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Show Ex-Convict I James Grant 1 "Meestef flrant ees seek," an nounred Paul, the Swiss man of oil work at No. 19, one, winter morning to the brenkfust table. James Orant'-in the opinion of No 19 was ii curmudgeon He seldom spoke; certainly he never Invaded tho drawing room. In fact, ho seemed to shun his fellow mortal. And now ho ws 111. Madame was worried that he should bo so Inconsiderate Inconsid-erate ns to fall sick in her house. She went up to see him. lie desired grumpily to be left alone. She thought he ought to go to n hospllnl Dr. Called Cal-led wns called. He said tmphatlrally the old man nhould not be moved. He i whs too III The young doctor and his old patient pa-tient experienced a strange attraction for each other. The) had discovered that both were colonial born Sidney-i Sidney-i sldsrs. At the dose of three weeks of personal and professional association j James Grant had on this certain afternoon aft-ernoon told tho story of his life to Dr. Callett, who had returned home a victim vic-tim to the most conflicting emotions Over 10 years before Grant and his j wife war living together with their j eight-year-old son on the Paramatta. I His business failed, and sanding his . family to Melbourne he went prospect-I prospect-I Ing for gold. He and his mate quarreled, quar-reled, and when the latter tried to kill him he, Grant, was the quicker, , and killed his mate. It was self da-fense. da-fense. but there were no witnesses Solitude and remorse so worked upon him that he gave himself up nnd was given JO years penal servitude under I Ihe tiama of Grant. "I've been free for more than a year," he said. "The money I had banked amounted to a considerable .sum. I do not want. I've tried bard !to find my wlfo and son, but .without .avail. My real name Is James Grant ' Herron." The old man laid back on the pillows pil-lows and Dr. Calleti Herron slipped from the room to his office. Ho was about to be married Would she con-I con-I sent to wed the son of a convict? She inust.be told all about It. He sought her out, nnd pacing up and down with averted face told her all. Hut It made no difference to her. She waa true blue. Insisted he should acknowledge his father Would not mniry him If he didn't Providence had brought the doctor and his father together and this should not be nullified Together they went to No 19, where the old man's dearest wish that he might see nnd know his son was gratified "Ah! laddie," the old man faltered i out at last, "I (an understand your hesitation to call n worthless old fel low father That sweetheart of yours has a heart of gold Fetch her up, j boy I'd like to see her. If she will come." Ills sou obeyed him, and presently the girl entered the room. Crossing j to the bed, without hesitation, she took on of the Invalid's hands In her own; then, Impulsively Hlie bent and kissed him on the forehead. The grim old eyes softened. "God bless you, my Jear," he murmured. "In tho prison thnpel on Sunday we used to sing Now Let Thy Servant Depart In Peace" I begin to understand what that means " He watched them smilingly when, after a while, they left the room to gethvr; then the Invalid lay back with a deep sigh. Yes, he bad seen his boy again I And the solution! It was In his own hands what was It his boy, the doctor, had told hlmT Ho must keep warm, avoid chills ay, keep very warm. Slowly and painfully at midnight the sick old man struggled from his bed and tottered to the little window. Opening It wldo with difficulty, he bared his breast and leaned shivering serosa tho sill, Inhaling- the chill December De-cember night air with short, choking gasps Next morning Paul, the man of al work, coming to attend tho Uie, found James Grant stretched unconscious b) his bedside and the room cold nnd bleak. Dr. Callett wns summoned In baste. Just bcfoie he died tho old man had it flicker of consciousness. Finding his boy bending over him, he smiled contentedly. con-tentedly. , Bo Dr. 'Callett Herron and his wife had the secret to themsdves. And they never disclosod It to tho doctor's Btcpfathor (also himself Dr. Callett) and his tWter V), - " - |