The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-03-01
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room were open. Next door, some
twenty feet away, was an apart
ment house, and in the room di-
rectly across this space, by the
open window, was one of the two
hundred thousand radio sets which
are in use in the state Of California.
The occupant of the apartment was
ne of those two hundred thousand
housewives who are accustomed to
perform their domestic duties to
the tune Of "Jesus, Lover Of My
Soul" or else of "Flamin' Mamie,
Sure-fire Vamp." There are a doz-
en- broadcasting stations within
range, and some are always going,
and you can take your choice. This
housewife had catholic tastes, and
the watchers at Paul's bedside were
beguiled by snatches from the
Aloha Hawaiian Quartette, and the
Organ Recital of the First Method
list Church, and the Piggy Wiggly
Girls Orchestra, and Radio QXJ re-
porting that large vote was being
cast in the East, and Radio WV
offering secondhand automobiles
for sale, and IN unidentified orator
exhorting all citizens to hurry to
the polls, and Miss Elvira Smithers,
coloratura soprano, singing, "Ah
loves you nah honey, yes All
dO-oo-oo-oo."
There came telephone calls from
the Workers party, and from the
wobblies at the harbor. And news
paper reporters, who politely lis
tened to Bunny's indignation at the
raid, and made a few notes, but
published nothing, Of course. The
newspapers of Angel City have
policy which any child can under
stand-they never print news
which Injuries or offends any bust
ness interest.
A telephone call from Paradise;
Meehe Watkins, now Mrs. Andy
Bugner, calling. Her father and
mother, with Sadie, had gone to at
tend revival meeting. Meelie
didn't know just where it was, but
would try to locate them. How was
Paul? And when Bunny told her,
she asked had they summoned Eli,
whether they believed in him or
not, it was fact that Eli was
great healer; he had cured all sorts
of people, and surely should have
chance with his own brother! So
Bunny sent telegram to Eli at
the Tabernacle, telling him of
Paul's condition; and two hours
later a large and expensive limou-
sine stopped at the hospital door.
Eli Watkins, Prophet of the
Third Revelation, wore a cream
white flannel suit, which made his
tall figure conspicuous. He had
adopted a pontifical air in these
days of glory and power. He did not
shake hands with you, but fixed
you with a pair of large, promin-
ent, bright blue eyes, and said, "The
blessings of the Lord upon you"
And when he was in the presence
Of his brother, he stood gazing,
but asking no questions; he was
not interested in X-ray pictures Of
skulls, the Lord knew all that was
needed. Finally he said, 81 wish to
be alone with my brother" There
was no evident reason for denying
that request, so Bunny and Rachel
and Ruth went out.
It didn't make any difference to
Ruth where she was-there was
nothing to do but stare in front of
her, with that terrible quivering of
her lips, that wrung your heart
strings. A picture Of dreadful
grief The doctor Of the hospital
begged her to drink a little milk,
and the nurse brought glass, and
Ruth tasted, but she could not
swallow it. There came a rush Of
tears to her eyes. You couldn't
talk to her, or do anything with
her at all.
Eli went away without saying a
word; the ways of the Lord being
not always understandable by COM
mon mortals. There was no appar-
ent change in Paul's condition. Ruth
went back to her vigil; but now the
doctor gave an order, she must
take a sleeping powder and lie
down; he would not permit her to
kill herself in his establishment.
Being trained to take the orders
of doctors, Ruth was led away, and
Bunny and Rachel kept the vigil.