The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-05-28
CHAPTER xxIy

CHAPTER XXIV
 The telegram that Jackie had re- ceived was from Beryl. It stated that she was returning at once and that she was bringing with her a famous surgeon in whom she had the greatest confidence.
 q told her 1t was no use, " Roger said. "Dr. Watson ought to know his stuff what can any other doctor do? But you know how Beryl is she seems to take the blame for all this on herself --I1e simply won't give up."
 H5he's wonderful person" Jackie said. Poor Beryl of course she was taking 1t on her self. Hadn't she told Jackie that if anything serious happened to Roger she never would forgive herself? But as for giving up, well Jackie would not do that either. She would never surrender the hope that Roger would be made well, that he would walk again. Maybe her faith, her prayers, would help in this as they had before.
 The surgeon and Beryl arrived that next morning. Beryl herself had piloted the ship back. She had felt that there was no time to lose. Jackie never knew to what lengths she had gone to per suade this great doctor to accom- pany her, what amount of money she must have paid to secure his service. She did know that Beryl would have spent her entire fortune, gladly, if that could have made Roger well.
 Do you really think there is any chance?" Jackie asked Beryl during the long hours of waiting that the two spent together. Per haps it would have been easier, for Roger at least, not to have been given this new spark of hope if it would blaze but brief mo- ment only to sputter and burn into dead ashes of despair again.
 Beryl did not answer at once: perhaps she was thinking the same thing For if the verdict this time was that Roger never would be able to walk, then hope would indeed be dead.
 There is - just a chance" she said. Tt lies in the fact that Roger was able to crawl all that distance after the plane crashed. You see he couldn't have done that if his back had been injured as Doctor Watson believed it was. It was when l told this to Doctor Vendetti that he consented to take Rogers case. But he would not hold out much hope, even then"
 "Well, we will" Jackie returned stubborny. It was simply impossible to accept the fact that Roger would never walk again. It was miracle now that he was alive, miracle brought about by courage and faith and love. If one miracle could be achieved by such power as was con- tained in these three things, why not another?
 Miracles do happen, sometimes more than once. And who knows but what it is love and faith and courage, though they be intangible things, that bring them about? Jackie could not have answered these questions; perhaps no one could. But Doctor Vendetti, great surgeon that he was, decided, after he had made his examina- tion, that an operation might bring this miracle about. And Doctor Vendetti added that he would have to rely in part on those same intangible powers.
 "There is a chance" the great surgeon told Jackie and Beryl, that this operation will fix this boys back. But we must all have great faith, great courage, if we are to help make him well"
 You mean" Beryl asked, her dark eyes returning the great doc tors keen, piercing look, that there is also the chance that Roger may not be able to pull through-if you operate?"
 The great man inclined his head.
 "Is this the only way?" Jackie protested. UNlcSS you Opclde Roger can never walk again?"
 Even then it is only chance, the doctor said sternly Since there is no one else to make this decision l must leave it up to you"
 Beryl turned to Jackie. You are the one" she said If Doctor Ven detti doesn't operate, Roger will live but he'll never walk. If the opera ton is successful Roger may even fly again!"
 Jackie did indeed have to sum mon all her courage, all her faith now. If her love had not been Bigger than these, bigger than any thing else in the world, she could not have answered as she did. "I would like you to perform the operation, Doctor Vendetti,' she said. "I know that that is what Roger would want me to say for him."
 Doctor Vendetti inclined his head again, before he turned on his heel and strode briskly out of the hos pital waiting room But his keen eye had paid Jackie tribute for her brave decision.
 The operation was performed that same day. There was nc poinL in postponement. Jackie wondered how the sun could SC on shining so gayly in the towns little square, how life could go on as uSual, while Roger lay uncon- scious, still, on an operating table in the little hospital at the mercy of a surgeons knife, in the unseen bands of great power.
 If Roger died. if he never came oat of that strange sleep. she Jackie, who loved him so - would feel that her hands, too, had broken the delicate thread that held his life.
 Had she been right in believing that Roger would not want to live