The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-02-25
Copyright Register and Tribune Syndicate

us, and that some one" he added
slowly, might study child nursing
and fit herself to take her right
full place in this old world
DR.. Laird rose to his feet and
smiled down at her. we sure do
need some one in that nursery right
now Come with me and we'll call
on Casey and Betsy and Bonnie and
Jack"
lingo followed him from the Of
fee, but the hall they were stopped
by young man who was just COM
ing in. The light was behind him
as he swung down the corridor but
his voice, laughing and happy, came
to them.
Hello, DR.. Bob"
Hello, Jock, my boy. I am just
starting out on a call on the
nursery"
The young man had stopped at
the door.
III leave these blueprints on your
desk, DR.. Bob. We finished them
last night"
He stopped short and lingo
looked up. His brown eyes were
narrowed quizzicaIly, his hair
tousled as he pulled off his hat.
This is my friend-Jock, DR..
Laird was saying as he moved down
the hall. III look the prints over
this afternoon, Jock. Right now I
am going to introduce Miss Jessica
to Casey and Betsy and Winnie.
Come, lassie."
But the young man still barred
the passage. He was still looking
down at her, that quizzical look in
his eyes. Then he smiled-the same
smile that had welcomed her from
the silver frame on the desk.
Il hope you will like Casey and
Betsy and Winnie and all the rest
of the folks in Dr. Bobs hospital.
I do" he said, as he stepped aside.
CHE heard his retreating foot
~ steps in the direction of DR..
Laird's office, and the doctor smiled
as they walked down the corridor.
Fine lad, Jock is" he said. I'VE
are planning a new wing on the
hospital and he drops in almost
every day to talk about it. Now,
this is the nursery"
An hour later DR.. Laird placed
both hands on Jingos shoulders.
His luncheon hour had been for
gotten.
you are wanted-back there,
JeSsica. Or I can have you placed
in my custody for a year and you
won't have to go back. I-don't
want you to go back there, lassie. 4"
Il won't have to go back?"
I'll be responsible for you.
believe in you, and those Is little
mites and old DR.. Bob needs some
one around here; some one strong
and cheerful and neat and clean;
some one who will help us as we
will help her"
"And-I won't have to go-back
there? 1 can't go back"
Ill be responsible for you. I
have faith in you. You will be in
my custody. 1t means that you
are through with that life-it means
through with Harry! Everything /"
She jerked her head back. her
dark eyes flashing.
1T will-not meant am through
with Harry" she cried angrily. I'll
never be through with Harry. He'll
get break one Of these days and
then Well-oh. can't you under
stand? Harry loves me-"
DR.. Laird had turned from her
and picked up a sheaf of papers
from the desk.
Cant you understand" stamp
ing her foot impaitently. Harry
loves me. He has always been good
to me; he would do anything for
me. Can't you understand?'
DR.. Laird turned back to her.
Il understand this much, lasSie, "
he said kindly, that unless you agree
to what 1 have said, those Is little
mites and I will have to look for
some one else to care for us-and
you will have to go back 1t means
1T must be-Only us or nothing"
But Harry loves me-" she in
sisted piteously.
''LaSsie, Harry may love yoU-
but not in the way you should be
loved. All through the years Chere
would be the remembrance of that life
the constant fear of what may
happen-the unhappiness and TN
certainty. Think it over, my girl.
Choose either one-the life your
father would want you to live Or
LIE watched her over the top of
4 l. his glasses as she walked to the
window. Suddenly she turned and
came back. She looked down at the
smiling eyes of the face in the silver
frame, her lips caught between
her teeth. Then squarely into the
kind, gray eyes above it.
you win!" she said shortly. "IIl
come-and help you for year. I
can't go back there I'll scrub and
clean-I know how, too. Dads
and my house was the cleanest on
the street-until the Cluneys came.
And I'll help you show-that
neutrality-suspicious. Tom Carter S
daughter can be as decent-and
honest and law abiding as he
claims to be-even though he said
my dad was one of the most dan
gerous characters in the city"
She waited for a moment, her lip
against caught between her teeth.
Buff you think I can stop
loving Heavyweight off-then you're
mistaken. You see, he and Dad
are the only nnes who have hee1a