Idaho Springs siftings., 1902-11-22

bC6aA " OCA0 Win hCA WCl6Ab a.
last, but she still kept on, almost fall
ing off, for the limb was growing
smaller and she could not grip it tight.
She fiattened her body down upon it
like a worm crawling ON a quivering
twig, all the time telling Jimson to
cheer up and she would save him. The
limb bent lower and lower still, until
Jimson had a tiny branch in his grasp.
Now, hold on tight" the widow
commanded, "and keep still. l am go
ing back, and when my weight is off
the limb it will spring up and pull you
out"
So saying, she began to crawl back
ward cautiously, lest a single slip
should throw her off her balance and
her efforts prove in vain. The broken,
jagged twigs and branches caught her
dress and pierced her flesh, but with
resistless force she bore her whole
weight backward against them and
tore herself free, reaching the trunk
in safety, whence she dropped painting
to the ground.
Jimson worked the sticky earth and
sand into the consistency of Cruel, by
turning and twisting, until finally the
downward suction ceased and the up
ward spring of the tree branch began
to draw him up and out. Then, climb
ing hand over hand along the limb as
1t bent back to its normal position,
the woman encouraging him all the
way, he finally reached safety. and,
dropping from the limb to the ground,
broke his leg and fell unconscious.
When he recovered his senses he
was lying on a couch in the widows
little parlor, the widow herself bend
ing over him with bowl of steaming
tea which she made him drink.
Il must go home, widow" said Jim
son trying to stand up and walk, but
falling to the floor groaning with
pain. Lifting him back upon the
couch, the widow bade him lie still
while she went for the doctor.
Hmm, very bad case" re-
marked the doctor after an examina-
ton of the fractured member.
Crushed, twisted and broken. How
did it happen?"
When put in possession of the facts,
the doctor burst out into roar of
laughter What a sighti What a
sight" he exclaimed as soon as he
recovered his breath.
What do you mean?" demanded the
widow, bridling up.
why, your crawling out on that
limb and crawfshing back again" The
imaginative doctor again broke out
into fit of laughter, which was sud
denly checked by a sound box on the
ear administered by the angry wom-
an.
You're here to fix this poor mans
leg, not to insult a woman!" she
snapped out with fire in her eyes.
widow, l beg your pardon" said
the doctor humbly as he turned to his
patient.
TT will be six weeks before he can
crawl about on crutches, and two
months before he can attempt to
walk" was the fat when the opera
tion had, been completed.
six weeks? Two months" ?"
groaned Jimson. 'Le'me go home. l
must go home" and he attempted to
rise, compelling the doctor to hold
him down on his back.
But the COW, widow, l must git the
cow" said he plaintively.
Never mind the COW, Mr.. Jimson,"
said the widow; let it go to Halifax.
You've got to lie still for six weeks or
two months. I'll take care of you"
And she did take care of him, pull
ing him through until he was able to
walk.
Not long afterward, about ten days
before Thanksgiving day, the widows
little house was burned to the ground,
all she had in the worl1 being con-
sumed with it. When the bucket bri-
gade finished lighting the fiery demon,
the latter had the best of it-there was
nothing left but the widow-yes. there
was the hencoop, but that was not a
fit habitation for her. although she
thought she might fix it up and get
along all right until she could afford
to build some sort of shanty to pro-
tect her from the inclement weather.
She refused all offers Of aid, but
Squire Hobbs laid down the law and
she was compelled to yield.
"You will go over to my house and