Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-12-05
[cuNTINUED.l

John Baxter was lying just as the
captain had left him, and the others
watched anxiously as the doctor lis
tened at the parted lips and thrust his
hand inside the faded blue waistcoat.
"He's alive" he said, after moment
"but unconscious. We must get him
home ut once"
"He heard the bell and was runnin
to the fire when he was took" said
Captain Jerry. run out In his shirt
sleeves, and was took when he got as
fur as here"
THAT'S the way I figger it," said Erl
unblushingly. Lift him carefully, you
fellers. Now thenT
81 warned him against overexertion
or excitement months ago." said the
doctor, as they bore the senseless bur-
den toward the big house. now as
black as the grave that was 80 near
its owner. I'VE must find some one to
take care of him at once. / don't be,
lieve the old man has relation within
a hundred miles"
"Why don't we take him to our
house?" suggested Captain Jerry.
'Twouldn't seem 80 plaguy lone
some, anyhow"
"By mighty" calculated Captain Eri
in astonishment. "Well, Jerry. I'll be
switched If you amt right down bril-
liant once in awhile. OF course we
will. He can have the spare room
WHY didn't l think Of that, wOnder"'
And so John Baxter, who had not
paid visit in his native village since
his wife died, came ut last to bis
| friends home to pay what seemed ike
" to be final one. They carried him
| I'D the stairs to the spare room, as dis
| NAL and cheerless as spare rooms In
| the country generally are, undressed
him as tenderly as their rough hands
| would allow, robed him in one Of Cap
tain Jerry's nightshirts-the buttons
| that fastened it had been sewed on by
| the captain himself and were oil sizes
| and colors-and laid him in the big
| corded bedstead. The doctor FASTENED
away to procure his medicine case
Ralph Hazeltine, having been profuse'
" thanked for his services and prom.
ising to call the next day, went back
| to the station, and the three captains
sat down by the bedside to watch and
wait.
Captain Fri was too much perturbed
| TO talk but the other two, although
sympathetically sorry for the sufferer
| were bursting with excitement and Gu
riosity.
"Well, il this amt been night!'
exclaimed Captain Jerry. Seems II
everything happened ut once. Fust
| that darky and then the fire and then
this. Don't it beat allY'
"Eri," said Captain Perez anxiously
"was John layin' jest the same way
when you found him as he was when
we Gomez"
Fright in the same place." was the
answer.
81 didn't say in the same place.
asked If he was layin' the same way"
"He hadn't moved muscle. Laid
| Jest as il he was dead"
1t will be noticed that Captain Eri
was adhering strictly to the truth.
Luckily, Perez seemed to be satisfied.
Tor he asked no further questions, but
observed: Tt's good thing we've got
crowd to swear how we found him.
There's a heap Of folks In this town
would be sayin' he set that fire If
'twa'n't for that"
"Some Of 'em will be sayin' it any
how" remarked Jerry.
"Some folks IL say anything but their
prayers" snapped Fri savagely. They
won't say It while I'm around. And
look here, if you hear anybody sayin'
1t you tell 'em it's lie. II that don't
keep 'em quiet let me know"
"Oh. all right! We know he didn't
set it. was jest sayin' -
"Well, don't say it."
"My, you're techy! Guess fires and
colored folks don't agree with you.
What are we goin' to do now! II John
don't die, and the Lord knows hope
he won't. he's likely to be sick here a
long spell. Who are we goin' to git to
take care Of him? That's what want
to know. Somebody's got to do 1t. and
we amt fit. If Jerry d only give In
and git married now
But Captain Jerry's protest against
matrimony was as obstinate as ever.
Even Perez gave up urging after
awhile, and conversation Jagged again.
| In q few minutes the doctor came
back, and his examination Of the pa
| tent and demands for glasses OF wa
| ter, teaspoons and the like kept Perez
and Jerry busy. 1t was some time
before they noticed that Captain Fri
had disappeared. Even then they did
not pay much attention to the circum.
stance, but watched the physician at
work and questioned him concerning
the nature Of their guests illness.
"D' you think he'll die, doctorw in
quired Jerry in a hushed voice rs they
came out of the sickroom into the con-
| Meeting chamDer.
Cant say. He has had stroke Of
paralysis. and there seem to be other
complications. II he regains conscious.
ness I shall think he has chance,
but not a very good one. His pulse ID
a little stronger. don't think he'll
lie tonight, but II he lives he will need
n good nurse. and don't know of one
In town"
"Nor nae neither" said Captain Pc
rez.
Just then the dining room door open.
ed and closed again.
There's Eri," said Captain Jerry
Then he added In an alarmed whisper,
"Who on airth has he got with him|
They heard their friends voice warn
ing some one to be careful of the top
step, and then the chamber door open
ed and Captain Fri appeared. There
were beads Of perspiration on his fore
head, and he was carrying a shabby
canvas extension case. Captain Jerry
gazed at the extension case with bulg
ing eyes.
| Captain Eri put down the extension
case and opened the door wide. A wo
man came In, stout woman dressed
in black alpaca" aud wearing brass
rimmed spectacles. Captain Jerry gasp
ed audibly.
"Dr. Palmer" said Captain Eri, "le'
me make you acquainted with Mrs
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