The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-06-01

blTelcueu out. AS tHe Sirl hHelJ De-
side him strand Of her black hair
fell from beneath her soft, gray hat
and touched his face. He twitched
his eyes open.
For moment he was bewildered.
Then he slowly smiled.
"Howdy, lady?" he hoarsely said.
=. The girl drew back.
Is "Ainta.you got any sense?" she
brusquely asked.
VERY little" he lazily answered.
"What's the new proof"
Lynn out here in th' sum-" she
said. "Colhe, lift yourself. Here,
: hook onto this" And she gave him
her hand.
He was weak and limp, and for a
{, moment he .tottered, but she held to
him firmly.
"Wobbly," he said, with a quick
smile.
). Get your bearings" she command
ed. "Straighten up. My, but you're
rag!"
"a mere frazzle," he smilingly add
ed. "The next puff of wind may be
expected to flutter me along and hang
me on the nearest bush"
"Cut out tn poetry" said the girl,
sand brace up. Can you walk now?"
He tested his feet carefully.
"They seem to be dependable" he
replied. WHITTIER away, fair lady?"
Drop it." said the girl sharply.
"No foolishness. I'm neither fair nor
a lady" She pulled up the straying
strand Of her hair as she spoke and
xncked It under her hat 7
His smiling eyes followed her
Movements.
I'm sick man." he said; IAN alb
9ect example of masculine helpless
ness. Sick men must be permitted to
babble. Even at the risk of incurring
your displeasure shall allude to
you as Diana of the plains"
"Plain enough, heaven knows"
said the girl. "But there, tn sun has
got into your think box. You'll be
seein' things an screechin next.
Come"
He leaned on her heavily as they
moved toward the pony. And the eff
fort caused him to cough feebly.
II don't know what's come over
me-" he family said. Il seemed pret-
ty fit this morning."
"It's tn sleepin' in tn sun at noon
day. l tell you," said the girl sharp
ly. Nobody but tenGerfoot would
do fool thing like that. Kin you
hold on to tn pony?"
Il think so,' he replied. "Ive held
on to bigger ones. But where are you
taking ne, Diana?"
MY name is plain Anna" said the
girl brusquely. "I'm takin' you down
to our ranch. TIL cabin is beyond tn
clump O. trees yonder on tn creek.
= live there with Uncle Jim. Let me
help you."
g.,l She got linn balanced on the saddle
b. and led the pony down the trail and
across the lowlands to the creek. Pres
emily they came in sight of the cabin,
a half bungalow affair, with wide
porches, and flowers and climbing
vines all about it, and with the creek
quite a wide and noisy stream
splashing along 100 feet away.
The girl helped the stranger down
and led him to the porch and put him
in big, clumsy rocker with many
cushions, and ran and fetched him a
drink. He slipped the contents of the
glass slowly.
II thought was going to faint" he
said presently. THAT was the reason
] didn't have more to say to you. I'm
usually pretty gabby. It's fine here"
He looked around with an approx
dng smile.
The girl whistled to the pony and
the latter trotted around the bushes
and disappeared behind the house.
Then she took seat on the single
step of the porch.
"You from tn East?" she asked.
Boston"
doctor sent you out here, OF
course?"
Eyes. He gave me up, all right
Said Southern California was my only
hope. came out more to oblige him
than anything else"
"Come alone?"
eyes"
mo folks?"
Mother. She's abroad"
"Where are you stoppin'?"
"Los Angeles. I'm in sanitariun
there. Don't like it. It's lonesome
Been there week. Don't sleep we'll
Made up my mind to run away thil
morning. Boarded a train. Got of
at second station. Wandered up ant
down and fell asleep. Then yol
came"
He told this in series OF littl,
gasps and the girl studied his fac
while she listened.