Middletown transcript., 1910-04-30

| labor to save the man? Soon the
| flames would come, and the mar
was securely pinned in their patti
| With Palmer out of the way, ht
would be free to return home
| free to face the world and Molly
| For love Of God the voice
came up from beneath him, dc
not let me stay here-and die like
a-helpless dog!
And at the sound Of the voice
Reeves forgot his mad idea and
plunged again to work feverishly
And after while he dragged the
half senseless man out and put
him down upon the soft, wet grass
A ragged bruise stood ont upon
his forehead. Reeves tore of
his shirt and carefully bound
up the wound.
Now voices came, and looking
up from his work, Reeves saw
the train backing down, q dozen
of the crew racing beside it. A
big man, whom he took for a ply.
sician, came up to him. Reeves
suddenly felt himself growing
faint and sick.
IIdid the best l could for him,
he stammered, as the other knelI
beside the quiet form of Palmer.
If he lives he'll owe his life tc
you, the doctor returned.
| Some men with stretcher car
ried the senseless man ahead into
the sleeper, while partly upheld
by the physician, Reeves stun
bled along behind.
When his eyes snapped open.
Reeves found the bright sunlight
streaming into his berth beneath
the partly lowered shade. He
hurried into his clothes and went
to the toilet room. There he found
the physician
We're taking the man off at the
next station, he spoke up, after 9
formal greeting. He passed 8
fairly good night, but I'm fearful
of the wound on his forehead. Is
be friend of yoursF
In spite of himself, Reeves
nodded.
/ think it would be good plan
for you to stop off for the day
with him, the other resumed
gravely. We must perform an
operation as soon as we arrive al
the hospital. A bit OF broken
bone is pressing down upon the
mans brain.
It was a quiet little station
where the train finally came to q
rest. Reeves followed the men
and the stretcher through the
little depot and into the waiting
ambulance. Reeves was given
the courtesy of a vacant room al
the hospital, and afterward went
down into the private dining
room for breakfast. At noon
the morning New York papers
came IN, and purchasing a bunch
of them, he went out upon the
broad, screened porch and read
them through feverishly, word
by word. Palmer had not
spoken.
The drowsy afternoon passed
away. Reeves watched the
shadows grow longer and longer
across the dusty road. And then
abruptly, as he looked up, he saw
the doctor standing in the door.
way.
Mr.. Palmer is still alive. He
will pull through safely.
But that isn't all, Reeves inter.
rupted studying the grave eyes.
You are keeping something back!
! regret to state that, while ]
am satisfied the patient will live,
the operation was not the success
| I expected. The clot on the brain
was more severe than l realized.
Mr.. Palmer has completely lost
his reason. His mind is now, and
will continue to be a blank.
Reeves was on his feet, grip
ping at the porch rail. The doc
tor had bowed himself away, but
his last words still rang in the
others ears.
Mr.. Palmer's mind will forever
be a blank F.!
Something arose stormily in
his throat. That meant-meant
with the mans reason had gone
all proofs. He was free to return
home-to his oflce-.to Molly.
And yet another thought came
upon him. He had forgotten
i the letter By By this this ttiifHe ttiifHe NJ Nelly
was reading it. His own confess
sion! What a bitter shock it
| would he tn her How sho musk