Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-06-10
"But he may be lame?,,

-
"A very, very little perhaps" he
said. II hope not. of course. If the
injury had been treated at once [
should say positively no."
She suddenly put up her hands to
Der eyes.
I'VE must have a nurse" she said.
II dare not leave Frank to the care
of the servants and
She waved her hand toward the door
through which the Burrells had van
ished. 1t was perhaps fortunate for
Rufus Burrell's self esteem that he
could 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 SUI
perstition. II you were we'll you
wouldn't think of 1t 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 Burrell. There was no other
creature on the earth whom be so
heartily despised. knowing him for a
coward of all kinds and a conscience
less feeder upon charity.
Il was thinking that this peg of
mine is in a bad way" said Frank.
Il do not relish the idea of being a
cripple. 1t is mighty hard luck, Cousin
Rufus"
1T might be a good deal worse" re-
sponded 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.
well. When was itY'
The day l 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 a mouse. and
he was drawn toward it with a tremu-
lous eagerness.
I've heard of a cousin of mine
whose name was the same" continued
the boy, but l don't know anything
about him except that he used to play
the violin"
He went west" said Rufus. Hes
dead now; died before you were
born"
What did heAaisaQfY
Hard luck" said Rufus, with a
nervous grin.
The boy regarded him keenly for
some seconds.
Ibid he kill himself?" he demanded.
Rufus was much distressed. He
wet his lips as If they were feverish
and remained silent.
WAS he the only one?' said Frank.
"You might as well tell me. I'll find
out anyway"
There was your gre~at-uncle," an
swered Rufus after %exhausting his
meager resolution. His name was
Frank. But-but a good many people
thought it was an accident"
Thought what was an accident?
Not the mans name. surely"
mo, no; hardly that" And Rufus
emitted a strange cackle of laughter.
HE was fooling with a revolver.
That is. nobody eve really knew what
he was doing. He 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.
How in thunder did you guess
that?" he finally managed to say.
A thrill passed through the boy. and
then slowly a cold horror settled upon
his vitais.
"Well," he said at last. II guess
that's all that | need to know. If my
mother is afraid that l can't stand it
it must be pretty bad. No wonder l
haven't been able to nail DR.. Stevens
to the point. Does he think he'll have
to cut my leg off by and 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 at all.
He had said that the leg would be as
good 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 a monstrous lie. Frank
looked at him with a sense of loathing
and nausea and then turned his glance