The Washington times., 1931-01-20
TOday's True
Story
Jimmy, I'm afraid"

Beth Hardy ran her fingers
through her short cropped,
gold-red hair. She looked fur
lively toward the sick room
just behind her. When she
threw herself into Jim Brad
ford's arms he was startled by
her trembling.
Then she burst into convul-
sive, almost hysterical sobs.
It hardly seemed possible
that this could be the girl who,
only three weeks before had
rolled one down to the eigh-
teenth hole, sunk a twenty
foot putt to square away the
match and then won out with
a birdie on the extra tee-off
for the women's golf cham
pionship at the Country Club.
It didn't seem within the realm
Of possibility that the girl
whose steady hand, and nerve
and eye sent racing car over
the smooth Long Island roads
could be this same nervous,
Shivering bit of femininity that
was there in his arms.
Ill At Ease
you're all upset." he told
her gently, smoothing the hair
she had ruffled, patting her on
the shoulder, pulling her close
ly to him with one arm. Your
granddaddy is a sick man of
course, sweetheart, but the doc
tors are doing their best. These
nervous cases take a lot of
time. Just you try and take
it easy"
He led her toward the broad
balcony at the end of the hall,
a balcony that looked out over
the wide lawns of the Hardy
estate, Sloping down to the
water, with q full moon laying
a golden pathway across the
quiet sound.
After a time the girl seemed
to become more quiet, though
she kept casting furtive glances
back into the hall toward that
room where old Captain Hardy
lay bed-ridden. Only when
Jim Bradford made q move to
go did she show signs Of an
other breakdown.
Jimmy, please, don't go
away"
Jimmy Submits
And to that wild pleading In
her eyes he bowed his head.
He hadn't intended to caves
drop. But, after Beth had been
induced to go to her room, Jim
Bradford sank into a porch
chair on the porch running
across the room she had as
signed to him across from the
room where old Captain Hardy
lay tossing on his bed.
Remember, nurse, directions
must be followed to the letter"
and the voice Of DR.. Mar
shall, the sick mans son-in.
law, came out to him through
the open window of the sick
room. Something about that
voice was harsh and intensely
cruel. SubconSciously Jim Brad
ford distrusted both voice and
man.
Daylight found Jim Bradford
walking through the grounds.
Sleep was out of the ques-
ton. He sensed, rather than
knew, that he faced a problem
Of hidden menace. Beth's un-
usual nervous condition and
the barely concealed statement
that old Captain Hardy was
considered mentally unsound.
didn't seem to fit in with the
fine old scattering family strain
as he knew r. He glanced
toward the sick room. He saw
the nurse adjusting four sep
arate lights so that sun-bright
rays beat down on the man
in the bed. CuriouSly he
watched her as she swung those
lamps into position that made
1t impossible for the PROSTATE
figure to keep out Of the glare
all the time wearing dark-col-
ored glasses herself.
Beth Grows More Quiet
Breakfast found him facing
a quieter Beth Hardy, bat a
Beth Hardy in whose eyes
there still were traces of a sort
of haunted look.
How long, Beth, has your
grandfather been under care