Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-11-05

nara.
Did | say anything untrue?"
well. not untrue, perhaps; but
truth is like medicipe--not always coed
TO take" At which Moore was silent
till his patient needed him again.
II WIS weary day. The intense
pnin from the wound and the high
fever from the poison In his blood
kept the poor fellow In delrium till
evening, when the Duke rode up with
the Fort doctor. lingo appeared as
nearly played out as horse Of his
spirit ever allowed himself 10 become
Seventy miles" said the Duke.
swinging himself Off the saddle "'rhe
doctor was ten miles out. How Is he p
I shook my head. and he led away
his horse TO give him a rub and feed
Meantime the doctor who was Of
the army and had seen service, was
examining his patient lie grew more
and moro puzzled as lie 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 snid hcsitatingly:
Il fear doctor. the life has been a
little too hard for him. He had So
we're nervous attack-seeing things,
you know.
Yes. know" stormed the old doc
tor. II know YOU we'll 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 stu nding ND before
the doctor during this storm smiling
slightly. All at once the smile fnded
out. and he pointed 10 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 rs my own funeral -funeral?"
He paused. perhaps it may be-who
knowsi-feel queer enouRh-but, re
member, Duke. It's my own fault
Don't listen TO those bally fools" look
ing toward Moore AID The doctor.
MY own fault"--his voice died down
my own fault"
The Duke bent over him and laid
him back on the pillow, saying:
"Thanks. old chap. You're good stuff.
III 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 nj him with love in
his eyes. and in a few moments Bruce
fell asleep. Then the Duke lifted him
self up and, facing the doctor, said in
his coolest tone:
Your words are moro true than on
FORTUNE, doctor. Your p;iient viii
need all your attention. ~ 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
he'd where Bruce had already passed
into delirium.
The memory Of that vigil was like
horrible nightmare for months Moore
lay on the floor and slept The Duke
rode off sOmewhther. The old doctor
Tn1 ! kept watch All night poor
fruco ravcd in the widest deirium.
singing now psalms, now songs, swear
Ing at the cattle or his poker partners.
and now and then, in the quietcr mo-
ments he was back in his old home,
Il boy, with II boys friends and sports
Nothing could check the fever Ii
bnftled the doctor who often during the
night declared there was no sense
IN a wound like that working mp
such 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.
"IIc ought to get over this" he
answered impatiently. "ButI believe."
lie added deliberately, hell have to
go"
Everything stood still for momen4
II seemed impossible Two DAYS ago
fun Of NE. now on the way ont
There crowded in upon me thoughts of
his home; his mother, whose LETTERS he
used 10 show me fun OF anxious love;
hs wild life here, with all its generous
impulses, its mistakes, it's folly.
How long viii he last" | asked,
and my lips were dry and numb.
Perhaps twenty -foar hours. perhaps
longer He can't throw off the poison"
The old doctor proved q true prophet.
After another day of agonized delirium
he sank into a stupor which lasted
through the night.
Then the change came. As the light
began to grow at 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 hook of wonder came
into his eyes.
"Is it coming?" he asked in q faint.
awed voice. "Do you really think
must go?"
The eager appeal In his voice and
the wistfu longing In the wide open,
startled eyes We're too much for
Moore. lie backed behind me and
could hear him weeping Ike baby.
Bruce heard him too.
is that the Pilot?" he asked. In
stantly Moore pulled himself up, wiped