Part 30 (1/2)

”Don't then,” said the Lizard. ”Who you ought to thank is that little girl who is sick in bed up on the north side.”

”That's just where I am going now,” said Jimmy. ”Is she very sick?”

”Pneumonia,” said the Lizard. ”I telephoned her doctor just before I came over here, and I guess if you want to see her at all you'd better hurry.”

”It's not that had, is it?” Jimmy said.

”I'm afraid it is,” said the Lizard.

Jimmy lost no time in reaching the street and calling a taxi. A nurse admitted him to the apartment. ”How is she?” he asked.

The nurse shook her head.

”Can she see any one?”

”It won't make any difference now,” said the nurse, and Jimmy was led into the room where the girl, wasted by fever and suffering, lay in a half-comatose condition upon her narrow bed. Jimmy crossed the room and laid his hand upon her forehead and at the touch she opened her eyes and looked up at him. He saw that she recognized him and was trying to say something, and he kneeled beside the bed so that his ear might be closer to her lips.

”Jimmy,” she whispered, ”you are free? Tell me.”

He told her briefly of what had happened. ”I am so happy,” she murmured.

”Oh, Jimmy, I am so happy!”

He took one of her wasted hands in his own and carried it to his lips.

”Not on the hand,” she said faintly. ”Just once, on the lips, before I die.”

He gathered her in his arms and lifted her face to his. ”Dear little girl,” he said, ”you are not going to die. It is not as bad as that.”

She did not reply, but only clung to him tightly, and against his cheek he felt her tears and a little choking sob before she relaxed, and he laid her back again on her pillow. He thought she was dead then and he called the nurse, but she still breathed, though her eyes were closed.

Jimmy sat down on the edge of the bed beside her and stroked her hand.

After a while she roused again and opened her eyes.

”Jimmy,” she said, ”will you stay with me until I go?” The man could make no articulate response, but he pressed her hand rea.s.suringly. She was silent again for some time. Once more she whispered faintly, so faintly that he had to lean close to catch her words:

”Miss Holden,” she whispered, ”she is a--good girl. It is--she--who hired--the attorney for you. Go to her--Jimmy--when I--am gone--she loves--you.” Again there was a long pause.

”Good-by--Jimmy,” she whispered at last.

The nurse was standing at the foot of the bed. She came and put her hand on Jimmy's shoulder. ”It is too bad,” she said; ”she was such a good girl.”