Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-03-07
Into gray and bitter sea far from


shore.
Louis, who had been reused by the
return of the herders and who sat
watching their slow and painfully eau
tious handling Of the sufferer with the
mute, Unconditional gaze of sleepy
kitten, followed his sister into the in
ner room and stood in silence till his
bewilderment left him and his per-
plexity crystallized into words. Then
he said:
Jupiter! l didn't know you could
do such things. What do you think?
Is he going to die?"
81 don't know, laddie. 1 hope not.
I've done all can"
Ann must have dropped asleep there
after, for when she woke the horizontal
rays of the flaming sun filled the room
and the loud and hearty voice of wo-
man could he heard out in the kitchen.
Her words came distinctly to AIMS
ears. Nov, Rob, you've got me to
deal with. I'll cuff your ears If you
don't do us l say. You've got to eat to
keep your strength up"
Ann rose hastily, but paused before
the closed door with n new and singu-
lar timidity. The coming of another
woman made her own position embar-
RAISING. With return of resolution
she opened the door and met the big
gray eyes of tall, broad shouldered,
slatternly woman, who stood over Ray
mond with bowl of steaming broth in
her hand. She was neither deft nor
dainty, but Ann perceived that she was
capable and good tempered, natural
nurse, experienced in the ways of the
border.
Good morning." she called, and her
infections and many Of her phrases
were masculine. "You must "a had n
right hard night Of it. Friend Of the
Barnetts, Rob tells me-"
Her familiarity and the essential
commences of her tone repealed Ann
who asked, with cool dignity, "Can ]
do anything?"
"Not thing I'm Mrs. Scribbins
Rob's highest neighbor. We come
a-runnin' the moment we heerd of this
thing, for Rob's mighty good mar
and neighbor."
Ann repented and held out her hand
I'm glad to see YOU Mrs. Scribbins
Pm Miss Rupert, and this is my broth
err" She turned to Louis, who hat
crept to her side, pale and silent.
Mrs. Scribbins shook hands, CAREFUL.
guarding her broth. II don't see how
you kept Rob down. I've had to jus
about throttle him once or twice since
came. He's a headstrong cuss ant
hates being bossed OF nussed."
HAS the doctor comey'
Good Lord, no! But I've sent Abe
up the road That fool Watson IL
more'n likely to get lost and never ge,
in. Even if he did he couldn't get 9
doctor here before noon, and that Wal
lace doctor amt worth the powder tt
blow him up anyway. We need bone
doctor from Valley Springs. AS soor
as Don Barnett hears of this he'll come
a-runnin' with the best there is in til.
Springs"
Raymond lay on his pile of blankets
his face expressionless rs that of q
dead man, but his eyes called to the
girl, and she bent to ask, care you
Detter?'
His lips moved little. She bowed
lower, and he whispered, "Yes-brinl
Don
"They have gone for him."
"They must hurry" Then he added
Don't leave me-"
With conviction that he knew he
was about to die, she spoke, and hel
tone was tense with u desire to helr
him. II will not leave you. Do moi
worry"
| He closed his eyes again and lay sc
still, SO breathless, it seemed that III
had entered upon the last coma, be
You'd the reach Of any medicine.
Louis, awed quite out Of his sprightly
self, drew Ann aside and whispered
"How is he?"
"He is worse. Oh, wish the doctor
would Gomez
1.-THE boys say that big, specklot
faced fellow did it. He had it in fol
Mr.. Raymond. Do you know, Perry
the Mexican boy, took II horse and wa.
going to chase them up. but the boys
wouldn't let him. They've sent wore
to the railway, and they'll have Spec
lie before night Uncle Don said tina
these fellows were only hired men, bu
seems to me they're good deal likt
the old time cowboys"