The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-11-20

the car when around gne corner Or the
boathouse came a wild eyed, dishey'
eled gardener from one Of the houses
down the street.
"AI. Graham, sir" he painted. "will
you he gctlin' the doctor, uulckl Tim
Comlcy's fell from the stagin' on the
stables where they're palntln' an he's
hurted bad. sir, 'Tis dead he'll be In
ten minutes II the doctors not fetched
before that. Hurryl For Gods sake
huryw
I'm have him here In ave-" Graham
called, and opened up the big car.
II sprang forward like thing alive
and went tearing down the driveway
In great cloud Of dust
Margaret. who had run TO tho edge
Of the yeranda. saw him swing into
the roadway beyond, aud the drifting
dust which rose high above the poplars
told OF the terrific pace he was setting,
II was four minutes later after a
nervous pacing OF the veranda, that
she heard the whir Of the approaching
car again. She ran down the steps
and hurried along the drive 70 the
roadway. Up tho hill. with honklng
horn, came a dun. black streak. She
could see Graham bending low over
ne stserang wheel and the doctor. hat
hss and begrlmed with dust, clinging
desperately to the seat beside him,
Then out OF the crossroad just below
where she stood and directly In the
path Of the coming cyclone came
rattling farm wagon. driven by old
Mrs. Clark, who was as deaf as post,
The girl covered her eyes and scream.
ed. There were Wild yell, the sound
OF splintered wood and a terrific grind
Ing crash.
When Margaret looked again the
wagon alone was In the road. The au-
tomoblle. turned on Its side. lay against
the shattered fence, In the field beyond
lay two Auddled figures.
In a moment the girl was running In
that direction with all the speed she
could summon AS she reached the
scene Of the accident one OF the two
figures scrambled Imply to his feet.
The other painfully prcpped Itself
upon an elbow, Then she saw that the
man who stood erect was the doctor.
Even as she came running into the
Geld she heard Grahams voice, rather
faint, It Is true. but perfectly calm.
"How badly are you hurt, docT" Il
inquired.
'0nly bit was the response. "a
few bruises and scratch or two"
Then get up to the copley place as
fast as you can"
'But your the doctor demurred.
"I'm all right. Never mind me. IN
be fresh as lark when you get back
Hurry on now"
Margaret ran to bis side and. kneel.
ing down, began to wipe the blood
from his face. Already the doctor was
making a hurried examination. while
Graham fumed and fretted and bade
him hurry to Tim Conley.
"H'mE' said the doctor at length.
@Prstty badly smashed up. but we're
lucky. both Of US. to get out Of II as
well as we did. Talk about your nervel
By Jove. the way he swung that car
out OF the way was magnificent. Never
= thought for himself nor me either.
I'm convinced" be ended
he pulled a roll OF bandages from his
case and handed them to the girl. "Just |
do up his head and stop the dow Of
blood as best you can, II you win, Miss
West" he commanded. "T'll 80 up to
Copley's and fix Tim up. Then I'll
come back here and set Graham's frac-
lures"
He went limpIng up the road. and
the girl bent closer to Graham.
1T was splendid" she cried, her
eyes shining.
''ThatY' said Graham. "oh, that was
nothing. I had to do that, you see. It
was a question OF killing the old lady
or getting a bit banged up myself"
Her face was very close to his.
Something warm and moist struck his
cheek.
Those wicked stories they told
about you she began.
They're true he declared. II have
lost my nerve. couldn't go into n
road race to save my life. This was
different you see. This was some
thing that had to be done"
Two warm lips were pressed to his
grimy, blood stained forehead.
"Had to be doneF she repeated
meaningly. "Oh, you delicious simple
t0nw
The doctor, limping back few mo-
ments later, discreetly screened him
self behind tree.
There are times II is better to wait
before reducing fractures" he medI-
tated.