The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-09-12


Nov Miss. Just Take a Sip Of This"
ment, she gazed up into those strange,
rough faces surrounding her, pausing
in her first survey to rest her glance
on the sympathetic countenance of the
young lieutenant, who held her half
reclining upon his arm.
Here" he exclaimed. kindly, inter
preting her glance as one of fear, you
are all right and perfectly safe now.
with friends to care for you. Peters,
bring another cup of that broth. Now.
miss, just take a sup or two of this,
and your strength will come back in
a jiffy. What was the trouble? starry
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 a few yards far
Their down stream. A look of fresh in
telligence swept into her face.
Is that him?" she questioned, trem.
blingly. Isis he dead?"
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 a man. just the same; the
gameSt. nery!est man | ever saw I
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 of his
charge Just long enough TO glance in
quiringly across his shoulder. Has
the man any signs of a wound, SER
geant?" he asked. loudly.
"A mighty ugly slug in the shoulder,
sir; has bled scandalous, but | 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?"
Il don't know They caught u.s. in
a 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
Fl tainted. I 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
nance"
The girl looked sQuarely into the
lieutenants eyes, and, for some rea-
son which she could never clearly ex-
plain even to herself, lied calmly. 81
don't know; l never asked"
Sergeant Carson rose stifny 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 Gill
lis gal from Bethune, amt ye?"
"Yes," 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 well.
Thought all the time your face was ia
miliar, 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
old soldier, could not have hoped to
live much longer anyway, and would
rather go fighting at the end. Wen
take Won hack with us TO Bethune. and