Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-02-21


enormity of the interests at stake
flashed upon him and stupor gave way
to intelligent action. Selling towel,
he wiped the girls hands and forced
her into chair.
Stay there" he said, land on your
life do not cry out or leave the room
before | return. Do you understand? ?"
Yes" she said, simply, and fixed her
gaze upon the window. He bound the
towel tightly about the head of the
wounded man, lifted him in his arms
as it he were child, and passed out
into the night. A few moments later
the rush of wheels was heard upon
! the street,
Some patient of the Doctors is
worse" said policeman upon a corner
two squares away as the flying We
hicle passed him.
DR.. BroSnar was rescued from a
bad complication by his especial treas
ure, Joe, the driver.
go and bring your mother" he said,
quickly, as he lifted the unconscious
Somers from the carriage in front of
his Office. Don't lose one second!
Keep your mouth shut" Joe was out
of hearing before the doctor reached
his operating-room. The doctors as
sistant, half dressed, appeared quick
| ly. Somers was stretched upon q
table, and his wound critically exam
ined. The bullet had entered over and
behind the right ear. and the side of
his head was clotted with blood. A
second wound an inch farther back
became visible as the blood was washed
away, but a probe carefully inserted
in the forward wound came out of
the other, touching the skull in pass
ing. There was no particle of brain
matter in the blood.
"Syncope from concussion," said
Brodnar. watch him carefully until
l return and do not permit him to
speak The sound of wheels approach
ing caused him to descend the steps
three at time. He pressed back the
aged negro woman who was dismount-
ing.
ITO the same place, Joe! Hurry!"
he said, and the door closed.
The woman so hastily secured was
none other than the nanny" who
had looked after the welfare of Frances
since infancy. She had been encour-
aged to absent herself for the night.
Trained under the old regime, with a
sense of proprietorship in her old mis-
tress and daughter, with deep and
impregnable pride in the family, she
needed no cautioning. Nevertheless
DR.. Brodnar said as they entered 81
| lently, the deserted yard:
There has been an accident, nam.
| my. Ask no questions and answer
none. Permit nobody to see your
young mistress. Do you understand 2"
DE chile amt hut, young marster?"
No. A friend was. Her mind has
been affected deeply by her fathers
condition and this shock has upset her.
You must know nothing more of it."
Frances sat as he had left her, in
the armchair. Shesoffered no resistance
when they laid her upon the bed and
administered an opiate. The stains of
blood were carefully removed from
| her lands, and her wrapper changed,
| and DR.. Brodnar prepared to depart,
for the day was now breaking. He re-
ing the floor for it, when the reaction
set in and Frances began to cry bit
terly. Obeying his silent motion, NAM
my passed into the dressing-room and
he took tie girls hand.
"The whole blame rests upon me-"
he said, gently. Keep quiet; will
see you through" And then cry burst
from him: what fool! what fool!
And to think that Dick Somers-!" At
sound of this name the girls grief be-
came almost uncomfortable.
"He loved me- she said, brokenly.
"And it has cost him his life!"
Loved you! Never! If he had aimed
| better, could forgive him" She was
silent.
| "If he had aimed better!"-then she
sat up with almost frantic energy.
Eyes. The wound is not fatal.
Frances, Frarces-back, my child"
Take me to himF-1 must, must go
to him"
"You are simply mad!'
| "He is my husband-I love him! 1
love him!"
Brodnar groaned and turned away
his head. Suddenly the girl shivered
and drew back, her gaze set fearfully
on something behind him.
| CLOSE the window she whispered
in changed voice, they may return"
| what-what do you mean?"
He was upon his feet, a strange light
in his face.
st came from that window" she
whispered fearfully; some one fred
| through the Stats"
GOD in Heaven!" he cried, 81 thank
you! Dick! Dick! forgive mel" He
plunged out into the gray dawn and
left the girl amazed and terrified.
| (To be continued.)
Burdinston Route Excursions to Cali
| fornia.