The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-23

1 her. You couldn't have done it better | if you had tried.'
 l You look in bad fix, Willy" Wilkins | said, when he had assimilated the good news. l "Oh, yes, pretty bad," Willy agreed
 But nothing to what you are in for" l "Why?" asked Wilkins. What hap | pened to mel" It was just beginning to | occur to him that he, too, was hurt-that | he must have been hurt or he would
 not be here in hospital. He supposed 1 it was a hospital.
 "You got a. bump on the head said | Willy. "The professor and I haven't de- | cided yet whether we will make you case of concussion of the brain or Just
 plain headache Then you have the pret- ] tiest compound fracture of the lower leg ' that the professor and have ever seen 1 You'll be here some weeks with that, l even if your head turns out to be use 1 able Head doesn't feel numb. does 1t: l You can understand what I am saying?' | My head is all right said Wilkins l "Im sorry about this leg, though. NC 1 one has sent us any-flowers or anything I yet?'
 | "she hasn't vet" Willy assured him
 send them as a token of her thanks to | you for splling her into the street, or
 because you rid her of two babies at one | shot?''
 | Wilkins had been examining his state. l He found that his leg seemed as perma- nently attached to the bed as 1t was to l his body. It appeared to be encased in | boards and tied to the foot of the bed.
 ''They must be afraid I'll try to get away" he grumbled.
 "The keepers of this menagerie are go- 1 ing to turn me loose tomorrow said l Willy.
 1 wilkins groaned and then smiled. -fID l,A ncyn Have I a black eye?" asked Willy.
 What did you tell me for have been 1 so happy thinking of you lying here while 1 l walk with the Stony Lady. Notice I said walk Wilkins"
 If she would walk with that eye of
 yours--' It was beyond Wilkins power
 to express his disdain
 .I can paint it.'' Willy declared. "I
 am hero anyway, and I ought to have | some scars. picked her up. You didn't l You didn't even think of her" | How could I?" Wilkins began and
 then paused Willy" he said, T think 1 we have been taking the wrong way with ] the Stony Lady. I wouldn't usually be so unsefish as to call 1t to your attention
 but I spilled you and gave you that eye. 1 It Is a wonderful eye, Willy. never saw 1 a more artistic job. I'm proud of it." 1 "I know what you are working around ] to- said Willy. You are going to tell l me we have been too frivolous. You are l frightened because she took a sober spell l this afternoon. But remember that she l was in your motor car, with you at 1 the helm All women grow serious in l the face of peril.'
 ! You'll do as you please, I suppose, y | said Wilkins, ''but when we get out of
 here I shall not treat her as a spoiled l child again. I shall take her seriously" " I '"rhank you. I'll take her myself if l or had 1 Willy.
 1 Wilkins was glad that Willy had black l eye He did not doubt that the Stony 1 Lady would visit them-with a chaperon, | of course-and he felt that he had the 1 advantage in looks, if only temporarily. | He closed his eyes to consider the mat l ter and when he awolSe the cot that 1 Willy had occupied was vacant. 1 Willy had dressed and carried his black 1 ened eye out into the hard world where l explanations of black eyes are laughed at
 But the next day the Stony Lady did