The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-09-11

by something stronger than her
self. She must have gone for
blocks because presently she found
herself in a strange neighborhood,
one she didn't recognize, although
it was very much like her own.
WAR MEDALS
She stopped before a window
which glittered brightly and alb
sently stared into it. 1t was a
pawnshop, and the display in
cluded just about everything that
the she had ever heard Of.
Miss Mage was staring at q col.
lection of World War medals, and
wondering whether the courage
that had won them had met as
ignoble an end when she heard
the voice.
Deeper it was; and hu6kier, yet
there was a haunting similarity
which stirred her and warmed her
heart.
AS it spoke, she focused her
eyes, and the blue mountain
through the miles Of air appeared
where the medals had been. Diff
ferent, yes, but it sounded enough
like Larry's voice for her to indulge
her fancy. There might be so few
more times that she could.
1--WE searched all over town for
one like it," the voice said, and she
could tell from its intonationS
that it belonged to a well-fed pros
porous person. cat the hotel
they've had bellboys out, too. And
here, only two blocks away, in a
little side street hockshop I find
it. Will it playa"
Richly jovial came the tones of
the pawnbroker. will it play?
he's asking me. I'll play it"
COLLAPSES
Thinking, then. came the music
of an old.fashioned either, and
note by note the pawnbroker's fat
fingers picked out the strains that
lived in her heart.
Miss Madge felt that suns and
moons were rushing through her
soul, and then the deeper, huskier
voice that was so much like
Larry's joined 1t.
will you come with me, my
Madgie, dear"
It was at the seventh word that
Miss Madge fell into a nondeScript
heap at the doorway of the little
pawnShop. She didn't see them
rush out, and she didn't see the
big mans face as, after turning
her over, he fingered the little
locket that hung around her neck
on a faded silk ribbon.
Her eyes opened to unaccus'
toned surroundings. There was
wide.open window, and it was early
morning. Through the window
she could see the far.off green Of
Central Park.
She was lying in a big bed, soft
and comfortable, and for a few
minutes she luxuriated there. her
mind still drugged from sleep.
Then, with a start, 1t came back
to her, all Of it, and she sat bolt
upright in the big, comfortable
bed, her two hands pressed to her
breast.
"oh,h.h. -" A cry forced it.
self through her lips, and the door
opened softly. He stood there,
smiling at her, and his voice was
as soft as it had been so many
years before. Heavier. bigger in
every way. and the once black hair
was white-but it was Larry.
MAD FOR GOLD
He spoke very quickly; there was
so much to say. So many years
to bridge with words, there in the
morning light. But Miss Madge
didn't care how long it took him,
nor yet how quickly he spoke. To
hear his voice. to see him, to know
that he was there. These things
were enough.
He told her Of the two years he
had spent in an isolated Alaskan
valley, living on game and the
roots and berries the Indians
brought to him. He had gone
mad for gold then. and had
amassed enough to keep him COM
fortably for life. On his return
to the coast it had been stolen.
Il couldn't go back to face you,
then, Madgie. / had to make
another pile. And so it went, dis.
appointments, hardships, fights
I finally began to lose faith in
myself.
That's why stopped writing.
I felt that it would be enough for
me to get back to you-and the
years moved quickly-too quickly"
There was a humble wish in his
eyes, and she answered the ques-
tor there tenderly-and without
words.
Miss Madge.-Miss Madge no
longer, but Mrs. Larry Cord-lives
now in the farmhouse where she
spent her girlhood. Larry bought
1t for her, and had it fixed the
way it used to be.
She's been there five years,
now. and her eyes are as good as
anyone's. 1t wasn't a question
of any miraculous cure. nothing
like that at all. It just happened
that the young doctor made a
mistake.
Across the miles of air she can
see the blue mountain-and Miss
Madge-you can't stop calling her
that-kn0WS in her heart that the
blue mountain came to her aid