Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1926-07-01
THE
CRUCIBLE OF
COURAGE
By WILLARD X. BRADLEY
De- 1sss we,tern Newspaper union.)

Refined Hokum.' They were down K
their last dollar; and, anxious to keeI
the little nest Intact, Marie decided Il
seek cabaret work. Pulmonary trou
BILE had lncapacitated Fred, who haC
never been overstrong. 49,.
Learning that new revue was IL
process of formation at the Palait
dor, Marie started for the office OF
its producer. AS she commenced Il
thread her way through maze OF
Broadway traffic, snow began to fall
Then a sudden blast of wind from the
east lifted the dust and sent 1t spiral
Ing; and as ii did so, her eyes were
rendered temporarily useless. Like
one struck blind, she endeavored to
pick her way across the remaining
portion OF the celebrated thorough
fare. She was within a few feet OF
safety when she was struck down BY
north-bound taxi. A pedestrian
shouted and. In another moment, q
crowd had circied about her limp
form.
When the word hospital" was men
toned Marie's dust filled eyes widened
with terror. In a weak voice she In
sisted that she was not badly hurt,
and then signified the wish to be tax
en- home. With the help Of the sim
cerely c0ntrite taxi driver and a 20
liceman she reached the ill-lighted
furnished room she shared with Fred.
On learning what had happened,
Fred went to his knees beside the rick
ETY. bed on which they had placed her
and, burying his face in her bosom,
wept like child. Smiling family,
Marie began to stroke his hair affec-
tionately and, with bravadO that was
all too plainly assumed, said: I'm
all right, dear-just little shaken up,
that's all. Just think Of me doing a
Chaplin fall right on Broadway"
The policeman, touched by her dis
play of grit, was for taking the driver
into custody, but Marie would not hear
of this. 1t was all her fault. she In
sisted.
"What did you want to say it was
your fault for, dear?' Fred demanded
after the others had taken their leave.
"We might have been able to sue his
employer and make Inn come through
with a bit Of jack. God knows we
need it bad enoughP'
"We never needed it worse, honey"
Marie admitted with faint smile,
"but didn't want the boy to lose his
Job, and just think, Fred, he might
have wife and Riddles who would
suffer"
But what about us? Must we suf-
fer In order to save them?"
"L'll get something to do. dear, then
everything will be-"
A sharp pain caused Marie to utter
an agOnizing cry. and Fred realized
that she really was hurt; but he did
not know to what extent until few
minutes later, when the doctor who
had the ground floor front, told him.
"There is only one man in New
York who can save her." he whispered
to Fred in the hall just outside Of the
little room, land that is DR.. Henry
Granton. His fee is one thousand
dollars-in advance. He will not lis
ten to any other arrangement"
Outside, the snow continued to fall
just plain white flakes on West For
ty-seventh street, but on Broadway,
where myriad-tinted bulbs Knocked the
darkness, they were rainb0w-colOred
"What did the doctor say, dear?"
Marie asked, as she heard the door
of the ground floor front close.
'He-he gave me the name and ad-
dress of specialist" Fred faltered,
as he turned from the window, where
he had been watching the storm. 'I'm
going after him"
But. Fred, your-cOndition !" Marie
protested. Its pneumonia weather
outdoors. and you know. dear, what 1t
would mean for you to catch a fresh
coldi Why can't the doctor just
phone for himT'
"Nr-you see, dear, the specialist
has to be paid something In advance"
he replied. as he commenced to don
his thread-bare overcOat. "rm going
over to the Lambs to see friend and
have him stake me-"
~ didn't know you knew anyone In
the Lambs, dear" Marie said, after
a moment; but the door had closed
and Fred, carrying a leathern case
containing battered portable type
writer, had gained the floor below.
She had not seen him take the ma
chine.
Once In the street he commenced to
cough. he had not been outdoors in
weeks, and the marked difference In
temperature affected his lungs. It
was then that he remembered he had
forgotten to kiss Marie on leaving.
E Well. he'd make up for it when he got
back!
Buttoning the shabby coat about hls
neck with his free hand. he turned
westward On Eighth avenue, in the
fifties, he entered dingy, miserabay-
lighted pawnshop and, placing the
leathern case on the time-scarred
counter, asked the willy old proprietor
for ten dollars.
Couldn't do It'll" the pawnbroker
returned from force Of habit, but
Fred's threat to go elsewhere forced
him to reconsider.
Ten minutes later Fred left the
pawnshop, three smudged one-dollar
bills in cse pocket, blue steel, FIVE
shot Sc caliber revolver and box of