Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-02-03
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
IL Will Be There"
TOrlglnal.1


to spend summer in that way before
settling down to practice. 1 went to
Denver, where found party organic
ing to visit the Colorado. l was invited
to join and was soon on the way, great
ly eXhilarated at the prospect before
me.
When we reached the extreme limit
of what was then inhabited country,
q man in sombrero and bucksllin came
into camp one evening and asked if
we carried medicine chest. His lit
tie daughter. ten years of age, was Ill,
and he wanted something TO give her,
though he didn't seem TO know what.
When | told him that l was physi-
clan and offered TO visit the child, the
man looked at me with an expression
Of relief and gratitude that 1 shall new
er forget He led me to his cabin,
short distance from the camp. and
there found a bad case Of typhoid
fever.
What was needed most were weeks
of careful nursing. but there was no
one at hand with experience sufficient
to nurse intelligently. The nearest
neighbor was twenty miles away and
If reached would not likely be avail
able l knew that the only chance for
the ch:ld's life was for me TO remain
with her until she had passed the
crisis. To do this 1 must abandon my
trip TO the Colorado, for il was out of
the question for me to think of follow
ing the party through Il wilderness. /
laid out some drugs. with directions
for their use. then told the father and
mother what was required. | was
young in the profession. and the APP
pealing look they both gave me broke
down my intention TO leave them. l
saw my party move on without me the
next morning. remained with the child
till she was on the way 10 recovery.
then returned TO the east. Before leav-
ing. the father-John Granger was his
uame-took my hand and. looking at
me with strange dreamy eyes. said TO
me:
stranger. if you ever need, help to
save your life. | will he there"
1t was twelve years before l got an
opportunity to make another attempt
to visit the far west. This time l
struck farther south and. having my
own attendants, began Il tour through
the southwestern territories.
1t was the middle of August and
very hot We started one morning to
cross a belt of country on which there
is not n drop of water. l attempted
to hire a couple of mules in order TO
carry an extra supply. but failed, and
we were obliged to start with but two
kegs, one slung on each side of pack
horse. The supply was a-plenty IL we
got through on time.
We had gone but a short distance
when our guide WAS taken sick and
insisted on returning. One of the men
of the party declared that he knew the
way perfectly and would pilot us
through. l told him to go ahead. All
day we rode over desert plains on
which there was neither tree nor shrub,
not a thing to break for Il moment the
heat of the sun. In the afternoon l
noticed our volunteer guide looking
about him. evidently for landmarks,
and with Il troubled expression.
"Shall we get water in time for sup
PERI" l asked him.
The sun hung. a great round ball of
red fire. on the horizon. and there were
no signs of timber. The day faded
into dusk. and there was naught about
us or before us save desolate plain.
The black night came on. We were
lost,
- The sun rose round and red, fore
warning us of a burning day. At noon
we drank the last drop of water we
possessed. When the fiery ball sank
again in the west, we had begun to
suffer the pangs of thirst. Another
day. and our course was marked by
the bodies of men and animals. We
left them, still pushing on, still strain
ing our eyes for distant view of tim
Der.
That night I lay apart from the rest
thinking of the home that / did not
hope to see again, my wife, my chill
dren. The saddest thought was what
would be their grief if they knew that
within q few hours l should die in the
agonies of thirst.
Then I heard n low voice:
doctor, am herer'
arose and through the gloom saw q
oning me. 1 could not distinguish his
features, but knew it was John Gran
ger. Weakening my companions, 1 di-
rected them 10 follow me. l did not
tell them that before me was a guide.
either I'm the flesh or in the spirit. who
had once said to me. stranger, if you
ever need help to save your life, 1 will
be there"
For hours kept my eyes on the fig- |
ure before me. Now and again some |
of the party must pause for |
rest. Then / lost sight of our guide. |
When we moved on, there he was n |
form, barely distinct enough |
for me to distinguish him from the |
gloom. At last / turncf |
my head to look for sign Of day.
When looked again before me, the
figure had vanished.