Evening star., 1900-12-15

made up of Observation-Disclosures. Recovery
might have been even more remote in Nor
mans case. however. but for the presence
within the same walls, though now in diff
ferent wards of these two men whom he
longed to meet and assure of his utter in
nocence, and the occasional coming of this
one girl whom he had learned in happier
days SO fondly to love. At both entrances
to his ward, however, night and day, there
stood sentries with cleaning bayonets.
There was only one steward or attendant
who seemed kindly disposed toward the
lonely patient Even his fellow GONZALES
cents looked upon him with but thinly veil
ed aversion. which in his pride he never
sought to palliate. The overworked sur
geons barely noticed him on their hurried
rounds, but this steward took special
charge over his case and was apparently
bent 'on getting him to talk, ito come out
OF yourself, as he expressed it, and though
too sad and worn to feel like chatting Nor
man was grateful for the kindiness and in
terest. grateful that there one friend of
whom he could seek information. 1t was
through this humble soldier he heard from
DAY 10 day OF the gradual betterment in the
could also learn the hour at which the
ladies' were expected to arrive. They spent
no more nights by young Lanes bedside
now, but generally came in the morning
about D. and, passing through the broad
corridor close to the open door of Normans
ward, We're ushered into the opposite room
ihe momentary glimpse thus obtained of
her was almost the only sunshine that
came irto his life
Ihen some ten days after their first ap-
ped!ance fortune favored him in the unex-
pected way In which fortunes favors gen.
efaily come. Among the patents IN the
opposite ward were a few whC Sc lever had
resulted in delirium One night all on
sudden. with howl of terror, poor fell
low came bounding into the corridor, and
the sentry over Normans door actually
dropped his gun and ran, yelling down
STAIRS, frightened out of his wits by the
apparition. Two attendants pursued the
hpi Ctkf fEoir
own devices, and Norman, sitting up IN
bed. VIDE awake, was suddenly aware of
haggard young face peering cautiously
INTO the corridor from the opposite door
Away out along the gallery with much out
cry and excitement the fugitive was run
down and was being overpowered by the
rush OF attendants. For the moment no
one In authority was left in either ward
and it was patent to Norman Holt's keen
eyes that here was patient attempting to
escape. What was more, even in the
changed, haggard face he recognized Theo-
dore Lane
BY this time. too. strength had measur-
ably returned, and excitement lent nm
more 1t was the work of but mute to
Sip into the loose hospital shoes and trous-
ers with which he had been provided, to
hasten to the doorway and there, under the
llgnt or the swinging lamp at the head of
the stairs, just IN time to confront the
younger and weaker man. Norman Holt
looked squarely into the eyes of Daisys
brother, with only the quiet question,
1t was the voice, not the face, the rattle
Drained youngster knew at once, and real
lied, as he had done time and again, tnat
here was his master.
'D-n it, he feebly whtned, let me out
of this hell hole. l will go, Holt! You've
no light to stop me! You"
But do stop you! Sergeant of the
guard he called in low, controlled voice,
yet in the old authoritative tone, for ha
heard the clank of rifle butts and the
sound of excited talk below, "a fever pa
tent ls loose. Come up here with two or
three men
And the sergeant came, just as the at
tendants, with their fighting lunatic, strug-
6 ed back to the corridor. Lane mlserably
burst INTO tears and meekly succumbed, be-
ing led back without protest or resistance.
Tnen the sergeant stood facing Holt.
This is a queer streak" said he You're
no private soldier. You're the only man we
are ordered to guard and here you are act
ing as guard Of the ward when your own
was scared off his post. We've got to put
on another man, for that fellows complete
day about this tomorrow"
1t seems he did, and that others told Mrs.
Lane, and that Mrs. Lane and her daughter
begged to be permitted to see and thank
the brave young soldier who had so be-
friended their poor, half-delirious boy. And
al 10 O'Clock next morning, as Norman Holt
sat close to the open door, he saw them
coming Mrs. Lane and Daisy, guided by the
steward, and bent on their errand of graft
tude to this unknown benefactor, himself a
patient. And the lad felt his strength GO
ing, felt all his nerves quiver.ng felt as
though the room were swimming round
he slowly found his feet and faced them.
There a faint, barely articulate cry
from the daughters lips. 1t was the moth
ers words that reused the entire ward:
'Norman-Norman Holt. You here? Oh,
my poor-We thought-we were told you
were-in prison.
t'rO be contnued)