by Al Lacy
Dane patted her cheek. “I won’t leave you, Tharyn,” he said softly, trying to keep her from becoming frantic. “You can count on me.” He turned to Officer Hankins. “It is all right if I go in the ambulance with her, isn’t it?”
Hankins nodded. “Of course. Are you a neighbor?”
“No, sir. I’m a friend, though.”
“Well, you stick with her. She’s going to need all the strength and comfort you can give her.”
“I’ll do everything I can, sir.”
Tharyn sniffed again and wiped away more tears. She focused on his face and squinted. “Dane, you’ve got a big bruise on your cheek. Does it hurt?”
Abruptly, he was aware of a stinging sensation on his right cheek. He touched it lightly with his fingers. “Oh. Must have happened when we slammed into the stairs in front of your tenement. You’ve got a couple of bruises on your face, too.”
As she put a hand to the left side of her face, she looked at his clothing. “Your shirt is torn, Dane, and there is dirt on your pants.”
He looked at the front of his shirt, touched the rip in the cloth, and looked down at his pants. “Yeah. Your dress is smudged with dirt too. We must have hit the ground pretty hard.”
She examined the place where the dirt was evident in the fabric, then met his gaze. “What will I do with Mommy like this, Dane? I’ve never even been inside a hospital.”
“I’ll be right beside you,” Dane said in a steady, reassuring voice. “Once we get her to the hospital, the doctors will examine her and do what they have to in order to make her regain consciousness. They’ll tell us exactly how she is once they’ve had a chance to work on her.”
His voice had a calming effect on her. Dane could see it in her eyes.
The two ambulance attendants came with a stretcher, and when they had taken Erline from Tharyn’s arms, Dane gently helped her to her feet.
Officer James Hankins came up to Tharyn and Dane. “Miss Myers, the police wagon will take the bodies of your father and your aunt to the morgue, along with the two construction workers who were killed when they fell from the scaffold.”
Tharyn nodded slowly, the agony showing on her drawn features. She seemed to be looking right through him.
Hankins looked at Dane. “I’m not sure she’s comprehending it. Will you see that she understands where the bodies have been taken?”
“Yes, sir.”
“All right. Well, the ambulance attendants are waiting for you.”
Dane took Tharyn’s arm and ushered her to the ambulance. He helped her to climb in the back so she could be close to her mother, then climbed in behind her.
The driver put the ambulance in motion, and while the medical attendant kept watch over the unconscious Erline, Dane held Tharyn in his arms. He spoke in a low tone, trying to encourage her about her mother. She clung to him with all her might, sobbing and saying that her father and her aunt were dead and that she was afraid her mother would die, too.
Dane continued to do his best to assure her that her mother would be all right.
When they reached Manhattan’s Mercy Hospital, Dane and Tharyn were led to a waiting room while Erline was wheeled into surgery on a gurney.
At the moment, the waiting room had no other occupants. Dane continued to do his best to comfort Tharyn in the loss of her father and her aunt, and to encourage her about her mother. He made sure she understood where the bodies of her father and her aunt had been taken.
Tharyn clung to Dane, gripping him tightly. “Oh, Dane, what will I do if Mommy dies? I’ll have nowhere to live and no one to take care of me.”
“Your mother’s going to be all right.” But in his heart, he wondered if it was so. From the looks of Mrs. Myers when he last saw her, he secretly wondered if she would make it.
When Tharyn’s emotions had settled down some, she choked out in wide-eyed wonder, “Dane, you … saved … my life. I would have been trampled to death too, if you hadn’t moved me out of the way. As fast as those horses were coming, you could easily have been trampled, yourself. Thank you for risking your life to save mine.”
Dane squeezed her hand. “Tharyn, my own safety wasn’t even in my thoughts. I just knew I had to get you out of the way so you wouldn’t be struck by the charging horses and the wagon.”
“I’ll … never forget … what you did.”
“I think you need some water. Stay right here. I’ll be back shortly.”
Dane returned with a cup of water he had obtained at the nurses’ station. Sitting down beside her once again, he raised the cup toward her face. “Here. Take a few sips. It’ll relieve the dryness in your throat.”
