, 1906-03-07

SIt > aA liShls PhN
life" answered the boy.
Ann. who stood just outside the Goo-.
answered very quietly: Il am cutie
well. How is Jeannette?"
Il left her feeling very well. But Tell
NE the truth, is Rob dying?
mo" said Ann. But he needs help.
He was shot last evening and has lain
all night in pain. He is very weak
now"
Barnett hurried into the hot dusk OF
the yanch house, smelling of the dinner,
which was cooking, and bent above his
foreman.
Hello, Rob- How do you feelF
Raymond whispered, 'Oh, I'm all
right; a little weak
The doctor interposed. "Clear the
room of everybody but this woman"
He indicated Mrs. Scribbins. I'VE
must find this bullet"
Barnett turned to the men who filled
fhe doorway. CLEAR out, boys; the doc
sor wants to be alone now"
Raymond smiled a little. "The bullet
went on. It's in the wall somewhere"
Barnett came to the door and said to
Ann: You better go out under the
trees and rest. You look tired"
81 will stay If l IA be of any use."
"We don't need you. Mrs. Scribbins
will help us. Please go Louis, take her
away till this is over"
Released from her benumbing load of
responsibility, Ann laid her hand on her
brothers arm. "Come, Louis" n to-
gether they went out along the little
winding path which led to the spring.
"What do you suppose they will do to
him?' asked Louis.
Ann turned sick. "Oh, 1 don't know!
Don't speak of it! It's too horrible"
When they re-entered the cabin Bar
nett met them with a smile. "The
doctor says Rob's all right. He in
sists that Ann saved his life. You poor
girl! What a night that boy let you
in for! l didn't know till ten minutes
ago that you were here all alone and
that Jones and his wife had vamOosed.
l hope you'll forgive me, Ann"
"Oh, l blame no one but myself"
she YEARLY replied. Il shouldn't have
come to this miserable, CHASTITY region"
"Rob wants to see you. Will you
come in and speak to him."
Ann reluctantly followed Barnett in
to the inner oom where Raymond,
with his wounds dressed and limbs
p. operly clothed, lay stretched ON the
bed. He was very pale, but his eyes
were calm and quiet. He reached a
feeble right hand toward her, saying
painfully: you've been mighty good
to me. By and by l will try to thank
you. Without you l would have bled
to DEATH"
81 beg you not to give it a moments
thought. l did very little" Ann coldly
replied.
His eyes were round and soft and ap-
pealing, like those of a big wounded
dog. Don't leave me now. l want
you
She glanced at the young doctor, who
stood listening. He nodded as if to
say, Grant his request" And so she
put his hand away gently as if the
clinging fingers were those of a sleep
ing babe and said, with a return of
pity: II will stay till tomorrow. Now
please go to sleep"
He closed his eyes under her palm,
and tears of gratitude came stealing
down from his brown lashes. For the
moment she forgot that she had known
him but a day; that she, too, was a
stranger-far removed from him in
every thought and purpose-and con-
scented to stay because he chung to her
and needed her. A hand seized her
throat, and an emotion which alienat-
ed her from her old self rose within
her bosom and for a moment frighten-
ed her. In the end it irritated her,
this pity, and yet it could not be
shaken off. \ deeper self which she
had not known insisted that she keep
her word to the wounded man, and so
for two days she oscillated between a
plying tenderness for him and a dis
gust and bitterness with herself and
her weakness.
On the third day Braide pronounced
his patient out of danger, and then
AIMS pity died.
81 am going home," she said to Louis.
land you must go with me. They are
going to take the foreman to the
Springs, and l cannot leave you here"
Ann said goodby to the wounded man
in Barnett's presence, and a sense of
irritation caused her to be very distant
with him.
81 hope you will soon be able to be
removed" she said, evading his glance.
This is a distressing place in which