New Britain herald., 1927-01-11
CHAPTER NNNIE

Come, now, Nellie" said Jack Novin. "Braco up. old girl" He caught her in his free arm and sup ported her.
 Eut Nellie Downing st<aightcncd almost instantly. I'm not going 10 faint" she said calmly. I'm not the fainting kind"
 Maybe you're not" said Nevin 6 little grirlly. but those lips of yours have mighty funny look"
 One of ner hands flew to her throat. What shall we do? What snail we tell Mollic and Prof Elwell how can we tell them? ."
 He considered this, noting that she was collecting herself and evidently had passed the point of fainting.
 Well" he hcdged, your man isn't deaa-yct. so we-1'n just say he's been found and then on the way down to Twenty Sixth street I'll break it to his father and Mike Hen- ncgan. Then when We get her 10 Bellevue we'll have help in case she collapscs. That's the best plan l can think Of"
 Even so. Jack. it's cruel plan. oh. why cant We spare her this ter rible news? It's going to break her Jack, as sure as we're alive.'
 I'm sorry" he said simply. I'm not much good at such things
 They returned 10 their taXicab. There Jack Ncvin saw the eager question in Nollie Elwell's eyes and lied. That is, he half lied.
 "AIistake.' he said laconically. "Thc man they got hero is not Jim Ewell Eut we've got the correct information now and we'll see your son very shortly
 Where is he?'
 At Bellevue hospital. At least" he said quickly to forestall another question before it should come too quickly. we're pretty positive the man at Bellevue is your son. They found letter in his coat addressed to Mrs. Edwin Elwell."
 The letter was accounted for by Mollie She had placed it in his rocket the day before, she said. Tt was a letter from a neighbor at home and I had it with me when I took Jim for walk"
 How" asked Prof. does he hap pen to be at Bellevue hospital?" Has he been hurt?" He looked at Jack Nevn keenly.
 Nevin found that breaking the rnws to Prof without letting Mollie know the truth was not so easy While, as Nellie Downing had said, he was a good newspaper man, he was not a very good actor.
 And neither was the little nurse. They were unable to hide from Mol lies intmtivc gaze the story their faces and evasive manners revealed.
 Nor was Prof slow in divining that matters were far worse than they seemed.
 You might as well tell Us the truth" Jim's father said, after an exchange of looks had passed be- tween him and his wife. If Jim is dead we've got to know it very soon anyhow. Is he. Nellie"'
 Mollie waited brcathlessly for Nel- lie Downing to answer.
 The nurse took her hand in both her own. NO. dear, but the report stated he was badly hurt. Skull fracture, the police told MT. NeYin. He didn't talk with the hospital di- rect He was still alive. so let us hope for the best It might not be as bad, even. as the police think.
 Prof Elwell sighed. Hoping for the best had been about the best thing Mollie and he had been doing for several months. There was get ting 10 be q sameness to these wal lops from fate. it seemed to him. that was mighty trying.
 They got it first from one side and then from another. Was this the finish? Would they take Jim Elwell back in sa box, after all, instead Of on his feet?
 Well, they had stood 1t before, he reflected. They had stood 1t when they had thought Jim dead. Prob ably they could stand it again, all though this one was crueler than any.
 Anyhow. what else was there to do except to stand il? But it certain ly was tough on Mollic.
 Jack Nevin was trying to be Of some comfort to the woman he had had to hurt.
 Skull fracture" he said to Mollie earnestly, isn't necessarily fatal. In this case I imagine they think the case is more serious than usual be- cause of the patients inability to talk"
 Nellie Downing didn't break in to remind him that skull fracture pa