Evening star. [volume], February 24, 1936, Page B-8, Image 24

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
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