The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-20
The Dramatic Story Of
Chickie's Attempt
to Come Back
Continued from Yesterday.
CHAPTER LxXvIII.
Battle with Death.

SeSAO . SOOAAA-eSt4 dUtuulA 1lOWSE0
now, rich and full or color. He
was like that.
She moved about in still tight
ness, touching his brushes on the
bureau-plain ebony brushes.
How incredible this thing that
had happened-and the pallor in
that flashing, magnificent face
the red. smiling mouth. now fslipt-
ly blue.
She walked mechanically down
the hall to the door of the op.
Grating room and stood there.
She knew the breathlesS scehe
behind that door-David down in
the pit fighting with a passion
OF zeal; his face growing mask
like In its intensity Of concentra.
ton. He would save Jake-if
power on earth could do it. He
thought Jake a princely fellow
Then her heart raped 'noisily.
Jake lying on that table and
David battling to save that great
and generous life. Great and
generous he was. Once another
room was filled with flowers, the
beauty Of the springtime sent to
her who felt her life all finished.
It was Jake who did unaL thing:
Jake who wrote: Little white
darling, don't let this sadness rob
or cheat you. Take 1t as a rich
ening Of your life"
All that was finest and tr~est
in his spirit he had given to her.
At every turn Of her life some
kindness of his had SmooLhed
her way. Even the deg he had
given, licking her face the day
she stumbled between the oak
trees and the baby lay dead IN
her arms.
Ohio return a hun6redfold
now that lordIy Kindness to
spare him, even If only a little
pain. She went back to the room.
Her hands were cold and shaking.
Prayers stirred in her mind.
Save him. They must. The
world had need of high and glow
ing hearts-and few that beat
with the mighty, happy pulss Of
his.
October and the sun was set.
ting; the light in the room Lur-
ping and soft. It fell wistfully
on a basket OF lilies, white lilies
Of the valley. These Janina had
sent. And the light was radiant
on marigolds, gift Of an old,
gaunt woman-bIought With the
woman's tears. Jake had been
good to her. She coLld never
say how good, and to a son Of
hers.
Chiclde said to the woman: He
was good to me, too. And to
The woman answered. 81 am
going home to pray for him."
Jake would like that. The kind.
ironic smile would come flashing
to his lips. Pray for him, CT
course! He wouldn't mind. But
did they think he was done? Not
much! And new paths yet untrod-
Coming back that she might
walk new ways with him. Com.
ing back to bring her all the fine
and pleasant things he thought
life owed her.
She went again down the hall.
An hour. Then an hour and
half. A movement-the door of
the operating room opening, the
sheeted form, kingly even in its
quiet, wheeled OUT
Chickie shut her eyes, sudden
tears rushing to their corners.
Terrible that Jake should be ly-
ing on that stretcher, who only
yesterday exulted in the glory Of
his strength.
How was he? How had 1T
been? She was afraid to ask. But
she saw David coming from the
room and waited. His face had
a gray, set look, almost skeletal
in its thinness. His eyes were
brilliant.
He saw her tears and turned
his head. She asked with a pitt
full. unnatural quiet: He came
out well?"
"Fair-"
"Oh-only that, David?"
'He has a ruptured liver"
She gave soft, low cry, know
ing the desperateness Of that,
and suddenly overcome put her
hands over her face.
He said gently: 'No-you're not
giving up, Helena. Jake has a
chance-a good fighting chance.
He has a lions strength. And
he's in our hands. I think we've
got to save him! Come now
you go and rest. I'm
staying. Come back in a few
hours"
She smiled and bit her lips.
hearing him say that. "Oh-you
don't~know all Jake once did for
me. You don't know how I feel
for him. I wouldn't leave now
for anything-not for anything"
Yet when she went into Jake's
room and saw the bed tilted; saw
all the flowers removed; looked
into his colorless face and shut
eyes, she wanted to run away;
escape that unnatural image. It
was so different from the rollick.
ing, exuberant fellow who had so
often sat at her side.
When he was again conscious
she was even afraid because Of
the shallow, uneven breath; afraid
because he yawned and seemed
struggling for air.
She put her hand timidly on
his. He gave no sign, except to
"Water-a drink"
David didn't leave the room.
He gave orders to the nurse. Jake
said, "Come here, Dave. I'm
faint. Give me a shot--some-
thing"
You're all right. It's good for
you to be faint. Don't worry
about it."
mo air."
"Yes-you have air."
A marked blueness now around
his lips and at his fingers.
Chickie shut her eyes. She began ,
to pray. For a long while Jake
lay quiet as though utterly ex.
hausted, only rousing to ask again
and again for q drink. She gave
him spoons Of very hot tea"
He seemed not to notice her
presence until once she rose. A
4.