Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-07-24

Nov Miss, Just Take a Sip Of This
ment, she gazed up into those strange
rough faces surrounding her, pausint
in her first survey to rest her glanc,
on the sympathetic countenance Of TIL,
young lieutenant, who held her hal
reclining upon his arm.
Here" he exclaimed, kindly. inter
preting her glance as one of fear, "yo,
are all right and perfectly safe now
with friends to care for you. Peters
bring another cup of that broth Now
miss, just take sup or two Of this
and your strength will come back In
q jiffy. What was the trouble? Starv
ing?"
She did exactly as he babe her
every movement mechanical, her eyes
fastened upon his face.
Il reckon that was partly it," she
responded at last, her voice faint and
husky. Then her glance wandered
away, and finally rested upon another
little kneeling group few yards far
Their down stream. A look of fresh in
telligence swept into her face.
rs that him." she questioned, trem.
blingly Isis he dead9"
He wasn't when we first got here,
but mighty near gone, I'm afraid.
I've been working over you ever
since"
She shook herself free and sat weak
ly up her lips tight compressed, her
eyes apparently blind to all save that
motionless body she could barely dis
tinguish. Let me tell you, that fell
lows man, just the same; the
gamest, nerviest man | ever saw.
reckon he got hit. too. though he never
said nothing about it. That's his
style.'
The deeply interested lieutenant re-
moved his watchful eyes from off his
charge just long enough to glance in
quiringly across his shoulder. Has
the man any signs of wound, SER
geant?" he asked, loudly.
"A mighty ugly slug In the shoulder,
sir; has bled scandalous, but l guess
it's the very luck that's goin' to save
him; seems now to be comm out all
right
The officers brows knitted savagely.
1T begins to look as If this might be
some Of our business. What hap
pened? Indians?"
Yes
How far away?"
II don't know. They caught us in
canyon somewhere out yonder, may
be three or four days ago; there was
lot killed. some of them soldiers. My
dad was shot, and then that night he
he got me out up the rocks, and he
he was carrying me in his arms when
III tainted. l saw there was blood
on his shirt, and it was dripping down
on the grass as he walked. That's
about all l know"
Who is the man? What's his
name"
The girl looked squarely into the
lieutenant's eyes, and, for some rea-
son which she could never clearly ex-
plain even to herself. lied calmly. X
don't know; l never asked"
Sergeant Carson rose stif11y from
his knees beside the extended figure
and strobe heavily across toward
where they were sitting, lifting his
hand In soldierly salute, his heels
clicking as he brought them sharply
together in military precision.
'The fellow is getting his eyes open,
SIR" he reported, "and is breathing
more regular Purity weak yit, but
he'll come round in time" He stared
curiously down at the girl now sitting
up unsupported, while sudden look
Of surprised recognition swept across
his face.
Great guns!" he exclaimed. eagerly,
but know you. You're old man Gil
lis gal from Bethune, amt ye?"
Eyes," she acknowledged simply,
but he's dead"
Never mind, little GIRL" the lieu
tenant said, with boyish sympathy. 81
knew ellis, and, now the sergeant has
spoken, remember you quite we'll.
Thought all the time your face was IA
niliar, but couldn't quite decide where
had seen you before So poor old
ellis has gone, and you are left all
alone in the world! Well, he was an
I'D soldier, could not have hoped to
i've much longer anyway, and would
'ather go fighting at the end. Well
AXE you back with us to Bethune, and
he ladies of the garrison will look
liter you"
The recumbent figure lying a few
ards away half lifted itself upon one
elbow, and Hampton's face, white and |
laggard, stared uncertainty across the
,pen space. For an instant his gaze
lWelt upon the crossed sabers shield
ng the gilded ~" on the front of the
ifatenants scouting hat, then settled
lpon the face Of the girl. With one
and pressed against the grass he
'ushed himself slowly up until he sat
ronting them, his teeth clinched tight,
rs gray eyes cleaning feverishly in
heir sunken sockets.
I'll be damned If you Wilt" he said,
oarsely. She's my girl now"
(To Be Continually