The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1897-09-30

and imploring them TO save the bed.
ridden mother, while Esther was maxi
ing vain effort TO drag a helpless form
through the blazing hallway. II was at
this juncture that Close came laboring
up the path. lie was slow. heavy, had
a longer distance q run, and was pant
ing hard. but he burst through the
squad already scrambling up the steps,
sprang through the ~fre-hashing portal,
and with the strength of an OK heaved
Walton, grooming, upon his shoulders,
tumbled him out into the arms OF his
men, then turned on gasping Esther.
where's our mothers ROOM A.
most f~ainting, she could only lean upon
the pillar for support and point
through the vista of smoke and flame.
Close lcaped like a tiger, with Cum
ningham and Murphy at his back. An
instant, and these latter reappeared,
blind, staggering, their faces hidden
in their hands, and burst out into the
open air. stumbling heedlessly down the
steps. A groan wen up from the men;
their captain vas gon In vain Burn!
and Mcbride strove TO rush in to the
rescue. Mortal man could not stand
such heat. And then. in the midst of
the wild wailing of the terrified aud
helpless women, came from around the
north side of the house nm exuitnnt
cheer. Those men who had had sense
enough to strive TO reach the side VIM
dows were rewarded by the sudden
thrusting open of the shutters and the
appearance of the well-known bury
form of their captain with some
blanket-shrouded shape in his arms.
easement but n second after Close and
his precious burden were lowered TO
the walk below.
And this was the story of a brave
mans deed be heard from every lip,
said Lambert, later, as he FASTENED
back on receipt of the news; and this
was the response made by the brave
man himself, when his lieutenant bent
over his seniors scared and bandaged
face next day and rendered his soldierly
congratulations. Turning slowly over
on his side, Close pointed to the wreck
of a pair of uniform trousers, s%corched
and burned in a dozen places and ir-
retrievably ruined.
Look" said he, m~ournfully. ''rhem
was my best pants"
Then it VAS found that not only had
the strange old fellow lost his hair and
beard, and not q little Of the cuticle OF
his face and hands. as well as those
patched but precious best pants" but
that his eyesight was threatened. The
good old doctor who had for so many
years attended the Waltons. and who
had come at once to renew his ministra-
tons under the humble roof in town
that was their temporary refuge, lis
tened to the story of Closes leroism
with quickened pulse and kindled eye,
He and Mr.. Barton Potts, who had
FASTENED back from Quitman. came out
to camp to see. and thank the pIostrate
soldier, Potts being ceremonious in his
expression of gratitude and admiration
and most earnest in his apology for
what he had said and thought of Close
in the past. The doctor stayed longer
by the silent sufferers cot, carefully
studying his face as far as it could b,
ceen. Professional etiquette prevented
his saying anything hat might be 4
reflection on the treatment and practice
of the contract surgeon" yet it wa:
plain to Lambert, and to Potts, too
that he was disturbed. Close. however
seemed to think less of his own pligh.
than of that, of the Waltons. who. ex
cept the little patch of fields about tn,
ruined homestead, had lost everything
they owned III the world, and who wer,
now in sore anxiety and distress. Tn,
terrible shock and exposure had beer
too much for, one so fragile as the lady
mother. and Mrs. Walton was sinking
fast. Walton Scroggs, too, was in DIES
pcrate case, though soothed by tn,
knowledge that, all the row at Vernon
that is, the human cause of it all
was already out of danger. Close begge,
the doctor for full particulars not onl,
as to how they were but how they eX
pocted Ito git along through the win
ter" and at last said he wished to speal
TO him alone, whereat Potts and Lam
bert, wondering, left the tent.
1t was long before the doctor cam,
forth. and when he did he called tn,
young officer aside, "A culver in his voic,
and a queer moisture about his spec
tacles. Have you no expert on tn,
eye and the ear in the armyP" he asked
THE captain should have the benefi
of the best advice without delay"
Lambert said he would report tn,
matter at once TO department head
quarters, and, while they were still talk
ing, two men came riding out from
town--old mar Potts. beyond al
doubt, and with him Lambert's rail
way friend. the conductor. and thes,
gentlemen. too, had come to ''surren
der" Close could have had his fill O
triumph and .adulation hat dull De
cember evening, had he been so minIet
and the doctor anore complaisant; bu
that practitioner said that, while h,
was not in charge of the case, he would
strenuously advise against further dis
turbance of the patient. When at las
they were all gone and Lambert coult
address himself to the little packet o.
mail stacked up on the office desk, he wa
rejoicing to think how the good in hk
queer comrade was winning due reeog
milton at last. Hes a rough diamond.
he said TO himself. but brave as a iioI
and true as steel!~
And then as he opened the first lettei
from department headuuarters. adj