The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-08-01
I can't let you wear yourself out for

lying comfortably on a thick pile OF
blankets and the white light Of the
morning filed the cabin, Ann yielded
to his entreaties, went to her room
and threw herself down upon her bed
with sense of having put ell her ease
full careless girlhood behind her. 1t
was as if she had suddenly been flung
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 a sleepy
kitten, followed bis sister into the in
ner room and stood in silence TIL his
bewilderment left him and his per-
plexity crystallized into words. Then
he said:
Jupiter. I didn't Know you could
do such things. What do you think!
Is he going to die?"
"I don't know, laddie. hope not.
I've done all cam
Ann must have dropped asleep there
after, for when she woke the horizontal
rays of the flaming sun filed the room
and the loud and hearty voice of wo-
man could be heard out in the kitchen.
Her words came distinctly to AIMS
ears. Now. Rob, you've got me to
deal with. I'll cuff your ears if you
don't do as 1 say You've got to eat to
keep your strength up"
Ann rose hastily, but paused before
the closed door with a new and singu-
lar timidity. The coming Of another
woman made her own position embar-
RAISING. With a return Of resolution
she opened the door and met the big
gray eyes Of a tall, broad shouldered,
sla1ternly woman, who stood over Ray
mond with a bowl Of steaming broth in
| her hand. She was neither deft nor
dainty, but Ann perceived that she was
capable and good tempered, a 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 a
right hard night of it. Friend Of the
Barnetts, Rob tells me-"
Her familiarity and the essential
! cQmmonness Of her tone repelled Ann,
who asked, with cool dignity, "Can I
/ 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 a mighty good man
and neighbor.'
Ann repented and held out her hand
I'm glad to see you, Mrs. Scribbins.
I'm Miss Rupert, and this is my broth
er." She turned to Louis, who had
crept to her side, pale and silent.
Mrs. Scribbins shook hands, carefu;:y
guarding her broth. 81 don't see how
you kept Rob down. I've had to just
about throttle him once or twice since
came. He's a headstrong cuss aid
hates being bossed eor nussed."
HAS the doctor Gomez?
'Good Lord, no! But I've sent Abe
I'D the road. That fool Watson is
more,n likely to get lost and never get
in. Even if he did he couldn't get a
doctor here before noon, and that Wal
lace doctor amt worth the powder to
blow him up anyway. We need bone
doctor from Valley Springs. AS soon
as Don Barnett hears Of this he'll come
a-runnin' with the best there is in the
Springs"
Raymond lay on his pile of blankets,
his face expressionless as that OF a
dead man, but his eyes called to the
girl, and she bent to ask, Are you
better?'
His lips moved a little. She bowed
lower, and he whispered, "Yes-bring
Don
"They have gone for him."
.sThey must hurry" Then he added,
|s.sDon't leave me-"
With a conviction that he knew he
was about to die, she spoke, and her
tone was tense with desire to help
him. Il will not leave you. Do not
worry"
He closed his eyes again and lay so
still, so breathless, it seemed that he
had entered upon the last coma, be-
yond 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, speckled
faced fellow did it. He had it in for
Mr.. Raymond. Do you know, Perry,
the Mexican boy, took a horse and was
going to chase them up, but the boys
wouldn't let him. They've sent word
to the railway, and they'll have Spec
kle before night Uncle Don said that
these fellows were Only hired men, but
seems to me they're good deal like
the old time cowboys"
[To BE CONTINUED