She looked at the cup. “I … I don’t think I can swallow anything.”
“Sure you can. Come on now. You can do it. Just two or three swallows, okay? You really need to get some moisture into your system, so—”
His voice trailed off as he followed her eyes to the door of the waiting room, and he saw a man in a white smock coming in. His face was gray and solemn.
Tharyn gripped Dane’s arms, knowing in her heart the news was not good.
As the doctor stepped into the waiting room, he noted that there was no one there besides the two teenagers. As he drew up, he looked at Tharyn. “You’re Miss Tharyn Myers, aren’t you?”
She tried to speak, but nothing would come out.
“She is,” said Dane.
“I’m Dr. Walter Lynch,” he said, bending low to look Tharyn in the eye. “I’m sorry to—to have to tell you this, Miss Myers, but your mother died of a cerebral hemorrhage from the blow she received to her head when the horses and wagon struck her.”
Tharyn’s face contorted. “No! No! No-o-o-o!”
Dane wrapped both arms around her as she broke into sobs. The doctor knelt down in front of her, trying to comfort her in a soft voice.
She went quiet for a moment, then looked at Dane, eyes wide, and opened her mouth again to scream. Suddenly, her eyes rolled back in their sockets and she collapsed in a faint.
Dr. Lynch bent over, raised her eyelids, and looked into her eyes. “The emotional disturbance she has been through today was just too much for her. I’ve got to take her into the examining room. You wait here. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
With that, Dr. Lynch took the unconscious Tharyn up into his arms and hurried into the hall.
On his heels, Dane went as far as the door and watched until the doctor passed from view through the door of the examining room. He sighed, went to one of the chairs, and sat down. Dane Weston was young in his salvation, but he had learned enough already in church and Sunday school to know that as a child of God, he could call on the Lord concerning any matter. He prayed for Tharyn, that God would help her through this horrible ordeal, and that He would give him the wisdom he needed to be a pillar of strength to her.
Almost half an hour had passed when Dane looked up to see Dr. Walter Lynch enter the room. He jumped to his feet. “How is she, Doctor?”
“Well, she’s conscious, but she’s in shock. I gave her a strong sedative, which will help her to rest. I’m going to keep her here in the hospital at least overnight so she can remain under observation.
Dane nodded. “I don’t have much money, Doctor. I’m an orphan, and I live on the streets. But I do have a job. I work at the Clarkson Pharmacy. Mr. Clarkson just paid me my week’s wages today. Three dollars and sixty cents. I’ll pay that much on Tharyn’s hospital bill.”
“No need to worry about that now. The bill can be settled later. The main thing right now is to give Tharyn proper care.” He studied the dark-haired boy for a moment. “Are you a friend of the family?”
“Not really, sir. I only met Tharyn and her mother this morning at the pharmacy. I was delivering a prescription to the Myerses’ home when—when the awful thing happened.”
“I see. Well, I’ll say this. You’re a mighty fine young man to take her under your wing like you’ve done. What’s your name?”
“Dane Weston, sir.”
>
“Well, Dane, can you come back tomorrow?”
“Yes, sir. And I will … but I will also come back this evening to check on her.”
Lynch smiled. “Fine. She’ll be in a room of her own by then. Just stop at the receptionist’s desk when you come in. She’ll tell you what room Tharyn is in.”
Dane left the hospital and went to the pharmacy. Not expecting to see him until Monday, Bryce Clarkson was surprised when his hired man came in. Dane told his boss that he wanted him to know what had happened to the Myers family.
When the pharmacist heard the story he was stunned, but told Dane he was glad that Tharyn was not struck by the runaway horses and wagon.
Though Dane had made little of his having saved Tharyn’s life, Clarkson commended him for his courage and quick thinking.
From there, Dane went to Dr. Lee Harris’s office. He found the Closed sign in the window, so he climbed the stairs to the apartment and knocked on the door.
When Dr. Harris opened the door, Dane could see Maude rushing with Lawanda toward the bedroom.
