The Washington times., 1937-01-30

there was going TO De.
Ever consider it?" persisted DR..
Graham, measuring his words sig.
nificantly.
"Oh, perhaps" Parker tried to
be casual Every boy toys with
the idea at some time . . It's nice
that Clay is to have his chance,
isn't it?"
On the Sunday evening preced-
ing the recital, DR.. Graham was
quiet and pale. He ate little and
tottered feebly out of the dining
room. Parker could hear him in
the hall assuring Clara there was
nothing the matter except a little
ShortneSs of breath.
Shortly after 9, it suddenly oc.
Cured to Parker, who had retired
to his room early to read, that he
should stroll down to the Graham
house. 1t was in darkness except
for the little office where a single
light gloWed through the shutters.
He rang the bell, raped with his
knuckleS on the door panels, and
after long waiting, turned the
knob.
DR.. Graham, wide-eyed with
agony, was seated aStride a chair,
his hands clutching the top, des-
perately struggling for breath. It
was evident that he was badly
frightened, as he had a right to
be. His nails and lips were cyan,
otic. Parker laid a hand on his
shoulder.
Anything 1 can do?" he asked
Sylnpathetically.
The old man pointed a shaky
finger toward the familiar leather
bag on the table, and Parker held
it open on the back of the chair
After much frantic Illuminating
a tarnished hypodermic case was
fetched up from the depth of the
clutter of tools and bottles, and
the doctor tried unsucceSSfully to
open it with cold, impotent hands
This was no time, decided Park
er, for an attempt to preserve his
secret-not at the risk of another
mans life! He tossed the worn
old bag aside and took the hypo.
dermic case from DR.. Graham S
hands. Opening it, he laid out the
steel syringe and what seemed to
be the best of the small asSort-
ment of needles. He found a test
tube and heated a small quantity
of water over a candle flame, the
old mans anguiShed eyes follow
ing him closely. He looked over
the long, slim walls of tablets IN
the old-fashioned case, and tapped
one out of the morphine tube.
"A quarter?" he inquired. DR..
Graham nodded.
The tablet was quickly dissolved
in the warm water, sucked up into
the barrel of the syringe, and the
shank of the needle deity screwed
on. The old man was fumbling
with his sleeve button. Parker
barred the arm, polished a little
spot with a wisp of cotton satu-
rated with alcohol, grasped the
pathetically flabby skin with ex-
perienced fingers, and, tipping up
the syringe, pushed the piston
gently to eXpel the air. He caught
DR.. Graham'S searching black
eyes, realizing that if nothing he
had done, so far, had given him
completely away, surely this last
telltale gesture with the hypo-
dermic instrument would settle
the matter.
The administration Of the drug
was adroitly, painleSSly accom-
plShed, Parker gently maSSaging
the little bump with his thumb
after the needle had been with
drawn. The effect was almost in
Simultaneous. The doctor drew sew
eral long Sighs and began to relax
Then he looked steadily for
minute into his young friends
eyes, and said, huskily, Il should
have known it-that day-out at
Pipers'-when you reduced the
Potts. Il did know it when !
took off the caSt!"
would you mind-keeping this
a secret, DR.. Graham?" said Par
ker. Il have good reasons for
asking" :,
"It's d pity" mumbled the old
fellow.
cts a secret?" repeated Par
ker. Not even Elise! Agreed?"
DR.. Graham nodded and clung
tightly to Parker's arm as they
proceeded to the living room.
I'm afraid I shall not be aole
To 90 to Elise's recital"
NO" said Parker, nor shall ]
unless you are much Steadler IN
the morning. Be at ease now
I'm staying with you tonight"
"Thank you, DR.. Parker" Ihe
tired old voice was very husky
"Your name is Parker, isn't lt?,
"No Perhaps you'd better
give your poppies a chance now.
perhaps So" came the sleepy
drawl "Thank you-Doctor."
1t was a great disappointment
to miss witnessing Elise's corona
ton, but Nat felt that his first
duty kept him close to the fine
old man in Leeds.
Next morning, he jubilantly
read to DR., Graham-obediently