The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-03-04
On WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER NINE


LINGO sat beside DR.. Laird in
j the car in which they had driven
to the detention home on that
early July morning. 1t was four
weeks since she had seen Harry;
four weeks, and there would be 48
more
Mrs. Sykes says the hospital has
never been cleaner than it has been
since you came, laSsie. 1t won't be
long now before there will be other
work for you and we'll leave the
cleaning to Tillie.
THE new wing will be finished
by spring and there will be
solarium where the youngsters will
stay in the sun and a clinic where
the poor folks can bring the little
ones for examination. BY that time,
you'll be ready"
She turned her head quickly and
half smiled. The new wing was to
be finished in early spring. Dr..
Laird had forgotten the year would
be up in July. In July she would
go back to Harry.
And we are going to show John
Dey I am right, aren't we, laSsie?"
cheerfully. I'm proud of you"
She closed her eyes tight and sat
low in the seat. Eleven more
month Of LONELINESS, heartache and
despair.
DR.. Laird's voice reused her from
her reverie. See those poor little
tikes over there trying to keep cool
at that fountain in the park"
She sat up and looked about her.
They were passing a small park
in the city square. 1t was the park
where, on moonlight nights, she and
Harry had walked through wind
ing paths, arm in arm.
1t was not more than three blocks
from the apartment where she had
lived with her father; the park
that through the day was crowded
with dirty, noisy children, their
mothers worn and tired, sitting on
the benches that lined the paths,
busy with sewing and perambulatorS
But at night, bathed in the
moons soft radiance, the birds
chirping sleepily in the branches of
the trees, it became a place of rest
and peace as she sat with Harry
not far from the fountain, her hand
tight in his.
Tony was busy with customer
as they passed his delicatesSen store
and old Mrs. Blakely sat huddle in
the folds of black shawl on the
fire escape. Jimsy was not on the
porch and lingo was glad. 1t would
be strange to pass without waving
to him or calling out his name.
Down the street at the right
was the apartment building in which
she had lived, and beyond she could
see the spars of the schOoners in
the river. She watched for Harry
or Sam. DR.. Laird had drawn the
car to a stop at the curb.
Il can not remember whether it
is to the left or right" he said. Il
am looking for the settlement.
over there-two blocks" lingo
nodded her head to the left.
He was unusually voluble on the
trip back to the hospital. The lit
tie crippled boy would be brought
over soon. Little hope for him,
and his mother had to go out work.
ing days when he was alone, except
for an occasional neighbor. He was
getting worse steadily; bright lit
tie tike, too. All he wanted out of
life was peppermint candy and a
gun.
When DR.. Laird drove into the
side drive of the hospital, he said
cheerfully:
Nov, lassie, run up and put on
one of those clean white dresses and
see that everything is straight and
orderly in the nursery. 1t is Mrs.
Sykes day off, and perhaps there
shall be visitors; some one to adopt
Casey or Betsy or Judy and give
them chance"
They'll need a chance" grimly.
The sun was streaming through
uncurtained windows upon bare
floors and white cribs with their
ever moving occupants. At the
sound Of Jingo's step, there was a
gurgling "Ahhh" and Betsy stood up,
waving her hands theoretically.
TINGO'S eyes swept the room. A
u blue plush dog, Casey's most