The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-10
Stories Of an Inland State.

! Of pasture. he put joey down and taking
| off his trousers examined his leg. HI
4 didn't know what to make of it. The bull
let had passed through the leg and he fear
ed to take off the bandage he had wrapped
| around the night before. The bone wa:
not broken, he argued or the bullet would
not have penetrated. But he had dread
4 that the bone was slivered or scraped. h
| thought of blood-po;soning-his patient wa:
| suffering so, and of the probable outcome
Of amputation or death. When this pre-
scented itself to his mind he said lacon,caIly
Death"
| He knew nothing of surgery, so he tool
the bandage of cautiously and satisfying
himself that no artery had been severed
washed the wound. bandaged ii up tightly
and made a bed of leaves for his patient
ard put him upon it.
| He watched Joey go to sleep and then he
threw himself down on the grass and SLEPT
Ike log. 1t was afternoon when he
awoke. and seeing Joey awake he asked:
| why didn't you wake me? Does it still
| hurt?''
Yes" said Joey.
| IT know what you're thinking Of" said
Dick. You're hungry. Bless my soul
| SO am I. Let's see. It's afternoon. Did
You ever steal?''
joey shook his head.
well / have. Rob a city residence al
night, farm house in the afternoon. Let's
see. It's Saturday afternoon, too. That's
| good 1 wouldn't be surprised II there
wasn't a circus in town. too
"A circus in town." asked Joey.
Eyes. You see If there is a circus In
town everybody on the farm goes and it's a
picnic. Would you mind staying here alone
while 1 go and order our dinner?"
joey shook his head.
keep quiet and I'll be back as quickly as
possible
He went away whistling softly and in a
quarter of an hour came back and ex-
claimed:
well, blessed be the novels. They don't
lie. I've found that cabin-she's regular
Robinson Crusoe, too, built up against a
bank. Come on, We'll go there"
So he took joey into his arms and walked
away with him. down deeper into the woods
and into a small draw where the cabin, a
small rough affair of one room, had been
built up against the bank for the utility of
hole digged down through the bank and
into an open earthly fireplace. He made
Joey comfortable and started out again.
joey Immediately fell to sleep again. And
when he awoke the stranger had not re-
turned. He listened to the birds in the
trees and the gurgle of the water near by
and once more fell asleep with fitful dreams
CT the beautiful Miss Everett. of Madge,
of John Wright, of the diamonds, of the
detectives and of his father, his mother
and of his childhood and the night which
changed his life, and so dreamed on, and
was startled at last by voice.
Sleep said Dick bending over him.
Beats all doctors. Look what I've got"
He displayed his plumber, the contents Of
two country larders.
While they were eating, Dick talked on
glibly.
do you know who I ann" he asked To
which question Joey shook his head.
And you have no curiosity?"
Yes said Joey, II have. Some day
must repay YOU
How could you do that?"
Some day 1 WILL" insisted Joey
ITO what amount?' :.
Half of everything I have"
You are fair
81 ought 20 be with you. What am to
you? You did more than I could ask a
brother to do for me last night"
well pay later. I have not done all I
can YETI
You must leave me your name before
we separate" said Joey with the idea OF
remuneration still in his mind.
Quit it," said the thief. "In due time
I'll draw on you"
And TO the end of his life Joey never for
got those words, for in the future they
were to come to him out Of the past with
ringing intensity.
'By the way the thief said. My name
is Dick Thomas. This is my story
He ran quickly over the story of his ac-
cumulation of the diamonds, his call on
Peter Wattles, his brush with Joey on the
country road, his midnight meeting with
John Wright, his fight, the loss of the dia-
monds, his second meeting with John
Wright and what he knew about Joey,
which is not much" he added.
Then the detectives We're hunting you,
not me-" said Joey with a sigh OF relief.
81 don't know"
But Joseph did know. He knew now
that they were not after him. That, how
ever. did not lessen the pain in his leg
you don't want to tell your story?"
Dick. joey was silent.
Good enough! Best not to do it. I'm
too talkative-always was"
The detectives were after you," said
joey There is no doubt of it,
Perhaps. At least 1 thought they were
logged that conductor. for 1 knew they
had been telegraphing the state over for
me and bum sheriff will always ask a
If a lawbreaker is aboard. They
asked that once and L escaped-the fools |
and thank God they are fools. But IL |
they're after me, want to get out of this |
There it is. There's the duty |
1--WE to a friend"
You mean" said Joey. That I am |
keeping you here"
We'll yes, Joseph Reuter-. That is about |
he case. You haven't a friend have you /
hat L could go and see and bring here 10 |
AXE care of you while relieve some coun- /
Y of the expense of feeding me several |
months and the state several years"
Joey pondered. He felt the man was |
preparing to desert him. He could not /
blame him.
You see.'' said Dick Thomas. I'm
lunting for some good excuse TO get away
rom here The best know of is to de-
ert you because you said you were inno-
ent. If 1 believed that, L wouldn't be
lere now
But 1 am innocent" insisted Joey.
''1herei There,' cried the thief. enough
f that. But 1 must be getting out OF
ere. You don't think I'm hard-harted |
bout Il? I'm not. Name some friend |
nd I'll guide the same here-some woman |
ould nurse you best. though they can't |
eep secret-wh,ch by the way Is lie
or the worst tattlers on earth are men.
sn't there some woman who / could send
orr"
The thief paused. Through the brain OF
oey passed a csvalcade Of doubts. fears
nd anxie;ies- The man who had been
o kind 10 him was. obedient TO the call OF
representation, about to leave him. Where