Dr. Harris looked over the rims of his half-moon spectacles and frowned. The bruise on Dane’s face was deep purple. “Dane, what’s wrong? You’re pale as a ghost. Come in.”
As the boy stepped in, Dr. Harris noted the dirt on his pants and the rip in his shirt. He reached a hand toward him and placed it on his shoulder. “Have you been in a fight, laddie?”
Dane shook his head. “No, sir, I—” Suddenly the emotion of the day overwhelmed him, and he started to cry.
Maude was now coming from the bedroom and observed as her husband put an arm around the boy and led him to the sofa in the parlor.
As Dane sat on the sofa, Maude drew up, noting his bruised face, torn shirt, and dirty trousers. “Dane, honey, what on earth has happened?”
“Please tell us,” said the doctor, looking down at the boy with compassion.
Dane looked up into the kind eyes of the loving couple, his eyes awash with tears. He tried to blink them away, but instead, they trickled in a stream down his face. He tried to speak, but could only weep.
Dr. Harris patted his arm. “It’s okay, son. Go ahead and cry. Whatever has happened, tears are good for healing any kind of emotional hurt.”
Maude sat down beside the boy and put her arm around his shoulder, pulling him close to her. “Go ahead, honey. Cry it out. Then you can tell us what’s happened.”
Dr. Harris sat down in a chair, facing them.
The Harrises remained quiet, just looking at each other periodically as the boy wept. Finally, with a valiant effort, Dane gained control of himself and wiped a sleeve over his eyes and down his wet face. Taking a deep breath, he looked from one to the other. “My heart is so torn for a thirteen-year-old girl I just met this morning at the pharmacy.”
With this established, Dane related the entire story to his elderly friends.
“Oh, the poor dear,” said Maude, shaking her head. “The poor dear.”
Ever the physician, Lee Harris said, “What can I do to help, Dane? Would you like for me to go see the poor girl? I still have hospital privileges at Mercy, even though most of my patients go to Manhattan Hospital because it is closer to this neighborhood.”
A look of hope came into Dane’s red-rimmed eyes. “Oh, Dr. Harris, would you do that? I’m sure Dr. Lynch is a fine doctor, but I would feel so much better if you would examine her. He would understand, wouldn’t he?”
“Of course. Dr. Lynch and I know each other. It wouldn’t disturb him if I simply went in and checked on her—especially since he knows you are her friend and asked me to.”
Dane smiled. “Oh, thank you.”
“Now, you said since they are keeping Tharyn in the hospital at least overnight, you are going back to see her this evening.”
“Right. I just want to make sure there are no other problems from the shock and grief she has experienced today.”
Harris nodded. “And you said you’re going from here to your alley to let your friends know what has happened.”
“Yes, sir. They are no doubt concerned about where I am by now.”
“Okay. How about since Mercy Hospital is quite a few blocks from your alley, that I pick you up with my buggy at seven o’clock? You’ve already covered a lot of ground today.”
“That will be fine, sir.”
Maude’s arm was still around Dane’s shoulder. She squeezed him tight. “You’re such a good boy.”
Dane grinned at her. Then he said to both of them, “When Tharyn gets out of the hospital she has nowhere to go, and no one to take care of her. The only living relative she had outside of her immediate family was her Aunt Althea. From what I’ve heard many times, all the New York City orphanages are already overcrowded.”
Dr. Harris nodded. “That’s true.”
“Well, I’m going to offer to let Tharyn join my orphan colony in the alley so I can look after her. I’m sure when I tell my friends her story, they will agree to let her become a part of the colony.”
Dr. Harris smiled. “I commend you for this, son.”
“Yes,” said Maude. “I wish we could take her into our home, but you already know why we can’t do that. Given the circumstances in Tharyn’s life, your plan to take her into your colony is the right thing to do.”
“Well, it’s the very least I can do,” said Dane. “I know how hard it was for me after my family was killed. The streets and alleys of this city are not friendly places for children … especially for a girl. I feel an obligation to take care of Tharyn. Since I guess I pretty much saved her life, it’s up to me to be responsible for her, since she has no one else to do it.”
