by Al Lacy
“All right. Thank you.”
As Harris and the boy drew up to the cashier’s desk, the cashier had a sour look on her face as she was reading a book that she had laid before her on the desk. She looked up. “Yes?”
“I’m Dr. Lee Harris, ma’am. I don’t believe we’ve ever met.”
“I’m new here, Doctor.”
“Oh.” He noted the name plate on the desk corner. “Hazel Callahan.”
“Yes. What can I do for you?”
“My young friend and I are here to pick up Tharyn Myers, room 123. Dr. Lynch has released her.”
Hazel glanced at a sheet of paper to her left and studied it a moment. “Yes, he has. The bill is twelve dollars.”
Dane was a bit surprised that the bill was that much. Reaching into his pocket, he said, “I’m sort of Tharyn’s brother, ma’am. It’s up to me to pay the bill, but I only have two dollars right now. I have a job, and I’ll pay the rest as soon as I can.”
As he spoke, Dane pulled two crumpled one-dollar bills from his pocket and handed them to her.
She laid them on top of the desk, smoothed them out, then looked at Dane. “I don’t know how you can be ‘sort of’ someone’s brother. Anyhow, I must have the full amount before the patient can be released.”
“But that’s all I have, ma’am. I told you I will pay the rest of it as soon as I can.”
Dr. Harris was looking on silently.
“That just won’t do, young man,” said Hazel Callahan. “Hospital policy says payment in full right now.”
There was deep frustration on Dane’s face.
Dr. Harris laid a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Dane, I admire you for what you’re trying to do. You’re a special young man. It’s all right; I’ll take care of the bill for Tharyn.” He pulled out his wallet and extracted twelve dollars.
Dane looked up at him, eyes wide.
To the cashier, Harris said firmly, “Give him back his two dollars, ma’am.” He laid the money in front of her.
The woman handed Dane his money, then looked up at the doctor. “It doesn’t matter to me who pays, just so the bill gets paid in full.”
Harris nodded.
She marked the bill Paid, and handed it to him.
“Thank you, ma’am,” the physician said, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he smiled at her. “I hope your day gets better as it goes along.”
Her mouth fell open, but she said nothing.
The doctor and the boy walked away toward the corridor that would lead them to room 123; smiles gracing both their faces.
As they headed down the hall, Dane said, “Dr. Harris, I know you’re not wallowing in money.” He pulled out the two one-dollar bills. “Take these. I’ll pay you back the other ten as soon as I can.”
“I’ll be fine, son. You keep that money. You need it far worse than I do.”
“But—”
“No buts, Dane. I’ll be fine. Put that money back in your pocket.”
Shaking his head as he stuffed the bills back in his pocket, he said, “I’ve never met anyone like you, Dr. Harris.”
The doctor chuckled. “Well, one like me in your lifetime is enough, don’t you think?”
They were drawing up to Tharyn’s room. “This world would be a lot better off if there were millions like you, sir.”
When they stepped into the room, Nurse Donna Yetter had Tharyn dressed and ready to go.
When Tharyn, Dane, and the doctor were seated in the buggy, Dane turned to Tharyn. “Dr. Harris and I were talking on our way over here. Would you like to go by your old apartment and pick up some of your clothes? It’s pretty warm now, but you know come fall and winter, New York will be cold and damp.”
“That would be good, Dane. I’ll need my clothes, even the summer ones.”
“Just point me the way, children,” said the doctor.
Traffic held them up some, but they pulled up in front of the apartment nearly forty-five minutes after they had left the hospital.
When Tharyn first looked at the spot where the team and wagon had hit her parents and Aunt Althea, a chill slithered down her backbone.
Dane was having his own thoughts about the incident as he helped Tharyn out of the buggy. Dr. Harris joined them as they headed toward the steps. Dane felt Tharyn tense up a bit and sensed her reluctance to enter the building. Tharyn was thinking that this had been her home since birth. She was struggling with the memories that were passing through her mind.
Dane took her hand.
