoes and walk on my knees for you.
Only don't let him die, Doc. For Gods
sake, don't let him die" The incoher-
ence of frenzy muddled her tones.
Jaw, cut it, Lo. Don't you see that
Docs doing all he can. Go get your
duds on, Lo You see, Doc, it's this
way. She kinda feels like it was her
fault, but there's nothing to that. It's
Just like he got dizzy all of a sudden
the way he missed that bar. I've seen
II happen a dozen times. She flung it
all right enough but she kinda feels to
blame about 1t. It's dead sure that he'll
come around all right, amt it, Doc?
Tell her"
II done it! I done it, Doc, but l
didn't think it would swerve. | done
1t. Oh, my God, Doc. 1 done itr
He stopped and drew her gently
from her crouching attitude at his feet
and, as if anticipating that she would
sway like a silver Ned, placed firm
hand between her bare shoulder blades.
"There's no immediate danger of
anything right now, little lady. You
just keep up your courage until we
have look at that back and see what
can be DONE"
"T'll walk on my knees for you, Doc.
I"
saw, Lo, cut out the sob stuff. Didn't
you hear the Doc tell you a lay-up is
all he's in for? FLYNN acts is used to
that"
"There, there, little lady, you just
walt until we look at that back"
1--WE got to be beatin' it, Doc. We
gotta catch the company down at the
station for the fourteen. l gotta wire
ahead to Chicago for a dummy act, too.
He-Al-he's a great fellow, Doc.
Treat him white as you know how.
You'll keep US wise about him, won't
you? Here's our route list, and you
let us know how he's mending up He's
a fellow with fund, Doc, and if-if
it amt elastic enough to stretch, let us
know. Take good care of him, Doc.
The best amt none too good for him.
Be glad to send you paper to the show
when we play a return in April, Doc.
Glad to take care of you If you will call
around at the box Office. Come, LO,
we gotta hustle"
"Whatta you think I am-crazy? I
Il amt going"
He shuffled toward her.
None of that. You gotta-we can't
miss connections for"