The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1909-04-29
bunting a
DcmemaRer.
By LULU JOHNSON.
Copyrighted. 1908, by Associated
Literary Press.
By LULU JOHNSON.

1t Struggled against the cleaning rail.
In less than ~forty-eight hours tina
stone, tossed by a baby hand, ha,
thrown Wall street and the none,
market of the country into a panic.
The single track OF the little western
road afforded rough travelling. No
many of the travellers aboard that par
ticular train even noticed the somewha
harder jolt when the car whee strucl
the stone.
But Gilbert F~airbain, smoking 6
good night" cigar as he leaned alone
against the railing Of the observation
cars platform, felt the jar-and ther
felt nothing more.
And it was two weeks before Wal
street learned that Fairbain, the one
man who could ave 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 TIVE 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 0 as his whereabouts had been
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 a
regiment of nurses attended them, but
Fairbain waved them all away.
81 don't need you" he said irritably.
little Mrs. Bodington pulled me
through without a lot of palaver or
thousand dollar doctors to help her.
Leave a 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. ST can look after
you with better assurance Of success
full treatment"
"Sugden, you're an ass" declared
Fairbain irritably. "This little woman
nursed me single handed through an
attack of brain fever. l 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 acrid
response. 'You are going to be packed
out of here. the whole lot of you. I've
spent most of my life with a doctor on
one side of MI and a lawyer on the
other. I'm sick of it all, and I'm en-
titled to a rest"
He looked contentedly about the tiny
roono Tho o1t1oOl from tho porrOuy !
paned 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 a
wooden affair with a 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 c%ontentedly and
dozed off. Sugden, mindful Of his fat
fees. waited in deferential silence dur
ing the half hour the nap lasted.
Fairbanks glance fell first on him as
his eyes opened again.
"You still here,' he cried. "Sugden,
If you don't take the first train back
TO New York I'll make you sue for
whatever owe you and I'll take 1t on
appeal and appeal until you spend
every cent you ever made off of me- :
Now get out Of here
Sugden took his departure, vowing |
hat his patient was insane. but Fair
balm only smiled ~contentedly and !
to the sweet faced woman who
sat beside the bed. [
"That's the way to talk to those I
he declared. 81 have a head S
iche. and Sugden gives me something
% make it worse. Then he doctors me t
or the new disease and sends In a 2
ill Il yard long. This is the time t
'ooled him" a
81 am glad that you were not S
noved.' said the woman softly. 81
hink that the excitement would have C
'een bad for you" o
at is not the trip | was dreading," B
Omitted Fairbain frankly. 81 like it t.
Iere. and ! want to stay q little while. t.
1y secretary will stay over in town
bring my important mail every C
and the two nurses will relieve e;
on of the watchful nights. "
If you want anything else. buy it NJ
r hire it or something. Wilson will bl
i've you what money | need. Wilson
a fine fellow" he added. HE came
Ito my Office this fall as a clerk, and
took Il fancy to him and made him bl
~ confidential man. He took to the he
Do as though he had known me and hs
~ affairs since he was BORN nj
ut must be very nice to lave some In
ne to do ycar work the way you want fe
done" she said softly. II am glad In
you are so pleased with him." Sc
I'm pleased with him." said Fair co
lin ~meaningly, 80 long as you are or
ot too well pleased with him. You
ont be pleased with him ?" he plead sa
|. no
mo more than | am now" she prom ty.
ed. and with hat Fairbain was con- fu
mt. he was convinced that money oh
omnipotent and that even here on Fl;