The Three Midshipmen

he knew that visitors' hours were from two to four, and none would be admitted earlier. No. 18 in the next cot asked him a question once, but No. 20 only shook his head wearily. So

ted-yet. He wished sometimes, just for a moment, that there weren't any mothers to come, since the one could never come to him again. But they did come and smile at him, and pat his head-these mothers of the other boys-came drawn by the hungry longing in his eyes-and he set his teeth and clinched his hands under the bedclothes, and when they went away gulped down the grea

he had ever seen. But hospital hours were so dreadfully long! Seemed like a hundred hours since breakfast. Ah! He lifted his head and looked eagerly towards the door-somebody was coming in. O, only some other fellow's mother. He dropped down again, choking back an impatient groan that had almost slipped out. When the next mother came in he turned h

n, "I've brought some of my girls to see you to-day. I hope you ar

hed a glance at her, but he saw at once that it wasn't a

over there," Miss Laura went on, "

the chair by Jim's-there was only one chair between each two

n," Jim corr

er going on t

interest. "Tell about him," h

. He's in the

ore I came here," Jim i

to be a Boy Scout as

oon's I'm big enough-if I can." The wistful longing in the last words brought a mist into Frances's eyes, b

fellow, twice as old as yo

Hastings told him. "T

t," he pleaded, and sitting down on the edge of his cot, Ma

" he cried eagerly, pointing a stubby finger at Mary. "I wish," he looked pleadingly into Mary's eyes, "I do wi

come if I can," Ma

ey won't have time. There's so ma

things for you to do outdoors too. You must

his eyes searched her face with a look she coul

ndays, the girls all in white dresses, the boys in blue denim suits, all just alike except for size. He had peeped through knotholes in the high fence that surrounded the Asylum yard too, and had seen the boys playing there on weekdays; and some not playing, but standing off by themselves looking so awful lonesome. Jim had always pitied those lon

with Jim, and somehow, before long, he was telling her all about the Asylum boys and how he dreaded to get well and go there to live till he was fourteen. An

d, "Jim, you shall never go to the Asylum, I promise you that. If you will try very hard to get well

is incredible thing could be true. What little colour there was in his face faded slowly out of

Jim-ho

posture. "Cross your heart

n make. "Cross my heart, Jim.

a spot of red burned in each thin cheek. "O gee!" he cried exultantly, and again,

. I'll find a pla

ntent just then to le

I'm well, carryin' papers an'-an' other ways. An' you'll let me be a Bo

llowed her, and as from the door she looked back at him, he waved his hand to her and then

s waiting for her in

our blue-eyed b

ice Reynolds began,

er and she wouldn't hear of giving her up

Miss Laura said, the words sending

im. I think he's a dear!" Mary Hast

e's my boy now," Lau

p Fire child," Frances said. "Are you reall

I just had to do something; so I told him he should be my boy and I would take care of him. I know my father won't mind the

much rather have him than any baby. And there are always people ready to a

ctor at the Orphan Asylum, and she says nine out of ten wh

ther boy for the Camp Fi

share him with us, anyhow

into my heart and I thought I would take him for my own special Camp Fire 'serv

ough I like Jim to

r with a little laugh. "Rose is hankering for a live doll to dress,

ave the hospital

left him, he will get well quic

er with a beaming smile. "I'm getting well," he exulted. "Sh

reed. "He has seemed like another boy since Su

s met hers steadily. "Hasn't he

told me

s my boy now-we agreed on that, Sunday. When

ucky boy," said the nurse, who knew a

gratulated," said Laura qui

ogether. This time Jim did not talk very much. It was enough for him to have

al again. She found the boy lying there with a look of patient endurance in his eyes, but

ied out, with a litt

u in a blanket and put you into a carriage, and be

ed Jim, his

aura asked him as they drove away. "Yo

was grave again. "Yes, I'm sorry, but it's for all the

ell you what we'll do, Jim. If you'll get well very fast, maybe you and I can give

n' a tree an' all?" Jim

dn't you l

"You bet I'll get well fast-if I can

e stories. Jim was put on a cot beside the open fire, where he lay very still, but it was not the dull hopeless stillness of

le kid-seeing all those,"

y "little kid" still, Laura thought. The gray eyes swept over the large sun

ce to the wall and was still again. Laura slipped quietly out of the

s away, and I should be lonesome all alone downstairs and you might be lonesome up here. You must have

s lingering on the tempting food so daintily s

e leaping flames for a long time. Sudde

back th

I don't understand

when we have that

course, you and I

were very anxious, "will I be back the

o stay-ever-not if you do your best to get well, as of course you are going to. I told you I would find a go

," he stumbled on, trying to put his feeling into words, "ladies lik

e fellow that warned her, so, waiting a moment to steady her voice, she answered, "O yes, there are many

ber. "I wonder why," he said

looking down at the dark head on the pillow. "Sh

he said, but she thought there w

. I want it whichever way you like best.

n in a very small voice

Laura caught he

a still smaller voice

of disappointment in Miss Laura's voice and Jim caught it. "Good-ni

n a muffled voice

he reached the stairs the boy c

Jim? Do you w

t. I guess-you b

re afraid in

Laura, th

and. Can't you tell

in his throat before he said in a whispe

I mustn't have the light left." Another gulp. "Mother-she said you wasn't a coward just 'cause you was 'fraid inside, but only when you let the 'fraid get out into the things you do. S

e fellow and kiss him as his mother

. Here's the bell, you know. You can press the button if you want anythi

siness was creeping in

night,

she left the door open into the lighted hall, and wh

to the next Council meeting. Jim was sitting up most of the day now, and his wheelchair was rolled into the room after all the

iss Laura told him. "I'm going to introduce you to

other one here

d with a glance at Olga, sitting grave a

ched each face, but he said nothing until Lena Barton flung him a careless nod and would have passed on, but he caught her ha

'cause you look like a fellow I used to sit with in school. His name was Barto

ch," Lena answered, her face softening as

as here too. I s'pose," he glanced at Miss Lau

meetings. But you can invite Lena's br

and turned again to Lena.

omised, and Jim reluct

ted smile Jim leaned back against his cushions and looked and listened. When the girls chanted the Fire Ode his eyes widened with pleasure and he listened with keen interest to the recital of "gentle deeds." Even

nd under cover of a burst of laughter from another group, she leaned over the wheelchair and ungraciousl

s and look so-so-dif'rent. You're lonesome like

boy shrank away with a little gasp of fear. But the next moment she was looking at

off, and his questions and comments began to interest the judge. When one evening after dinner Laura was called to the telephone, the judge laid aside his paper

good time here?"

sple

almost well

a little shadow of anxiety

many days have

Nine. I've got five more,

" the judge

Laura said I could stay

what-back to

, you know. But," his face brightening, "but of course, it will be a nice place, because Miss Laura said she'd find me a good home somewhere

is eyes studying th

right away," he said. "Of course yo

kes boys," Jim said after a though

ho

think boys are dreadful noisy and bothering, and some think they e

bout the light hurting them, and then Laura came in and told Jim it was bedtime. He said good

homely little face radiant for a moment, he added, "It sure is nice to tal

bed. She so hated to turn out the light and leave him in the dark, but she alwa

"The boy is rather worried about the home you are to find f

ind if I keep him here a while longer? You are so much away, and he is compan

it fair to keep him here-fair to him, I mean? The longer he

admitted with a sigh, "and I mu

ll 'mother' him," the judge added. "Poor little chap-onl

little fellow, and he has such a gift for making friends, that perhaps he is not