As they entered the foyer, a door to one side opened, and a white-haired woman stepped out. “Hello, Tharyn, dear. I’m so terribly sorry about your parents. I was hoping you would come by. We had to rent out the apartment this morning. My husband and I packed up all of your family’s things. Would you like to take them now?”
Tharyn quickly cast a questioning glance at Dane.
“Sure,” he said to the landlady. “We’re in Dr. Harris’s buggy, and it isn’t very large, but if there isn’t too much, we can handle it.”
“Well, we have all of it packed in boxes down here in the storeroom.”
She led them to the storeroom and opened the door. “These boxes right here.” She pointed. “Everything is there, including the bedding and a few knickknacks that your mother had, Tharyn.”
There were not as many boxes as Dane or Dr. Harris had expected.
“We can get these in the buggy, all right,” said Harris.
Tharyn said, “Dane, we won’t want these boxes in the alley, will we?”
“We can take them, and you can sort out what you want to keep. If you don’t want all of it, you might be able to sell some of it and pick up some money. It’ll be up to you.”
The doctor, Tharyn, and Dane began picking up the boxes, and before they moved out into the hall, Tharyn said, “Thank you, Mrs. Trimble.” She was trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to surface.
“You’re welcome, child,” said the landlady and patted her arm.
Moments later, the boxes were in the buggy, and as Dr. Harris put the horse into motion, Tharyn turned on the seat for one last look at the place that was the only home she had ever known. Memories of so many happy times with her parents flooded her mind.
Tears were threatening once again. She turned around on the seat, bowed her head, and let them come.
Dane took hold of her hand. “I know exactly what you’re feeling. Tomorrow will be a better day. I promise.”
She raised her head, wiped the excess moisture from her eyes, and squeezed his hand. “Thank you. With you to help me, I’m sure it will be.”
Dr. Lee Harris put soft eyes on both of them, smiled, and said in his heart, Please make it so, Lord.
Chapter Eleven
As the buggy moved along the streets amid other horse-drawn vehicles, Dr. Lee Harris was speaking encouragingly to Tharyn Myers, who sat between Dane Weston and him. He could tell that she was nervous about taking up residence in the alley, even though Dane would be with her, and wanted to encourage her in this new and difficult phase of her life.
She looked up at him and smiled. “Thank you for your encouragement, Dr. Harris. I’m finding out why Dane thinks so much of you.”
The doctor chuckled and looked at Dane. “Well, I’ve got him fooled, Tharyn.”
Dane laughed. “Oh no, you don’t. And am I going to miss you when you’re gone.”
“Dr. Harris,” said Tharyn, “I heard you tell Dr. Lynch that you would be retiring within six months.”
“That’s the plan, yes.”
“When you retire, are you going to move away?”
“He and Mrs. Harris and their daughter are going to move to Virginia,” said Dane. “They have a son and his family who live in Roanoke.”
Tharyn’s brow furrowed. “You have a daughter who still lives with you, Dr. Harris?”
Dr. Harris explained to Tharyn that Lawanda was mentally handicapped, and instead of putting her in an institution, they had chose
n to keep her in their home. He went on to explain about Lawanda’s fear of people and that they would have to buy a covered wagon and travel to Virginia in the wagon. He added that it actually would be best, because this way they could carry their clothing and other valuables at the same time.
Dr. Harris turned onto Broadway and was heading toward the alley where Dane and his friends lived.
When they were two blocks from the alley, Dane’s attention was drawn to a buggy that was parked at the curb, and the faces of a couple who were talking to four street waifs and two uniformed police officers.
“Hey, Dr. Harris,” said Dane, “it’s Mr. and Mrs. Brace from the Children’s Aid Society! Looks like they’re about to take some children with them.”
The doctor pulled rein as he spotted the small group.
“Are you acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Brace, Doctor?” asked Dane as the buggy came to a halt.
“I’ve never met them personally,” replied Harris, “but I recognize them because their pictures have been in the newspapers many times. I admire their great work with the orphans and have long wanted to meet them. Now is as good a time as any. You’ve met them, have you?”
