The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-11-12

A bank of earth and stones thrown
up from a prospecting pit offered re-
lief after a while, and he sat down
slowly and cautiously. He felt Ill and
faint and almost in despair, but after
resting a few minutes the faintness
passed away again, and his eyes conld
see clearly once more
Looking round him he discovered a
miners shovel hilt that had broken
Off close to the socket and had been
discarded.
That will be as good as a pilgrims
staff" he said to himself, and he
smiled hopefully.
Ii was easier walking now with
something to lean IN, but his remain
ing strength was ebbing out rapidly.
The little farmstead was now well in
view, with its low, thatched roof and
mud walls, but not a living thing was
in sight.
He walked no faster than a two-year-
old child-sCarcely as fast; but the
fact that he was able to walk at all
kept hope alive In his heart. Again
and again his head swan and a mist
came up before his eyes. Again and
again he prayed for strength that he
might hold out a little longer. Once
or twice he tried his best 10 shout for
help, but his voice seemed like a faint
and distant echo.
Steadily the little farmstead drew
near, but his sight was dimming fast.
He thought he saw a figure standing
in the open door, but his vision was
so blurred that he could be sure Of
nothing. He called for help as we'll
as he could, but he was not sure that
any sound escaped his lips. A noise
was in his ears like the roar of an
angry sea-. He made a desperate eff
fort to run; then the light suddenly
faded, and he remembered no more.
When next he opened his eyes he
was lying in a brake of gorse, with an
aged and wrinkled face bending over
him.
BE zee feeling a bit better now"
the old man was saying, ~anxiously.
Where am II" he asked, feebly.
"Oh, yes, ] remember. / tried to get
to your house,
Before | could reach ZEE you'd tum-
bled down all % q heap; an in the
middle of the furze, too. Had zee got
lost?"
I'm very ill.," he gasped; could
you help me into your house and send
for a doctor?"
The old man looked blank. MY
missus is a-settin' before the fire with
be answered, slowly, IAN I'm
crippled with the s~ciatiz, but We'll
'elp zee IL we can"
Neither Grayton nor Amos Bilkey
could eve quite explain how they got
into the house. Amos could only hob
BILE at the best Of times, and Grayton
leaned so heavily on him that he
again and again he would col
Susan Bilkey, hearing the
of feet and the murmur of
came TO the door coughing and
gasping, and seeing Grayton, white
and CHASTITY, leaning heavily IN the
shoulder of her husband, went to the
rescue needless of peril to herself.
Grayton fought his weakness with
desperate energy. The blood was
flowing freely again from the wound
In his chest. The pain was almost
unbearable. Whether he was walking
or crawling, he did not know, He had
a confused feeling or passing through
a low, narrow doorway. and then I'M
consciousness wrapped him in its folds
once more.
Susan Bilkey fished out OF a cup
board a bottle Of smugglers' brandy
with which she moistened Grayton's
lips, and after awhile succeeded in
in getting some down his throat.
She was SO excited that she forgot
her asthma and ordered her husband
about after a fashion he had not been
accustomed to for several years. Be-
tween them they got Grayton on to a
low bed. After getting of his over
coat, his coat, and his vest, Grayton
had spells OF Inconsistencies, dur
ing which he wondered greatly what
all the fuss was about. He submitted
to have his feet rubbed after Amos
had Invested him of his shoes and
and swallowed without de-
muir the warm milk that Mrs. Bilkey
insisted on pouring down his throat.
After awhile he fell into a doze. and
Amos and his wife stood one on each
side of the bed and looked first at
their patient and then at each other.
"Well?" Amos questioned at length.
He had great faith in his wife. and
was far more ready to rely on her
than on his own.
Hes nearly bled to DEATH" she an.
swered.
But how did zee get stuck? That's
what boggles me-"
well have to wait till zee
a bit"
"Ef zee ever do recover"
AN you'll ave to keep on the
lookout for somebody to send for a
doctor"
"Ef that donkey hadn't strayed
away I'd rode myelf."
But somebodyM sure to be pahsin'
before the day is out" she ventured.
"Ncver no KNOWN" he said,
scratching his head. when you don't
want 'em. folks be always passin'.
But when you do want 'em they're
sure to keep out OF the way"