The Holly chieftain., 1898-10-07

shade OF tree al the side OF the roud.
Miss Minor followed him quietly.
docs his heart beat ?" she asked. in
strained voice. He laid his head on
Converse's chest, and as he looked up
with a reassuring nod, she murmured:
Thank God. he is not dead" and then
she added: I'VE must get him back
to the hotel. where there are several
good physicians, you know"
Sutton was amazed at her composure.
.'You are quite right" he said. Ale
must be taken back-somehow."
And then she reminded him that n
short distance back they had passed
farm wagon drawn up under the shade
of tree, while the driver indulged in
an afternoon nap.
II will wait here with Mr.. Converse"
she said. while you return and bring
back the wagon"
She was kneeling beside the wound
ed man, trying 20 staunch the blood
which flowed from the ugly wound on
his head. Her dress was spattered
with crimson stains, her hat had fallen
off and she was very pale, but as Sutton
still hesitated she looked up with a
ghost of the old brilliant smile.
When Sutton returned with the kind
farmer and his wagon he said, quietly:
II think it would be best for me to
ride on ahead to the hotel and get
things ready for your coming"
Decidedly" she said, emphatically.
You can do nothing further here,
much perhaps there"
When he had made the necessary
preparations for the reception of the
wounded man he rode back to join
the little party in the farmers wagon.
Converse was still unconscious when
he was carried into the hotel, and
after a very brief examination the sur
geons reported that he was still suffer.
ing from a compound fracture of the
skull. 1t was necessary to perform the
operation of trepanning without de-
lay, and in the wounded mans room
the preparations went quietly for
ward.
Miss Minor had removed her blood
soaAed garments and taken up her po
sition near the door Of the sick cham.
ber, pale ghost of her former self
while Sutton strolled restlessly up and
down on the piazza. He was trying
hard to crush down the thought which
kept rising in his mind, that 1t would
be better for Rose il Converse should
never rally after the first operation.
"She loves him; am sure of ii now =
he groaned. "and he is SO unworthy of
her. l could give her up If it were for
her happiness, but to see my darling
mnrsied to rake and fortune-hunter
like Converse"
He felt light touch on his arm, and
turned in surprise to find Rose stand
ing beside him, pale and trembling.
"Oh, Mr.. Sutton!" she said, speaking
in quick gasps, "a dreadful thing has
happened. BY some mistake the ether
used in the operation has given out.
The surgeons work is only half done.
and Mr.. Converse is regaining con
sciousness. They must have more
ether at once-I told them knew you
would go--to the drug store near the
railroad station--remember, his life
depends upon your quick return"
Before she finished speaking Sutton
was flying down the road on his wheel.
The big office clock struck seven as he
started and the drug store was over a
mile away. 1t was well that the rider
did not have time to think he was rid
ing to save the life of the man who
stood between him and the woman he
loved, but-she had asked him to go
the life of the wounded man was pre-
cious to her, and he sped on through
the gathering twilight.
Fortunately, the druggist was stand
ing on the steps of his little shop, and
Sutton shouted directions to him as he
approached; in less than two minutes
he was speeding back again, the can
containing the ether swinging from
The handle-bar of his wheel and as he
sprang on at the door of the hotel, the
hands of the Office clock pointed at
Line minutes past the hour.
1t was Rose who took the ether from
his hand, whispering:
Il knew you would do it," and she
hastened away to the scene of the
grim battle between science and
death.
Half an hour later the surgeon came
out of Converse's room smiling en-
couragement, and Rose turned to SUIT
ton with long sigh of relief. They
walked out together on the deserted
piazza, and when they had walked q
little way in silence Rose suddenly
paused and held out her hand with
characteristic impetuosity.
"Will you forgive me 2" she faltered.
What have l to forgive 2" he asked,
gently.
Much" she said, and when he would
have protested she shook her head.
You must let me explain" she said
when Mr.. Converse first came here I
liked him and-it vexed me that you
apparently did not. l thought that
vou were harsh ia your judgment of
him, and unfair in speaking of him as
you did. But"-she paused a moment
and Sutton wondered vaguely what
was to follow-"this afternoon 1 dis
covered that you were right. Mr.. Con-
verse did not act like-iike a gentle
man; he had been drinking, think"
she shuddered. Don't ask me to ex-
plain, but his words and manner sur
prised and repelled me, and when you
joined us was much relieved and
and glad"
Her voice sank almost to whisper
and she covered her face with her
hands, but Sutton drew them gently
away.
Miss Minor" he began, "Rose, do
understand that things are not-as
had thought, between you and Con-