The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-30
CHAPTER XXXIII.
A THoUsAND-LEGGED BEAST.

While CASTOR and the men were car
rying Flora and Tom to the house, an
| other searching party was formed. There
were no women and children among
them only grim visaged silent men, and
a pair of little mild-eyed sharp nosed
blood hounds. All the morning men were
coming in from the country and joining
this silent army OF searchers.
Doctor Graham came, looked long and
gravely at Flora and turned a sad face
| toward Tom.
The old soldier grasped his arm before
he spoke.
Now doctor. wait--don't say a word
yet. I don't want to know the truth, If
it's the worst. Don't kill me in minute.
Let me live as long as there's a breath
in her body-after that! we'll, that's the
end-there's nothin' after that"
The doctor started to speak.
Wait" pleaded Tom, LET me tell
you something. I've been praying all
night! I've seen God face to face. She
can't die. He told me So"
He paused and his grip on the DOCTOR
arm relaxed as though he were about to
faint, but he rallied.
The kindly old doctor said gently, "sit
down. Tom
He tried to lead Tom away from the
bed, but he held on like a bull dog
The child breathed heavily and moan
ed.
Toms face frightened. "She's comm
to. doctor,-thank God"
The doctor paid no more attention to
him and went on with his work as best
he could
Tom laid his tear-stained face close
to hers, and murmured soothingly to her
as he used to when she was a wee baby
in his arms
There. there, honey, it will be all
right now! The doctors here, and he'll
do all he can! And what he can't do.
God will. The doctor'n save you. God
will save you! He loves you. He loves
me. l prayed all night. He heard me.
l saw the shinin' glory OF His face. He's
only tryin' his poor old servant
The broken artery was found and tied
and the bleeding stopped. When the
wound in her head was dressed the doc
tor turned to Tom,
THAT wound is bad, but not necessari-
ly fatal"
praise Cod"
her see a strange face when she regains
consciousness" was his parting injunc-
| tion
| The next morning her breathing was
| regular, and pulse stronger but feverish
and about seven o'clock she came out OF
her comatose state and regained con-
| seriousness. She spoke but once, and APP
parently at the sound of her own voice
i111foo lot ;r%1 LII
clinching her little fists screaming and
calling to her father for help!
When Tom first heard that awful cry
and saw her terrified eyes and drawn
face he tried to cover his own eyes and
stop his ears. Then he gathered the lit
tie convulsed body into his arms and
| crooned into her ears,
There, Pappy's baby, don't cry!
Pappy's got you now! Nothin can hurt
you! There, there, nothin shall come
nigh you!"
He covered her face with tears and
kisses while he whispered and soothed
her to sleep. When the noon train came
up from Independence. General Worth
arrived. Tom had asked CASTOR to tele-
graph for him in his name.
Tom eagerly grasped his hand. Cen
eral, / knowed you'd come--youre man
to tie to. / never knowed you to fail
me in your life. You're one of the
smartest men in the world. too. You
never got us boys in a hole so deep you
didn't pull us out
What can 1 do for you?'' interrupted
the General.
"Ah, now's the worst of all, General
I'm in water too deep for me- My baby,
the last one left on earth, the apple of
my eye, all that holds my old achin'
body to this world-she s-about-to-
die! I can't let her! General you must
save her for me! 1 want more doctors.
They say there's a great doctor at In
dependence. | want 'em all. Tell 'em
it's poor old one-legged soldier who s
shot all to pieces and lost his wife and
all his children-all but this one baby
And / can't lose her! They'll come If
you ask EN-" His voice broke.
I'll do it. Tom. I'll have them here
on special in three hours or maybe
sooner" returned the General. pressing
his hand and hurrying to the telegraph
office
The doctors arrived at three o'clock
and held a consultation with Doctor
Graham. They decided that the loss OF
blood had been so great that the only
chance to save her was in the transfu-
sion OF Hood.
The General and CASTOR both were
there trying to comfort Tom
III give her the blood. Tom" said
CASTOR, qietly removing his coat and
barring his arm.
The old soldier looked I'D through
grateful tears
Next to the General. you're the best
friend God ever give me, boy!'
The General turned his face away and
looked out of the window. The doctors
Immediately performed the operation,
transfusing blood from CASTOR into the
child The results did not seem to
promise what they had hoped. Her fever
rose steadily. She became conscious
again and Immediately went into the
most fearful commissions, breaking the
torn artery second time.
Just as the sun sank behind the blue
mountain peaks in the west. her neart
Huttered and she was dead.
Tom sat by the bed for two hours look
Ing, looking, looking with wide staring
eyes at her white dead face. There was
not the trace OF tear. His mouth was