The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-07

man, and that it was 1 who wounded him.
Under the circumstances l could do no
less than have done, and, although the
poor fellow says little, believe him to be
sincerely grateful. Just think, Ben, dear"
she whispered, burying her face in his
shoulder, "how terrible it would have been
if had killed instead of only wounding
him. l should never have forgiven my
self, even though it was in selt-detense.
But" she suddenly interrupted herself,
''you have not told me about your inter
view with Jenkins"
Ben shook his head lugubriously.
''There is very little to tell" he said,
signing. Jenkins has seen some land
farther north which he likes better than
mine, and he only stopped off here to tell
me so. So, fear, little woman, that we
shall have to give up the idea of your
going to Paris, for the present at least, or
until can raise $1,000 in some way"
OF course Rita told him she was not very
much disappointed, although her voice
trembled q little. And then she softly
stole into the chamber of the sick man,
and, as he was apparently sleeping, she
made Ben go to bed as quietly as possible,
promising to take some rest herself. But
all through the long night of wakefulness
and pain the wounded man was conscious
of gentle presence ministering to his
wants with tender soIicitude.
Early next morning, when Ben went in
to see his strange guest, he saw at once he
was very i'll.
Rita" he said, II must go at once for
doctor. That bullet must be taken out"
Bat the sick man raised himself on his
elbow, in apparent alarm.
NO you don't, " he said. II don't want
no doctor foolin' around here"
but" said Rita, who thought she IN
derstood his alarm, cit is absolutely neces-
sary that the bullet should be removed,
and you know cannot do that And he
raised no further objections, only mutter-
ing, eff you say SO, 1 suppose it's all
right"
Immediately after his breakfast Ben
started in search of the nearest physician,
a busy man and hard TO find in that CO IN
try of magnificent distances, so that it was
late in the afternoon before the two men
arrived.
Throughout the long day Rita kept her
faithful watch beside the couch of the
wounded man, grieved at the sight of SUI
fering which she was so powerless to
relieve and filled with contrition at the
thought that she had herself caused it.
Once she was constrained to cry, "Oh,
am go sorryl Indeed did not mean to
hurt you, but you should not have threat
ened me as you did,"
The sick man ceased grooming and
looked up at her as she stood beside him,
her face quivering with pity for his SUI
fering.
Now look a-here, little one" he said,
speaking with some difficulty, "don't you
never say another word about that. You've
been an angel to me, and L believe you're
the first person that hasn't treated me like
a dog since l can remember anything.
And l amt a-going TO forget your kind
ness to me, you can bet yer life on that"
He closed his eyes for few moments, and
Rita thought he had fallen asleep and
was moving away when he called her.
Look a-here," he said, taking hold OF
her dress, "I've got something want to
tell you, and 1nebbe it may help you some.
Last night l heard you and your brother
talking, and as far as / could make out
you want some money for something"
He paused a moment and asked Rita for
some water. Then he went on speaking,
this time in hoarse whisper.
"See here" he said, 81 know where you
can get thousand dollars" and as Rita
instinctively drew back he added quickly,
"Oh, it's all square and honest enough.
You needn't be afraid of that
He paused and drank some more water,