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DAILY SHORT STORY ———————— EVEN CHANCE By Craig Rice. "RUT,” s^d young U Dr. Tom Clarke earnestly, "in the meantime the child Will die.” Old Judge ura ham shook his head helplessly and stared out the win dow. "Sure of that, Tom?” “As sure as I am of anything. Oh, Dr. Allison advises against, the opera tion. But I know h e’s wrong. 1 know-” "Tom. what are Kitten's chances oi getting well with out it?” "About 1 in 10.” "And if you oper ate?” "I’d say even chances. Of course, Dr Allison-" “Leave him out of it,” said the judge. “I'm satisfied with your judg ment. If Kitten were my child, if I had the say so. I'd tell you to go ahead. But as it is I can't say anything. I can't even advise you.” The young doctor stared at him helplessly for a minute. “Judge, isn't there any chance of reaching Kitten's parents?” * * * * JUDGE GRAHAM shook his head. ” “I’ve tried everything. They’re motoring somewhere in the south of Fiance, completely out of reach No one knows where they've gone.” The old judge spoke with a sudden burst of bitterness. “If ever two people de served a child less-” “They're young—and thoughtless,” said the doctor. “Worse th in that. I've known them both, since they were Kitten's age. They're weak, dishonest good-for nothings. Kitten would be better off without them There's good blood on both sides of her family, farther back. But to be kept cooped up in boarding schools! I’d like to have her out on mv place in Virginia, with a pony to ride and a puppy to play with and Martha to look after her.” The judge frowned heavily. “About the operation-” the doc tor began hesitatingly. “According to law, said the judge a little ponderously, “if both Kitten's parents were dead, I’d be her legal guardian. As it is, I have absolutely nothing to say about it. Kitten hasn’t another relative in the world to give you the authority. Her parents can’t be reached. So if you operate you do it on your own responsibility.” “And if I do?" “If you do, and Kitten doesn’t get well, her mother is just the kind of woman who would raise the devil with you, from pure meanness. You can figure what the resulting mess would do to your career." “Yes, judge. I’ll have to decide it for myself." The young doctor rose to go. “Yes, you will,” said the judge sober ly, adding under his breath, “and God help you!” * * * * “ILJOW are you, Kitten?” asked Dr. Clarke of his youngest patient half an hour later in a Washington hospital. “Fine, Dr. Tom!” It was hardly more than a whisper. Little pink fingers curled tight around a lean, orown hand. “Going to tell me a story?" "Not today. Kitten. I just came in to see how you are.” “I'm getting worse. Dr. Tom. I neard the night nurse when she thougnt I j was asleep. She said I was getting Worse all the time.” “She said that!” Dr. Clarke’s eyes blazed blue fire. It u'as more than kitten’s life. - “But I’m not * afraid. I'm not | afraid a bit.” I “Sure, Kitten?” “Not when you’re f taking care of me, Dr. Tom. Then I’m E not afraid.” Two huge brown eyes looked steadily up at the young doctor with an expression of Infinite trust. “I know you’ll make : me get all well again.” Dr. Clarke rose to his feet, bent over and kissed the small white lore : head. He had made up his mind. Bid ! ding Kitten good 1 by, he strode out into the hospital corridor where the day nurse waited anxiously at the door. "Miss Dale, I'm going to operate. Immediately.” Young Dr. Clarke never liked to look back at those terrible hours, after they had passed. It was more than Kitten’s life . . . and the little girl had come to mean a great deal to him in her days at the hospital. His own life nung in the balance as well. * * * * A ND Kitten trusted him. He couldn’t deny that trust, even if it meant risking his career and all the years of study and drudgery he had gone through. If Kitten didn't pull through—well, he would cease to be the successful young Dr. Clarke of Washington. But he didn't dare think of that. Those were long, terrible hours, spent in the little hospital room after the operation. The young doctor grew haggard and pale from lack of sleep. The face of the day nurse grew white and drawn with anxiety. Together they watched the little figure on the bed, listening for every breath, every , heartbeat. But the slight, ueneven breathing kept on, and slowly it grew steadier and stronger, and finally the brown eyes opened and tried to smile. It was several hours later when the vnnncr Hnpfp.r stafrp’pHncr with PYiicms tion, prepared to go home and rest. But first there was a visitor to see him. He made his way downstairs to the anteroom. The visitor was Judge Graham, who rose from his chair by the window as Dr. Clarke entered. "Well. Tom?” The judge, too, looked strained and weary. "It's ail right, judge. Kitten's going to get well.” "I knew she would. Here, you'd bet ter sit down. You're all in.” ★ * * * ’’THE young doctor sank into a chair. “I know- I took a terrible chance But I had to do it. It was the only way.” Judge Graham shook his head. “You didn’t take a chance, Tom.” "What? What do you mean?” The older man fumbled in his pocket, at last drew out a folded cablegram. He started to hand it to the doctor, then unfolded it and stared at it re flectively. "Things work out in a funny way In this world, Tom. You didn’t take such a chance when you operated on Kitten. I’ve been her guardian since Tuesda t He paused and passed the cablegram to the young doctor. "There was a mo tor smash in the Pyrenees last Tues day. Kitten’s an orphan now. And I'm her guardian.” (Copyright 19.’