Evening star., 1924-11-23

asked. He looked at his watch and
told her.
''Oh, dear!" she said. rs that all?"
Every minute of it," said Ruddy.
"My watch keeps splendid time. But
why? Is there anything I can do?
Please ask me. I haven't a thing to
do. I'm stranger in Monterey
And I've just been seeing the sights
It's SO beautiful here. I'd no idea. l
wish you'd tell me IL there's any
thing l can do"
MY uncle" said the girl. who took
care Of me. died day before yester-
day. They've taken him to Castro
Vile to bury him. When they come
back were going to decide what is to
become of me -. l can't work, and
there isn't any money. 1 don't even
own this house"
Ruddy pulled a chair close to hers
and sat down.
Are they-the people 1 saw here
awhile ago-relatives:"
She shook her head.
Just neighbors. We didn't even
know them well. We hadn't lived
here very long. They are kind-heart-
ed people; but they are poor people
and they don't want to be bothered
with me-
Haven't you any idea what you'll
do?" Ruddy asked.
And he wished that he was at once
q magician and a millionaire.
Il suppose" she said, and it took
lot of courage to say it calmly and
sweetly. that I'll have to go to some
institution"
Ruddy groaned inwardly
Why can't you wake" he asked.
whats wrong?"
sNnhndv Saap,S l,,o,,
she said. ,"I just can't I had scarle {
fever and then / couldn't walk .
We had, some money then; but my
uncle gave it all to doctors. He was
good man. He did his very
best
Ruddy was rapidly finding himself
face to face with his first really
strong temptation. 1t was the kind
of temptation which older and wiser
men than Ruddy sometimes yield to.
There had been brought to his notice
fellow creature, young, charming,
beautiful, helpless and penniless. And
the temptation was upon him to play
Providence.
Don't worry" he wanted to say.
Everything will be all right. You
shant go to an institution. I'll take
care of you"
If he had felt perfect confidence in
keep her from being sent to an in
stitution he could have made the
promise. But he had neither the
means nor the experience which pro-
notes confidence. AT the same time
he had to say something-do some
thing. He couldn't go out of her life
with We'll, it's too bad, but don't
worry. probably everything will come
cut all right, Good bye" He couldn't.
Ia fIN
some offer of personal service and
sacrif1ce-even if it wasn't very
much.
IT was at this moment that he first
began to wonder If the miracle
man at San Juan was only faker
or if once in a while he actually did
effect a cure as all the applause and
excitement had indicated. Now the
wish to believe is the father and
mother of belief. and Ruddy began
to wish that the girl could see the
miracle man and be touched by him
and commanded to walk.
Then he told her about the miracle
man.
Il couldn't get very close" he said,
"but the people in the front rows
who actually saw the cures-they be-
were trying to get to the miracle
man believed. don't know what
you think about such things, but
they sure did happen in Bible times
and ! suppose there's no reason why
they shouldn't happen now.
In one place there was a big pile
of crutches-peopte who'd been lame
all their lives had thrown them away
no more use for them
Il -t-t1
hopes in her breast. He gave a sin
cere and honest account of his own
Impressions and his own skepticism.
But the girls eres began to gleam
with excitement. In the telling
Anne rican of it, Ruddy had sold" her
the miracle man.
He perceived this and said: Don't
count too much sbn him. Maybe he
can't cure everybody But
it's only an hour and a half run in my
car There's no harm in try
ing It's too late today-but
if you say so I'll come around first
thing tomorrow morning and I bet
I'll get you to him no matter how
halfback on my college team and
Will you go"
She did not say Yes. 1 will 60"
She looked at him in an adoring,
worshipful kind Of way and said:
"Oh, please take NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
take me-"
If the young people had taken the
trouble to read a copy Of the
Monterey Herald or the Cypress they
would have saved themselves the
long run to San Juan and return.
They would have learned that the
miracle man and the apostles with
the gold trimmed spectacies had been