The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-06-09

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Jest come IN OF the liner Wat
son inquired
Yes; something got the matter with
ny eyes- The sun and the heat did
t. I guess Yea see, he began slow
u, as II recalling something which
was dim in his memory. Il was down
at the Quzytermzs1er's keeping books,
until about 3 week ago. Ny COMPANY
was doing gusrd-dzty along the water
front. but when they got orders 70 20
on the line. Why. did Mt want TO
stay in the Office | wanted 70 be
with the boys Wouldn't youz
@Of course Watson answered
Well" Bennett continued. 4 was
relieved there to go out and help in
the scrapping. / stood II pretty well
for q while. but they marched so far.
and everything was so bad.-the IA
lions and the water, you know.-that
three DAYS ago / had TO fall out /
couldn't keep up
You hain't very big said Watson;
1T Is tough work. too. ] know; | was
knocked out myself
~Oh. I'm nineteen. most twenty.
Bennett insisted. Tand could stand il
IL I was used TO t. Bat crossing a
rfcefeId-you know how the sun
comes down on your tainted / lay
there in the sun about an hour.
guess. When | came to there was Mt
anybody to look after me, so | crawiei
into the shade and went 10 sleep l
thought / could go on after | rested
awhile. Well, when woke up 1t was
raining and dark as pitch u1ed
to move. and it nearly killed me- |
was stiff and sore, and my head was
buzzing and ringing and pounding ike
it would split remembered an old
shack back along the road, and got
there somehow. slipping and stnmo-
ling in the mud and tearing myself
on the bamboo-thorns. I found pile
of straw. and stayed there that night
and all the next day. almost burning
M with the fever. Finally / heard
some one going along the road.
hollered, and they heard me- It was
an ambulance out picking up strag-
glers like me. They loaded me into
the wagon, and since then I've been
humping around in ii"
He stopped, and Watson cooled the
bandage in the pan of water and re-
placed it over his eyes. Your eyes
seem right bad" he said.
Yes Bennett answered: the heat
did that. the steward told me. He
had some long name for it. He SAYS
they'll be better when / get in dark
room. Now I can't see thing, even
when l hold 'em wide open"
hn4 -
drawled. Now. you get some sleep,
an in the mo'nin' the doc II fix you
up as good as evan. Good night"
Good night, Tennessee" said Ben
nett, and in a few minutes he was
asleep.
Several times before morning when
the bandage lost its GOODNESS Watson
| freshened it and laid it tenderly over
the swollen eyes.
might as well do somethin' fer the
little fellow" he told himself, '"cause
can't sleep nohow. have to think
bout goin' home"
DR.. Long shook his head gravely
when he examined BENEFITS eyes that
morning.
well. my boy" he said. this white
tent over you won't do. Well have
to put you in a dark room for
while"
Watson, in honor of his last day
in the ward. had insisted on being
helped to the Office that afternoon
He was sitting in a large chair, chat
ting with Miss Howard. when the
doctor came in
Say. here's pretty fix" the lat
ter began: mot dark room in the
whole hospital Not place to make
one-every corner has q sick maj
crowded into it Now, what are we
going to do with this ophthalmit
case?s
Cant we fix up room outside
the hospital?" Miss Howard suggest
| ed
No; I've hunted everywhere" tbs
doctor answered. Cant find place
that will do at ALL
He looked down the ward. Hat
way down the row of white beds h
could see Bennett lying on his back
his eyes covered by the wet bandage
The doctor turned quickly. ave
must have a dark ROOM" he saiC
fiercely. THAT boy will be stone
blind in three days If he lies undel
this white tent"
Watson started. SAY. doc. yo,
don't mean that do you? He hahn
that bad. is he?"
I'm afraid So" the doctor an
swered.
Watson sat quite STILL looking fixed
" out at the hot, dusty yard before
the tent. Il was-iest thinkin'." b.
said slowly. Il reckon could wal
/ s'pose they 'ye got dark rooms OF
the hospitalship. You d better pu
that little fellow on in my place
Hain't no danger bout mel XII
stand it a spell longer.-an' eff h
stays. why-his lamps II go out-he'l
go blind. mean" he explained
with a faint smile.
watson. said the doctor.
Now. Watson. you can't" Mis-
Howard began.
He stopped them both with ri
hand. "Pshaw, ii s nothin' I XII
! wait. An when You take him. doC
Jest tell him he s a-goin' to the dar
room. cause he knows was a-goir
J home today-an' he might .ketch 81
reckon he would mt go eff he knew.
The ambulance came half an hou
later. Number One and Number Fol