, 1906-07-18
HESPER
BY HAMLIN GARLAND
Copyright, 1908. bD Hdmlin Garland
CONTINUED

your guard tonight. lie Sdlu lie u conle
down and see you if possible. oh, l
feel so cold" he ended, drawing nearer
the fire. Pm all trembly over my
chest"
Il reckon you better strip off your
clothes and go TO bed. This has been a
hard day for you"
He seemed stiff, and was shiyering
eonvulsively. Il believe l will. Rob, l
don't feel any good"
As Raymond helped him to undress
the boys teeth began to chatter, and
he drew his breath with a kissing
moan. Il guess I've taken an awful
cold, Rob. My breast aches So"
Matt, go ask Nora to come over and
bring her little medicine case. This
boys got a chill right now"
"A swallow of whisky will fix that"
answered Matt as he went out. "Pll
be back in a jiffy."
Raymond bundled Louis into bed
and heaped him with blankets and
furs, his heart deeply stirred with anx-
iety, for as the boys mind turned from
the excitement of his days expert
GLUE u hio ~ ttbiii otNl
ly depressed. lie fairly collapsed.
Mrs. Kelly, with her emergency
case of medicine and a knowledge of
sickness gained in years of maternal
care III the rough country, was a great
comfort to Raymond. but she could not
keep down his growing anxiety. The
boys body was so small n frail
when stripped of its clothing! Under
their vigorous ministrations the suf-
ferer ceased to shake and at last fell
into II hot, uneasy doZe.
Raymond, seeing this, whispered:
you must go home. | will watch"
mo, Rob, you must sleep. l forgot
you had no sleep last night"
"Oh, yes, | did. | took IL nap at Bar
nett's. Please go to bed"
To this arrangement she submitted,
and. taking his seat close by the boys
couch. Raymond studied his flushed
face, more concerned at that moment
over his temperature and pulse than
with the brawling crowds, the invading
force or the fate of his mine. When
Munro knocked on his door he went
out upon the threshold and repeated
the failure of his mission. while the
captain of the vedettes listened with
his horses rein across his arm. AT the
n lie merely said: All right. Let
them come: they will find us ready.
Did the kid turn up all rightY"
He turned up. but he has taken u
chill and is burning with fever"
Munro seemed concerned. II had
nothing on but that little gray jacket.
| tried 70 warm him up with some
whisky and a supper. | hope he wont
be laid up. Well, now. old man, what
are you going to do-help us or the
dudes?'
Il can't decide anything tonight. I'm
worried about this boy. If he is better
in the morning I'll have something de-
cisive to say 20 YOU
"All right; take your time. only don't
take too long. It's up to you to decide.
Good night. Keep me posted on the
boys condition"
A half hodr later Jim Dolan and two
or three of his fellow reporters tum-
bled i'll, cage II Raymond
had seen in the N.....t.
To them he said: Boys. l haven't a
word to say. In sorry l can't offer
on "A bed, for Louis, my boy friend,
is very sick. Dolan, | wish you would
sent UP the best doctor in Bozle. Tell
him there's money in 1t if he comes
tonight"
To Matt, Raymond turned. GO on
with your meeting without me. | can
do nothing till this boy dolges this
fever" And Kelly went q 'ay. reluc-
family. to meet with the leaders of the
neutral party, robbed of half his reso-
luton, for he, too, loved the sick lad.
AT l. o'clock, when some of the men
were passing, Raymond went out and
called Baker and said in the tone of one
who had at last decided on a plan of
action, II want you to carry a message
to Doggy and see that it gets there
And Baker, having a long training as
cowboy behind him, accepted his order
like Il soldier.
The telegram was addressed to the
sheriff and read:
They're on to your box ear game. Look
out! A PEACE LOVER.
At 1 o'clock Kelly returned with low
ering brow. Il wish you'd been there,
lad. They're afraid of Munro and vot-
I'd me down. We are to do nothin'."
Raymond, submerged in the rising
flood of his anxiety, looked at his part
ner duly. "Well, perhaps it's better
so, Matt. | gave my word to II that
would care for this boy as If he were