The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-03-25
GOING HOME CHAPTER XXXVI

Paris talked to Randy the same day. He tried to veil the pronounce ment, and to hold out hopes from the consultation. Little by little the color and the expression left her face.
 Don't try to shield me, Paris. Let's think about Drake. What vii he have to go through with before the end2"
 God knows, Randy. have thought of that"
 we have to do something. We can't let Drake endure too much. We've all fought together to save Drake's sanity and make him the man he was meant to be in the first place. He must not die feel ing that he has lost 1t. He must die while he's himself"
 Paris said nothing.
 "Do you hear me, Parris?"
 "Yes, Randy. You pose an old question. There's nothing any of us can do. There's nothing any honorable physician could do."
 Listen, Paris. I've got to know Something."
 "Well?" .."..
 Could Drake's -- could the am- putation have had anything to do with thiS?"
 Paris waited & moment. His eyes darkened. q can't answer that question, Randy"
 Could it have had anything to do with it?"
 Possibly"
 "Probably?"
 T can't say. Randy, my dear you aer pretty stouthearted. But ! am telling you the truth wher ( say I don't know. l thought of Dr. Gordon right away - as always do whenever a case comes up that he has had anything tc do with. But I couldn't even ir my own mind answer that ques- ton. Many people have cancer that attacks bone structure. We don't know causes"
 "I've shut away old tormenting questions about this awful ampu- tation, deep in my mind, but now"
 Don't cry"
 "I'm not crying. I'm cursing I'm cursing everything there is ir this town, everything in the world everything in heaven, or hell Paris, l could stand anything fol myself - but, Drake! My God hasn't he had enough?"
 T wish I know one word to say Randy. I'm hereto do anything I can for you and Drake"
 '"The time will come when you'll have to do something for him The time will be here soon enoughp
 n. McNeill assured Paris that the cancer was working slowly and he had left instructions with the nurses to see that Drake suffered little. Both knew the time would come when opiates would fail.
 So Paris left ito keep his ap- pointment in Vienna, and exactly . month later he stepped of the gr4ny little Kings Row local. Int reports from Dr. McNeill had beer disquieting.
 It seemed to Paris that the days and weeks and months after his return stood still. Hour by hour almost minute by minute. Dr. Me Neill, Paris, Randy, and the nurse fought back the horror o1 pain.
 Consciousness was not allowed 70 come to Drake very often. He mOaned and called, and while il was nerve-racking to hear, heTac- kually did not know much that was happening. :.
 Toward the end of August 1t seemed that Drake could not pos sibly last from one day to another Randy came again and again tc Paris.
 "Please, Paris, for Gods sake! You love Drake. You're his friend How can you let this go on any 1onger?"
 One morning it seemed to Par ris that Drake's mind emerged a little. Increased doses of morphia at lessening intervals were nc longer able to hold back the le- gions of torture.
 Drake looked with a kind ot dazed wonder at Paris, and then at pr. McNeill. Then h eturned his head slowly toward Paris. The cloudy look in his eyes cleared for @ few seconds, but in those few seconds something passed between the two men. Dr. McNeill was aware of the communications. He stod looking curiously at Paris.
 "It's a matter of hours, pr. Mitchell" he said evenly.
 Drake twisted his head to one side, and clenched his teeth Sover his lips. A line of blood arn down his chin. Then the fog of an un- uterable agony blurred his eyes again, and a long hoarse howl broke from his throat.
 Paris sat, white and still.
 "Its for you to say. Dr. Mitch .ll." He had made the same de- :ision once before. Anna his grandmother ...
 He bent his head a moment. Then he looked up at pr. McNeill.
 "Do you think normal injec- ion, at shorter intervals"
 Dr. McNeill turned without a