The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-11-26
CHAPTER VIII.

| The doctor came that night. ana
took out of my back q piece of flattened
lead. 1t had gone under the flesh
quite half round my body next to
the ribs. without doing worse than 10
rake HE bone here and there and weak.
! en- me with a loss of blood. woke
! awhile before he came. The baroness
| and the fat butler were sitting beside
me. She was a big stout woman OF
some 40 years, with dark hair and
gray eyes, and teeth of remarkable
symmetry. That evening, remember
she was in full dress.
my poor boy!" said she, in English
and in a sympathetic tone, as she bent
over me-
Indeed, my own mother could not
lave been kinder than that good wo-
man. She was one that had a
heart and hand for the sck-room.
told her how | had been hurt and OF
my ride She heard me through with
a glow in her eyes.
What a story" said she. What a
daredevil! do not see how II has
beer possible for you to live.
She spoke to me always in English
of quaint wording and quainter ac-
cent. She seemed not 10 know that
could speak French.
An impressive French tutor--a fine
old fellow, obsequious and bald-headed
sat by me all night to give me med
lcine In the morning ! felt as II
had new heart in me, and was plan
uing to mount my horse. | thought |
ought to go about my business, but
fear thought more of the young Ia
dies and the possibility of my seeing
them again. The baroness came in
after | had a bite TO eat. told her
felt able TO ride.
"You are not able, my child. You
csnnot ride the horse now" said she,
feeling my brow; maybe not for
YER long time. | have large house,
plenty servant, plenty food. Parbleu!
be content We shall take good care
of you. II there is one message 10 go
to your chief, you know | shall send
it,"
1 II
venture with the British, locating the
scene as carefully as might be, and she
sent it by mounted messenger to the
Burg"
THE young ladies' they wish to see
YOU" said the baroness. They are
kind-hearted: they would like to do
what they can. But | tell them no;
they will make you TO be very tired"
ION the contrary, it will rest me.
Let them come" | said.
But | warn you" said she, lifting
her finger as she left the room, do not
fall in love. They are full of mischief
They do not study They do not care.
You know they make much fun all
day"
The young ladies came in presently
They wore gray gowns admirably fit
tod to their fine figures. They brought
big bouquets and set them, with
handsome courtesy, on the table be-
side me- They took chairs and sat
soIemn-faced without word, as if il
were Quaker meeting they had come
to. never saw better models of SYM
pathetic propriety. was about to
speak. One of them shook her head,
4 finger on her lips.
do not say one word" she said sol
emily in English. 1T will make you
YER sick"
Ii was the first effort of either Of
them to address me in English. AS
soon knew, the warning had exhausted
her vocabulary The baroness went
below in a moment. Then the one
who had spoken came over and sat
near me, smiling
She does not know you can speak
French, said she, whispering and ad-
dressing me in her native tongue, as
the other tiptoed 10 the door "On
your life. do not let her know. She
will never permit us to see you. She
will keep us under lock and key. She
knows we cannot speak English. so
she thinks we cannot talk with you.
1t is a great lark. Are YOU Detter?
What was | TO do under orders from
such authority? AS they babe me. ]
hope you will say. for that is what |
did. | had no easy conscience about it,
{ must own Day after day took my
part in the little comedy. They came
IN euaker-faced if the baroness we're