Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-06-24
"Eut he may be lame."


eyes for perhaps five seconds.
"A very. very little perhaps" lie
said. Il hope not. of course. If the
injury had been treated at once l
should say positively no.
She suddenly put up her hands to
her eyes.
I'VE must have q nurse" she said.
IL dare not leave Frank to the care
OF the servants and
She waved her hand toward the door
through which the Burrells had van
ishcd. 1t was perhaps fortunate for
Rufus Burrells self esteem that lie
sould not see that gesture
The invalid relaxed weakly upon
her pillows. and tears started from
her eyes.
II wish that woman had not men,
toned the name," she cried.
"Oh, mamma, NONSENSE" said the
doctor gently. THAT'S the silliest ST.
perstition. II you were we'll you
wouldn't think Of it for an instant"
"Thank heaven that Frank does not
know the story" said she. "He must
not"
The doctor rose from his chair, and
Rufus Burrell. fearing discovery. stole
softly away. Presently he went up to
the turret chamber where Frank lay
propped up ON pillows, his leg help
lessly incased.
The boy was perfectly motionless.
staring at nothing.
"Why. what's the matter, Frank?"
he asked. You look positively fierce"
The boy slowly turned his glance
upon Burlell. There was no other
creature Oil the earth whom he so
heartily despised. knowing him for
coward of all kinds and a conscience
less feeder upon charity.
81 was thinking that this peg of
mine is in Il bad way" said Frank.
II do not relish the idea of being IL
cripple. 1t is mighty hard luck, Cousin
Rufus
at might be a good deal WORSE" re-
spondcd Rufus.
The boy spent some minutes in SOM
Der meditation and then spoke so sud
denly that his companion jumped.
what did Cousin Martha mean by
saying that my name was unlucky?"
Did Mrs. Burrell say that? Well.
we'll! When was it:''
THE day | was brought in here she
was in the hall. l heard her say it to
somebody-one Of the servants. sup
pose"
Rufus strove to restrain himself, but
he lacked any real faculty of that kind.
Every temptation. however small. was
to him what cheese is to Il mouse, and
he was drawn toward it with tremu-
lOuS eagerneSS.
I've heard Of cousin Of mine
whose name was the same" continued
the boy, but don't know anything
about him except that lie used to play
the VIOLIN"
HE went west" said Rufus. Hes
dead now; died before you We're
born.''
"What did he die OFF,
Hard luck" said Rufus, with a
nervous grin.
The hoy regarded him keenly for
sonic seconds.
did lie kill himself:" lie demanded.
Rufus was much distressed. He
wet his lips as if they were feversl
and remained silent
WAS he the only one?" said Frank.
"You might as we'll tell me- Ill find
out anyway"
nm n.
swered Rufus after eXhausting his
meager resolution. His name was
Frank. But-but Il good many people
thought it was an accident"
Thought what was an accident ::
Not the mans name. surely"
"No, no; hardly that" And Rufus
emitted strange cackle of laughter
HE was fooling with revolver.
That is. nobody ever really knew what
he was doing. lie was alone at the
time, and when they found him
"He was dead" said the boy. land
that was the end of his troubles Was
he a cripple:'
Rufus stared and choked upon his
words.
'Eow in thunder did you guess
that:" he finally managed to say.
A thrill passed through the boy. and
then slowly Il cold horror settled upon
his yitals.
well" he said ut last. Il guess
that's all that need to know If my
mother is afraid that can't stand it
1t must lie pretty bad. No wonder |
haven't becn able to nail DR.. Stevens
to the poiut. Does lie think he'll have
to cut my leg off by ami by:'
At this Rufus uttered a voluble and
scarcely coherent protest. 1t was all
a mistake. he declared. The doctor
thought there WAS no danger ut all.
He had said that the leg would be as
coed as new
The man had no sincerity in him
Though he was trying to tell the truth
or something near it. every word
seemed part of Il MonStrous lie. Frank
looked ut him with Il sense Of loathinn
and nausea and then turned his glance
away.
cousin Rufus" said lie ut last in q