Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-24

MOORE opened LIS eyes III SulpA
whats that for?' he asked me.
"Well. he IS rather cut up, and you
gather rubbed 1t into him. YOU know"
I said, for / thought Moore little
hard
Ibid 1 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 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 of the saddle. The
doctor was ten miles out. How is hef"
l 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:
IL fear, doctor, the life has been
little too hard for him. He had Sc
we're nervous attack--seeing things,
you know.
Eyes, know" stormed the old doc
tor. 81 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.
up at him as fondly rs if he were q
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 listen to those baliy FOOLS" look
ing toward Moore and the doctor.
"AIy own fault"-his voice died down
-"iny own fault"
The Duke bent over him and laid
him back on 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 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 OPP
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 coward the Pilot.
az wish him joy of his charge
snorted the doctor, turning again to the
bed where Bruce had already passed
into lelirium.
The memory of that vigil was like
horrible nightmare for months. Moore
Law on the noor and slept. The Duke
rode off somewhither. The old doctor
and l 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,
AMI 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
batiled the doctor, who often during the
night declared there was no sense
in wound like that working up
such a fever, adding curses upon the
folly Of the Duke and his Company.
you don't think he will not get
better, doctor?" asked, in answer to
one Of his outbreaks.
HE ought to get over this" he
answered ,hmpatiently. "But believe"
he added deliberately, hell have to
60"
Everything stood still for a moment
1t seemed impossible. Two days ago
full Of life, now on the way out.
There crowded in upon me thoughts of
his home: his mother. whose letters he
used to show me full of anxious love;
his wild life here, with all its generous
impulses its mistakes, its folly.
How long will he iast?" I asked,
and my lips were dry and numb.
perhaps twenty-four hours, perhaps
longer. He can't throw OFF the poison"
The old doctor proved true prophet.
After another day of agonized delirium
he sank into stupor which lasted
through the night.
Then the change came. AS the light
began to grow ut the eastern rim OF
the prairie and tip the far mountains In
the west, Bruce opened his eyes and
looked about upon US. The doctor had
gone: the Duke had not come back:
Moore and were alone. He gazed at
us steadily for some moments; read
our faces. A look Of wonder came
into his eyes.
is it coming?" he asked in a faint,
awed voice. "Do you really thiNk l
must go?'
The eager appeal IN his voice and
the wistful longing in the wide open,
startled eyes were too much FOR
Moore. He backed behind me and
could hear him weeping like a baby.
Il,....,.. l,,,.,..l Lii TOO,