The Argosy, Vol. 84 No. 1 — page 101: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A ~ CHRISTMAS MENACE. Mary, and in the midst, Larry. They were all shouting with joy as Larry and Mary emptied their Christmas stockings, ' taking out one precious gift after another. At Joyce’s sudden appearance Mrs. Mullens started up. She sprang defiant- ly in front of Larry. “You can’t have him to work your devilish tricks on,” she exclaimed fiercely. “Either you. have lost your mind, or I,” said Joyce wearily. “Your father’s a—’ Mrs. Mullens paused, for there, filling up the doorway, stood Dr. Jackman. Joyce felt an unaccountable longing to go to her father, put her aching head on his big broad shoulder and cry. But habitual self-restraint prevented her. Her father came quickly toward her. He took her hands in his and held them in a gentle, strong, clasp quite as com- forting as crying on his shoulder. “J probably know what you were going to call me,” he said to Mrs. Mullens. ‘““ As my daughter Joyce has never heard, this is as good a time and place as any to tell her.” “You killed that baby with your two hands,” Mrs. Mullens cried defiantly. “Even the papers forbore putting it quite as forcefully as that,” replied Dr. Jackman. “Make her _ stop,” ““ She’s lost her mind.” ““How do you know what she says is not true?” Dr. Jackman turned suddenly to his daughter with the question. “True?” repeated Joyce. ‘No one on earth could make me believe it.” Dr. Jackman laughed a sudden, happy, boyish laugh as he turned again to Mrs. Mullens. “Nine years ago, as you evidently re- member, the papers played me up in glaring headlines. It lasted about a week, then I passed into oblivion. As usual the papers printed half the truth without bothering about the other half.’’ The doctor paused a minute. Then he continued in a voice deep and con- vincing: _begged Joyce. 91 “Mrs. Mullens, no one seeing that baby could have wanted it to live. It— it—but it is too horrible to tell. Why, even its own mother shrank from it. Would you have had me prolong the life of something that would have had to be shut away in the dark? Remember it never would have lived more than a couple of years at most. “It was a question I had to decide. And yet I did not decide the child’s fate as you think. I, who had always been tireless in serving humanity any time, all times, night or day—I did nothing and the child, the thing, mercifully died.” “But father, why — why didn’t you explain as you have done now?” asked Jcyce. | “Why didn’t they trust me?” de- manded Dr. Jackman. ‘I had served them faithfully all my life—going with- out sleep or rest if any one needed me.” “Tt has all been such a terrible. mis- understanding.” Joyce shook her head sadly. “Tt has been a nightmare,” said Dr. Jackman, “but at last I am awake. Larry’s trust last night gave me- back something I lost nine years ago and, Joyce, your confidence just now com- pleted the cure. From now on we will have faith and joy in each other, even if Mrs. Mullens and the world in general—”’ He paused. Then with an irresistible smile he turned to Larry’s mother: “If you should feel like trusting us with your boy, confidence with the world at large would be established.” “She must, she must!” Joyce could not keep back the words and then her eyes ran over as she saw Mrs. Mullens lead Larry over to the doctor’s arms held out for him. ' “Young man, wé’re going where we can get some good, straight legs for you in place of these crooked ones.” “And it will be Christmas to-morrow, and the next day, and the next, and the next,” beamed Joyce. ‘‘ We won’t have to wait for a year from to-day.” COMIC OOO KS EO