Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-06-07


as popular with the other patients as
with the nurses and doctors.
Jim looked up quickly straight into
the eyes OF Martha Yates and for just
one moment she felt little uncom-
fortable--wondered II after all she
ought to have brought him the flowers.
His eyes had never looked that way
before-they seemed so bright and
clear. from beneath lids that betrayed
the recent suffering that he would have
been loath to admit He stretched out
one large hand, still strong and show
ing a peculiar pallor everything the sun
burn that had not vet disappeared, and
with this hand he took DR.. Martha's
small hand In his.
Thank you, DOCTOR" he said. "You
don't know how shall treasure them"
DIR. Martha Yates had gone away In
confusion that she had With difficulty
concealed. Suddenly 1t seemed as II
Jim. who had seemed only fine over
grown boy, had been transformed into
a man, strong and virile In spite OF his
present prostration. She was half
sorry that she had taken him the
flowers-perhaps It had been very I'M
professional. But the nurses had not
seemed to think 1t Inappropriate. To
them Jim was still plain Jim. Per-
haps they had not seen the look, so
strong and clear. beneath those tired
eyelids.
Jim was quick to recover and within
the week he was allowed to get up
and sit In q chair for few hours.
And the next day DR.. Robinson
whisked him Off, stopping with him at
the office just long enough to pay In
new banknotes the fee for board In the
ward The nurses we're vexed with
DR.. Robinson for he had not told
them OF his Intention OF taking Jim
away. and only the little nurse who
happened to be In the ward at the
time had an opportunity to say good-by
to him, and she had been so surprised
at his sudden departure, In baggy,
ill-fitting suit and ulster that the doc
tor brought for him. that she had not
asked him where he was going or In
vited him to revisit the hospital and
his many friends there
films gone" the nurses told DIR.
Martha Yates when she came that
day.
For a moment Martha started. She,
too. seemed to regret not having had
an opportunity to say good-by or to
have found out little more about
ribs mysterious optimist who had 50
frightened the atmosphere OF the hos.
pital during his brief stay
But when she reached her Office that
night she found man waiting for
her in the waiting room, though II was
an hour before Office hours. 1t was,
in fact. her customary dinner hour.
The man was indeed Jim. though he
now wore clothes that fitted perfectly,
and It was not until Martha had stood
looking at him for full minute that
she was quite sure of his identity. And
in that minute Jim stood holding the
hand she had offered to him.
"Who In the world are your" she
asked when they had sat down In the
dim light Of the waiting room. you're
not the simple workingman we all took
you TO be. You"
I'm James Bradley, Jr..' said Jim
simply. "You know my father. be-
lieve he's president Of the board Of
trustees Of the hospital" OF course
Martha knew him. 1t was James Brad
ley who had contributed more than
half Of the funds that had supported
the hospital for many years past.
1--WE been away from home good
many years No one remembers me.
This summer, you know. there was
some criticism Of the hospital. 1t was
said that poor man didn't get show
that the ward patients we're neg
lected. You know. Of course. My
father was annoyed and grieved. He
felt sure It wasn't true Still he want
ed to prove the fa1seness Of II all. !
was of roughIng 1t with him In the
mountains. Father and always
spend q month together every summer.
And one day lost my footing In the
mountains up there-and took a jolly
header. l wasn't so very badly hurt.
Father suggested that since had to
come down to civilization to get mend
ed should come to this hospital and
that ] should do little spying on the
side. So we got in touch with DR..
Robinson, who let 1t be understood
that was just any one. And you
know what learned--T learned that
the men in that ward are as decently
and as well treated as they would be
In private rooms. and learned to adj
mire the nurses and--it's all coming
ont In report my father will have
ready for the next meeting Of the
board Of trustees.
"Tn the meantime" James Brad
ley drew his stiff Office chair close
to that Of DR.. Martha. I'm the mean
time learned to love you. know
your heart Is in your workout It's
such n big heart Can't you let me