The Lamar register., 1908-04-15
CHAPTER xi.-continued.

SHATt EN- NisOSOutHuSos
The long day wore along. Mother
White was baking. The men would
be ravenous when they came back.
Many would stop there for something
to eat before going on to their homes.
1t might be tonight, 1t might be to-
morrow. 1t might not be until the day
after. but whenever the time did come.
knowing the men of the range coun-
try, she must have something by
her."
At last came the doctor and Gordon.
driving up in the doctors top-buggy,
weather-stained, mud-bedaubed with
the mud Of last spring, of many
springs.
You have worked yourself into a
high fever, Miss Williston. that's what
you've DONE" he said. with profession
al mournfulness.
Il know It," she smiled wanly. Il
couldn't help it. I'm sorry"
Gordon drew up a chair and sat
down by her. saying with grave kind
ness, You are fretting. We must not
let you. l am going to stay with you
all night and shoe the COLLINS away"
You are kind" said Mary. grateful
1y. May tell you when they come?
If some one speaks to me they go
away"
Indeed you may. dear child" he
exclaimed. heartily. He had been half
Joking when he spoke of keeping
things away. He now perceived that
theaa things were more serious than
he knew.
The doctor administered medicine to
reduce the fever. dressed the wounded
arm, with Gordon's ready assistance.
and then called in Mother White to
prepare the bed for his patient; but
he paused nonplussed before the
weight of entreaty In Mary's eyes and
voice.
please don't" she cried out, in &C.
tual terror. ooh. Mr.. Gordon, don't
let him! see such awful things when
l lie down. Please! Please! And
Mr.. Langford said might sit up till
he came. Mr.. Gordon. you will not
let him put me to bed, will you?"
II think 1t would be better to let her
have her way. Lockhart," said Gordon
in a low voice.
Maybe 1t would. Dick" said the
doctor. with surprising meekness.
I'll stay all night and I'll take good
care Other, Lockhart. There's Moth
er White sbeckoning to supper. You'll
eat before you go? No. won't take
any supper now. thank you, mother,
will stay with Mary"
And he did stay with her all through
the long watches of that long night
He never closed his eyes in sleep.
Sometimes Mary would drop of into
uneasy slumber-always Of short du-
ration. When she awakened suddenly
in wide-eyed fright, he soothed her
with all tenderness. Sometimes when
he thought she was sleeping, she
would clutch his arm desperately..and
cry out that there was some one be-
hind the big cottonwood.
Mrs. White and several OF her small
progeny breathed loudly from an ad-
= joining room. A lamp burned dimly
on the table Itsgrew late-12 o'clock
and after. At last she rested. She
passed from light. broken slumber to
deep sleep without crying out and
thus spwakening herself. Gordon was
tired and sad. Now that the flush OF
fever was gone, he saw how white and
miserable she really looked. The cir
cles under her eyes were so dark
they were like bruises. The mantle
of his misfortune was spreading to
bring others besides himself into its
somber folds.
The men were coming back. But
they were coming quietly. in grim ST.
nlence. He dared not awaken Mary
Tor the news he lrnew they must carry.
He stepped noiselessly to the door to
warn them to yet greater stiffness
and met, Langford on the threshold.
The two surveyed each other grave
-1y with clasped hands.
You tell her. Dick. II can't" said
-Langford
Must II" asked Gordon.
"Dick, IL can't" said Langforu'