“No, sir. They were pointed out to me one day by one of the girls in the colony as they were taking some street urchins off the street to put them on an orphan train.”
“I see,” said the doctor, stepping out of the buggy. “You two wait here.”
By this time, the four children were climbing into the Children’s Aid Society buggy under the direction of the Braces, when one of the officers spotted Dr. Harris moving toward them. “Hello, Doc!”
“Hello, James! Nice to see you!”
The two men shook hands, then Dr. Harris said, “I have a boy in my buggy who recognized Mr. and Mrs. Brace and pointed them out to me. I’ve long wanted to meet them.”
Officer James Thornton had been on the beat in the area for several years, and knew the physician well. Motioning for the other officer to come to them, he said, “Dr. Harris, I want you to meet Officer Fred Collins. He’s my new partner. Fred, shake hands with one of New York’s finest physicians, Dr. Lee Harris.”
While Harris and Collins were shaking hands, the Braces moved close. Charles Loring Brace—who was a small, thin man of forty-five—said, “Officer Thornton, did I hear right? This gentleman is Dr. Lee Harris, and he said he has long wanted to meet us?”
“You heard right, sir,” said Thornton.
Harris moved to the couple, smiling. “You sure did, young man. I so much appreciate your wonderful work, and am glad for the opportunity to tell you so.”
Brace and Harris shook hands, then Letitia Brace, who was much smaller than her husband, offered her hand. The doctor took it gently in his gnarled hand and did a slight bow. “This is such a pleasure, Mrs. Brace.”
“Well, let me tell you something, Dr. Harris. My husband and I have heard much about you and your marvelous work over the years.”
“We sure have,” said Charles Loring Brace, smiling from ear to ear. “And we are happy to finally get to meet you!” He then looked toward the doctor’s buggy. “I heard you say you have a boy in your buggy who recognized us.”
Dane smiled at Brace.
“Yes,” said Harris. “In fact he and that pretty girl next to him on the seat are orphans.”
“Oh, really? Do they live on the streets?”
“Yes. Let me introduce you to them.”
Charles and Letitia followed as the doctor led them up to his buggy. “Mr. and Mrs. Brace, this is Tharyn Myers and Dane Weston.”
The Braces said they were glad to meet them, then Charles asked where on the streets they lived. Dane explained that Tharyn was just now going there with him for the first time, and pointed that direction, saying his colony’s alley was two blocks away
The officers had drawn close, and James Thornton said, “You look familiar, son. I think I’ve seen you before.”
Dane smiled. “I know I’ve seen you, sir. I work at Clarkson’s Pharmacy, and walk this street six days a week, going to work.”
Thornton’s eyebrows arched. “A street waif with a job. That’s pretty rare.”
“It was Dr. Harris who got me the job, Officer.”
Thornton smiled at the doctor. “Good for you, Doc.”
Letitia set her kind gaze on the girl with the auburn hair. “So you are just coming to the alley to live, Dane said.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Let me explain,” said Dr. Harris, then proceeded to tell both children’s stories in brief.
When he finished, all four adults were deeply touched.
Charles Brace said, “I wish I could take every orphan on the streets of New York, put them on the orphan trains, and send them out West to find families who would take them in.”
“Me, too,” said Letitia.
Brace hunched his thin shoulders. “But such a wish is impossible. The number of orphans on the streets is rapidly growing. I’m thankful to the Lord that we can at least send some of them out West.”
Once again, Dane thought about his planned career as a medical doctor and wondered if maybe someday he would be able to go out West where a family would take him in who could afford to send him through medical school.
Charles Brace smiled at the orphans. “I’m glad to have met both of you.”
“Me, too,” said his wife.
Brace glanced at Letitia, then set his kind eyes on Dane and Tharyn. “Quite often Mrs. Brace and I come into this area and pick up children to put on the orphan trains. Maybe someday we’ll be able to do it for both of you.”