!6.) Facts That Mean Value Woodward & Lothrop to™ II™ F and C Streets Phots District 6300 I Tomorrow Morning— At 9:15—Over WJSV Hear Jean Abbey The Woman’s Home Companion radio shopper will tell you about some of the new arrivals here for you, your family, and your home. She will also suggest a i few of the many thrift opportunities here this week during our 56th Anniversary Selling. Special offer A $3.50 jar of CHARLES of the RITZ Rejuvenescence Cream THIS WEEK ONLY This is a rare opportunity to buy one of the most pre cious creams ever created at a saving of $2.50 on each jar. ■ Kejtivenescence Lream gives the skin a rresh and dewy bloom and makes it look years younger. There is a noticeable improvement after a single application, and the effect lasts for hours. REGULAR SIZES $10 AND $15 i l • • Toiletries, aisles 14, 16, 18 axd 20, First Floor. a -T r % Our anniversary selling is the one store-wide event in our calendar ... thus our regular manufacturers are glad to co-operate by giving us most unusual values to make this selling truly outstanding. % The offerings ore NOT job lots or left-overs ... but oil new, fresh merchandise for now and the com ing season. Each article has been selected to meet our triple require ments of quality, style and value. % The prices are much lower than identical offerings will be in regular stock after this event. During this selling, there are savings for every man who takes advantage of the— Special Low Prices on Men's Clothing in the Men's White Broadcloth Shirts i S| 95 3 for $5.75 The “Woodlothian” shirts we t sell regularly at $2.50. ■ Collar attached and neckband styles. Two-Trousers Suits ^29*50 i Spring Topcoats ^24'50 Fancy Silk Hose Would Regularly /T IT Be $1 Pair DJC Stripes and clocked patterns in f a variety of colors for Spring wear. Men's Fancy Lisle Hose. Sizes 10 to 12. Would regularly be $1 pair. Special, pair_ Spring Ties Would Regularly $1 |5 Be $1.50 I An excellent selection of the pat terns and colors that will be most desirable for the coming season. Another group of Men’s Neck ties—would regularly be $2. £ j AC Special--- t ' • '* Not Illustrated Undershirts c 6 for $2.50—Ribbed cotton ath letic undershirts. Men's Shorts 2 JC Regularly 7Sc Our regular “YearRound” make that sells for 75c. Woven madras in fancy patterns. THE SUITS —for men and young men, are ex cellently tailored of new tweeds, worsteds and cheviots. Both sports and business models—in the wanted plain shades and Spring $OQ-50 patterns_ ^ THE TOPCOATS —raglans and set-in sleeve models—and of a specially con structed cloth that will give real service and an uncommon amount of good appearance. Choice of several patterns in oxford, grays and A-50 brown_ ^ ' I / Sweaters $3-85 Regularly $5 I Men’s coat-style sweaters with slide-fastened fronts. Of fine brushed wool. The Men’s Store, Second Floor. Pajamas $2-15 Regularly $3 The most popular colors and styles in end-to-end madras, stripes and all-white. English Topcoats Tailored by “Lees of Galashiels” Custom-Made Suits Of Fine Imported and Domestic Fabrics *5250 Men's $I0 Matrix Oxfords Anniversary $"7.95 Priced / Pa,r 4 Probably you know the regular prices at which we make suits to order, so you can readily see that our Anniversary price of $52.50 for this service offers a real sav ing. Have the model you want ... made up, to your own preference and requirements, in your choice . of our exclusive checks, stripes, plaids or plain colors. The Men's Stork, Second Floor. k a —and a “Lees of Galashiels” coat at this price is a value about which one could write pages. Of hand - loom - woven real Harris tweeds, and West of England fabrics . . . both plain and pat terned effects. In the splendidly fitting, easy-to-wear, British rag lan model. A j A special low Anniversary price for the “Your Footprint In Leather” shoes that combine good looks and foot comfort. Choice of medium, wide and narrow toe models—in brown and black calf, kid, and Norwegian grain straight-tip styles. Sizes iy% to 12, AAA to E widths (but not all widths in every size). Matrix Shoes (sizes 121/2 to 14), regularly $11 $0.95 pair. Special--- O % Thi Min's Store, Second Floor. k . L .4