Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1908-12-19
bunting a
DornennaRer.
By LULU JOHNSON.
Copyrighted, 1903, by Associated
Literary Press.

II snuggled against the cleaning rail-.
In less than forty-eight hours that
stone. tossed by a baby hand, had
thrown Wall street and the money
market Of the country into a panic.
The single track Of the little western
road afforded rough travelling. Not
many of the travellers aboard that par
ticular train even noticed the somewhat
harder Jolt when the car wheel struck
the stone.
But Gilbert Fairbain, smoking a
good night" cigar as he leaned alone
against the railing of the observation
cars platform, felt the jar-and then
felt nothing more.
And 1t was two weeks before wall
street learned that Fairbain, the one
man who could have stopped the panic,
had been found beside the tracks and
removed to a farmhouse on the quarter
section nearest the road.
For ten days he had been uncon-
scious. and for two days or more he
had been in no condition to be left
alone. There was but one inmate OF
that farmhouse besides himself, and
she had been too busy nursing him to
make the trip to the nearest town TO
report that he had been found.
AS soon as his whereabouts had Deen
discovered the lonesome little town was
overrun with people. Grave and learn
ed physicians from the east were hur
ried westward on special trains and
regiment OF nurses attended them, but
Fairbain waved them all away.
~ don't need you" he said irritably.
Iittle Mrs. Bodington pulled me
through without a lot Of palayer or
thousand dollar doctors to help her.
Leave couple Of nurses to wait on
her. and the rest of you go away"
"There is an excellent hospital not
fifty miles from here" suggested the
family physician. Il can look after
vo, with better assurance of success
full treatment" ,
"sugden. you're an ass" declared
Fairbaln irritably. "This little woman
nursed me single handed through an
attack of brain fever. I guess she can
attend TO the convalescence."
81 will not undertake to be respon-
sible for the consequences" said Sug-
den. with ponderous emphasis.
"You don't have to be" was the acrld
response. "You are going to be packed
out of here. the whole lot of you. I've
spent most of my life with doctor on
! one side of me and n lawyer on the
other I'm sick Of it all, and I'm en-
titled to a rest"
He looked contentedly about the tiny
room. The outlook from the narrow
named windows was dreary, and the
room itself was walled with rough
plaster and decorated with cheap prints
In homemade frames.
The bed on which he rested was q
wooden affair with n cotton mattress
and coarse cotton sheets, but the
sheets were Immediately clean, and
there was an air of nominees about
the place that Fairbain had not known
in years.
He closed his eyes contentedly ano
dozed off. Sugden, mindful of his fa'
fees. waited In deferentlal silence dur
ing the half hour the nap lasted
Fairbanks glance fell first on him al
his eyes opened again.
"You still herew he cried. "Sugden
II you don't take the first train bacf
TO New York I'll make you sue FOL
whatever l owe you and I'll take 1t OF
appeal and appeal until you spen'
every cent you ever made of OF me
Now get out Of here"
Sugden took his departure, vowin!
that his patient was insane, but Fair
balm only smiled contentedly ant
turned to the sweet faced woman VIII
sat beside the bed.
"Thats the way to talk to thos
sharks" he declared. 81 have a head
ache. and Sugden gives me something
TO make It worse. Then he doctors IN
for the new disease and sends In
bill a yard long. This is the time
fooled him"
81 am glad that you were no
moved" said the woman softly.
think that the excitement would hav
been bad for you"
"It is not the trip I was dread'ng,
admitted Fairbain frankly. Il like
here and want to stay little while
NV secretary will stay over in tow
and bring my important mail ever
day. and the two nurses will reliev
you of the watchful nights.
"If you want anything else, buy
or hire it or something. Wilson wi
give YOU what money l need. Wilso
Is q fine fellow" he added. He cam
into nv office this fall as a clerk, an
/ took a fancy to him and made hli
nv confidential man. He took to I'd
lob as though he had known me an
nv affairs since he was born"
eft must be very nice to have som
one to do your work the way you wal
It DONE" she said softly. 81 am gla
that you are so pleased with him"
.Tm pleased with him." said Fai
balm meaningly, $50 lcng as you al
not too well pleased with him. 10
wont be pleased with him" he plea'
ed.
"No more than I am now," she prom
ised. and with that Fairbain was col
tent. He was convinced that none
was omnipotent and that even here 9
the prairie It could purchase the lo'
Of the little woman who had made nj
so comfortable.
Fairbain was In love with his new
found home comforts rather than VII
the woman herself, but this he did n
know, although, when there was
longer any pretext for prolonging [
stay. he spoke bravely enough.
II need you very much" he said ei
nestly. Il have a house that cove
cfI