Dr. Harris smiled. “You are quite the boy. I’m sure Tharyn will be grateful to have you looking after her. And don’t forget that Maude and I are here to help you in any way we can.”
“I appreciate that, more than I could ever tell you. Well, I’d better get to the alley.”
Dr. Harris reconfirmed that he would pick him up at the alley at seven o’clock, and thanking both of them once more for being such good friends to him, Dane left the Harris home and hurried to his “home.”
The other nine children in the alley were very glad to see Dane when he arrived. When they asked where he had been, he told them the story. Their hearts went out to the thirteen-year-old girl, who had been suddenly orphaned.
Knowing that the street colonies had an unwritten code of their own, Dane explained his desire to take Tharyn into their colony. He made sure they knew he was taking full responsibility for her.
“Hey, we’ll help her, Dane,” piped up Russell Mims. “Any friend of yours is a friend of ours. She’s welcome here.”
“She certainly is,” spoke up Bessie Evans. “Right, everybody?”
The rest of the group spoke up in unison, rallying around Dane.
“I want to thank all of you,” said Dane, running his appreciative gaze around the ragtag group. “I’m not sure right now just when they’ll let her out of the hospital, but it’s important that she has a ‘home’ to come to. Tharyn is full of raw heartache and pain right now, and we all know what that feels like.”
They all spoke their agreement. Dane thanked them for being willing to take in his new friend, Tharyn Myers.
Chapter Ten
At Mercy Hospital, Tharyn Myers awakened from the effect of the sedative to find a nurse in white dress and cap sitting in a chair beside the bed. She was reading Tharyn’s medical chart and did not notice that her patient’s eyes were open.
Totally disoriented, Tharyn blinked and ran her gaze around the room, then turned her head to face the nurse. The movement caught the nurse’s attention. She laid the chart down, rose to her feet, and moved up beside the bed. “Hello, Tharyn,” she said softly, smiling down at her. “I’m Donna Yetter. I’m your nurse for this shift.”
Tharyn blinked again and frowned. “Wh-where am I?”
“You’re at Mercy Hospital. Don’t you remember?”
“No. What happened to me?”
“Well, honey, you were brought in here to—”
“To see my mother!” she gasped as her mind suddenly cleared. A fresh wave of grief overwhelmed her. “Oh-h-h! Mommy’s dead. I remember. Why—why am I in this bed?”
“The ordeal of losing your parents and your aunt this morning was too much for you, Tharyn. You passed out.”
Her hand went to her forehead. “I—I was in the waiting room, and a doctor came and told me Mommy had died.” She burst into tears. Miss Yetter took hold of both her hands, and talked to her in a soothing manner, but Tharyn wailed, “Mommy is dead! Daddy is dead! Aunt Althea is dead! I’m all alo—Wait! Where’s Dane?”
Nurse Yetter was confused. “Who’s Dane? Is he a relative?”
“No. He’s not a relative. I have no relatives. Dane’s the best friend I ever had. He saved my life—ah—did you say this is still the same day?”
“Yes.”
Tharyn bit her lower lip. “Dane saved my life when the horses and the wagon were charging at us. He … he moved me out of the way. If he hadn’t, I would have been killed like the rest of my family was.”
“I see. What’s Dane’s last name?”
Tharyn closed her eyes and concentrated. “Ah … Weston. His name’s Dane Weston.”
“How can he be contacted?”
“Well, he’s an orphan. He’s fifteen years old. He lives in an alley—ah … I’m trying to remember where.”
At that moment Dr. Walter Lynch entered the room. A smile broke across his face as he drew up to the bed beside the nurse. “Well, Tharyn, you’re awake! Do you remember me?”
She studied his face. “No, sir.”
“Well, no surprise. I’m Dr. Walter Lynch.”
“He’s the doctor who came into the waiting room to tell you that your mother had died, Tharyn.”
Tharyn fixed her gaze on him. “Oh yes. Now I remember you.
“You were in the waiting room with Dane Weston, and I’m the one who took care of you after you passed out.”
“Dane?”
“Yes.”
Tharyn looked toward the door. “Is Dane somewhere in the hospital?”