Dane grinned. “That would be real nice, sir.”
As the Braces were driving away with the four orphans, Dr. Harris told Officers James Thornton and Fred Collins of Dane’s goal to become a medical doctor.
Both men smiled at the boy.
Officer Thornton said, “I hope you make it, Dane, but this situation of your living on the streets will have to change before it will be possible. You will have to have adoptive parents or legal guardians before you can enter public school to finish your education and you will need lots of money for medical college.”
“I know this, sir,” said Dane, then boldly added, “I’ve been praying to my heavenly Father that just such a thing will happen.”
Dane was surprised by Thornton’s reply. “If you could get Mr. Brace to put you on an orphan train and you could find some wealthy cattle rancher out West to adopt you, it no doubt would work out beautifully.”
Dane thought on it. “Yes, sir. That would be something, wouldn’t it?” He turned to look at Tharyn. “Of course, if the Lord would do such a thing for me, He would also have to see that my little sister went with me.”
Both officers looked puzzled. “Your sister?” said Collins. “Nobody said anything about you being siblings.”
Dane grinned. “We’re not really brother and sister, sir, but we adopted each other shortly after her parents were killed.”
Collins grinned. “Oh, I see. Well, Dr. Harris told us that you saved her life. So why not adopt her as your sister?”
“That’s how I look at it, sir. Whatever happens, I’m going to do my best to see that Tharyn is taken care of.”
“Good for you,” said Collins.
“That’s for sure,” put in Thornton. “I wish both of you the very best.”
Collins nodded. “Well, Officer Thornton, we’d better move on.
As the policemen walked on down the street, Dr. Harris climbed back in his buggy and put the horse into motion. He drove the two blocks, and turned the buggy into the alley.
Tharyn drew a shaky breath and looked at Dane. “Okay, big brother, it’s time for me to meet your friends.”
Dane grinned. “I’ve told you that you’ll love them. You’ll see.”
The other nine orphans were there, having just returned from their morning of begging on the nearest street corner. Dane noted that they were huddled together, counting their money. Whe
n they became aware of the approaching buggy, Russell Mims looked up. “Hey, guys and gals, it’s Dane! And he’s got Tharyn with him!”
All of them hurried to the side of the buggy, calling out greetings to Tharyn and Dane and Dr. Harris.
The warmth of the children toward her touched Tharyn deeply.
As she ran her gaze up and down the alley, she was appalled at the squalid sight before her. There were large metal trash receptacles behind the buildings on both sides of the alley. Some businesses also had garbage cans and wooden crates near their doors. Rubbish of every description was scattered around the receptacles, the garbage cans, and the crates.
At the precise spot where the children were gathered it was somewhat cleaner, which she figured was due to the efforts of the children in the colony. Large cardboard boxes were lined up against the back wall of a brick building. Its rear door was recessed and formed an alcove which Tharyn decided would provide shelter for the orphans in a rainstorm, even though they would have to crowd themselves in tightly to make it work.
Dane explained to the others that Tharyn had brought some boxes containing some bedding, clothing, and other things that had been in the apartment where she and her parents had lived. The boys helped Dane and Dr. Harris take the boxes from the buggy. They were placed beside the large cardboard boxes, which Dane explained were the beds they slept in.
Dr. Harris excused himself to the children, saying he must get back to his office. Tharyn thanked him once again for his kindness to her.
When Dr. Harris was gone, the children gathered around Tharyn, each expressing their sympathy for the loss of her parents and her aunt.
Dane then introduced Tharyn to the children, one by one, giving their names. Melinda Scott and Bessie Evans immediately took Tharyn under their wings and guided her to the cardboard boxes while the others followed. They showed her a new cardboard box, which they had placed between theirs. Two tattered blankets lay in the bottom of Tharyn’s box.
Smiling at her new friends, she said, “Bessie, Melinda, I appreciate your looking after me even before I got here.”
Bessie said, “Actually, it was Russell who went down to the alley this morning and found this box for you behind the furniture store.”