Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-10-23

By RALPH COWNOR
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Author OF

friends" he said. looking straight into
his eyes.
"a man ought to know himself when
the pace is too swift" said the Duke,
a little more quickly than was his
wont
"You might have done anything
with him. Why didn't you help himp'
Moore's tones were stern and very
steady, and he never moved his eyes
from the other mans face, but the only
reply he got was shrug Of the shoul-
ders.
When the gray Of the morning was
coming in at the window the Duke
rose up, gave himself little shake and
said:
"I am not of any service here. !
shall come back in the evening""
He went and stood for few mo-
ments looking down upon the hot,
fevered face: then. turning to me, he
asked:
"What do you think?"
"Can't say! The bromide Is holding
him down Just now. His blood is bad
for that wound"
"Can 1 get anything?" knew him
we'll enough to recognize the anxiety
under his Indifferent manner.
''The Fort doctor ought to be got"
He nodded and went out.
"Have breakfast" called out Moore
from the door.
II shall get some at the Fort, thanks.
They won't take any hurt from me
there" he said. smiling his cynical
smile.
Moore opened his eyes In surprise.
"What's that for?" he asked me.
"Well, he is rather cut up, and you
rather rubbed it into him, you know
1 said. for l thought Moore little
hard.
Did l say anything untrue?"
"Well, not untrue, perhaps; but
truth Is like medicine-not always good
TO take" at which Moore was silent
till his patient needed him again.
1t was a weary day. The intense
pain from the wound and the high
fever from the poison in his blood
kept the poor fellow In delirium till
evening, when the Duke rode up with
the Fort doctor. lingo appeared as
nearly played out as a horse Of his
spirit ever allowed himself to become.
Seventy miles," said the Duke,
swinging himself off the saddle. "The
doctor was ten miles out. How Is hep
I shook my head, and he led away
his horse to give him rub and feed.
Meantime the doctor, who was OF
the army and had seen service, was
examining his patient. He grew more
and more puzzled as he noted the va
rious symptoms. Finally he broke out:
what have you been doing to him
Why is he in this condition? This
flea bite doesn't account for all" point
ing to the wound.
We stood like children reproved.
Then the Duke said hesitatingly:
81 fear, doctor, the life has been a
little too hard for him. He had Sc
we're nervous attack-seeing things,
you know.
"Yes. l know" stormed the old doc
tor. II know you well enough, with
| your head Of cast iron and no nerves
to speak OF. | know the crowd and
how you lead them. Internal fools!
You'll get your turn some day. I've
warned you before"
The Duke was standing up before
the doctor during this storm smiling
! slightly All at once the smile faded
out. and he pointed to the bed. Bruce
was sitting up quiet and steady. He
stretched out his hand to the Duke.
Don't mind the old fool" he said,
holding the Dukes hand and looking
up at him as fondly as If he were a
girl. Its my own funeral-funeral?'
He paused. Perhaps it may be-who
knows?-feel queer enough-but, re-
| member. Duke. It's my own fault.
| Don't lister to those bally FOOLS" look
ing toward Moore and the doctor.
"My own fault"-his voice died down
-"my own fault"
The Duke bent over him and laid
him back OH the pillow, saying:
Thanks, Old chap. You're good stuff.
I'll not forget. Just keep quiet and
you'll be all right" He passed his
cool, firm hand over the hot brow Of
the man looking up at him with love In
his eyes. and in Il few moments Bruce
fell asleep Then the Duke lifted him
self up and. facing the doctor, said In
his coolest tone:
Your words are more true than op-
perfume, doctor. Your patient will
need all your attention. AS for my
morals, Mr. Moore kindly intrusts him
self with the care Of them" This
with a bow toward the Pilot.
81 wish him joy Of his charge" "
snorted the doctor, turning again to the
bed where Bruce had already passed
into delirium.
The memory Of that vigil was like a
horrible nightmare for months. Moore
lay on the floor and slept. The Duke
| rode off somewhither. The old doctor
and | kept watch. All night poor
Bruce raved in the widest delirium.
singing now psalms. now songs. swear
ing at the cattle or his poker partners,
and now and then, in the quieter mo-
ments, he was back in his old home,
boy. with boys friends and sports.
Nothing could check the fever. 1t
baffled the doctor, who often during the
night declared there was no sense
in wound like that working up
such fever, adding curses upon the
folly Of the Duke and his Company.