"Ach, a very slim one. One chance in--I don't know how many!"

"But a chance!"

"Yes"--the woman thought a moment--"but it would cost lots of money, I
guess. I didn't ask the doctor, but I know operations are dear. I have
fifty dollars saved, but that wouldn't go far."

"But don't you know," the girl said guilelessly, "that all big hospitals
have free rooms and do lots of work for nothing? Many rich people endow
rooms in hospitals. If you could get into one like that and pay just a
little, would you go?"

A light seemed to settle upon the face of the blind woman. "Why," she
answered slowly, "why, Phoebe, I never thought of that! I didn't
remember--why, I guess I would--yes, of course! I'd go and make a fight
for that one chance!"

"I knew you'd be brave! You'll have that operation, Mother Bab! I'll
write to Dr. Munster right away. But don't you let Phares write and tell
David. We'll surprise him!"

"Ach, but won't he be glad if I can see when he comes home!"

"Won't he though! I'll make all the arrangements; don't you worry about
it at all."

"My, you're good to me, Phoebe!"

"Good--after all you've done for me!"

"_Good_," she thought after Mother Bab had been left at the home of
Phares and Phoebe turned homeward. "She calls me good the first time I
deceive her. I've begun that tangled web and I know I'll have to tell a
whole pack of lies before I'm through with it."

CHAPTER XXXIII

THE ONE CHANCE

PHOEBE lost no time in carrying out her plans. When she mentioned the
operation to Phares Eby he looked dubious.

"I'm afraid it's no use," he said gravely. "Those operations very often
fail."

"But there's a chance, Phares! If it were your eyes wouldn't you snatch
at any meagre chance?"

"Why, I guess I would," he admitted, wondering at her insight into human
nature and admiring her devotion to the blind woman.

Aunt Maria also was sceptical. "Ach, Phoebe, it vonders me now that
Barb'll spend all that money for carfare and to stay in the city and
then mebbe it's all for nothin'. There was old Bevy Way and a lot of old
people I knowed went blind and they died blind. When abody gets so old
once it seems the doctors can't do much. I guess it just is to be."

"Oh, Aunt Maria," Phoebe said hotly, "I don't believe in that is-to-be
business! Not until you've done all you can to make things better."

"Well, mebbe, for all, it's worth tryin'. I guess if it was my eyes I'd
do most anything to get