The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-10-06
CHAPTER XXTu

to consciousness on the mid-wesk
morning, felt the surprise which might
naturally grow out Of the sight of Ar
dea sitting in a low rocker at his bed
side, he did not evince 1t, possibly be-
cause there were other and more per.
picking things for the tired brain to
grapple with first
For the moment he did not stir or
try to speak. There was a long dream
somewhere In the past in which he had
been lost In the darkness, stumbling
and cropping and calling her to
come and lead him out to life and
light. II must have been a dream. he
argued. and perhaps this was only a
continuation Of 1t. Yes. no; she was
there In visible presence. bending over
a tiny embroidery frame: and they
were alone together.
"Ardea," he said. TREMENDOUSLY.
She looked Up. and her eyes were
like cooling wellsprings TO quench the
fever fires in his.
You are better" she said. rising.
ri go and cal, your mother"
Wait a minute" he pleaded: than
his hand found the bandage on his
forehead. What happened to me?"
Don't you remember? Two men
tried to rob you last Saturday evening
as you were coming home One of
them struck you"
Saturday? And this is"
This is Wednesday"
The cool preciseness of her replies
cut him TO the heart He did not need
TO ask her why she had come 1t was
mere neighborliness. and not for him.
but for his mother. He remembered
the Saturday evening quite clearly
now: Japheth's shout; the two men
springing on him; the instant Just pre-
ceding the crash OF the blow when he
had recognized one OF his assailants
and guessed the identity OF the other.
1t was no more than right that you
should come" he said. bitterly. 1T
was the least you could do. since your
She was moving toward the door, and
his ungrateful outburst had the effect
OF stopping her. But she did not go
back to him.
Il owe your mother anything she
likes to ask she aEsmed, in the same
colorless tone.
And you owe me nothing at all, you
would say. 1 might controvert that.
But no matter; we have passed the
Saturday and have come to the We'd
nesday. Where is Norman? Hasn't
he been here?"
He has been with you almost con-
stantly from the first. He was here
less than an hour ago"
! Where is he now?"
She hesitated. There Is urgency Of
some kind in your business affairs.
Your father spent the night in South
Tredegar; and a little while ago he
telephoned for Mr.. Norman-from the
iron-works, think" She had moved
away again. and her hand was on the
door knob.
You are IN desperate hurry.
aren't your" he gritted; though the
teeth grinding was from the pain 1t
cost him to move. Would you mind
handing me that desk telephone before
you go?"
IF you wish to speak to some one.
perhaps / could do 1t for you," she sug
gested. quite In the trained nurse tone
If you could stretch your good Twill
Co-to my mother-that far" he SAID
Please call my office-number five
twenty six -G+and ask for Mr.. Nor
man."
She complied. but with only strange
young woman stenographer at the 9TH
er end OF the wire. a word of explana-
ton was necessary. This is Miss
Da5ney at Woodlawn. Mr.. Gordon is
better. and he wishes to say-what did
you want TO say?" she asked. turning
to him.
Just ask what's going on: If It's
Norman you've got, he'll know" said
Tom, sinking back on the pillows.
What the stenographer had to say
took some little time. and Ardeas COL
or came and went In hot flashes and
her eyes grew large and thoughtful as
size listened. When she put the ear
piece down and spoke to the sick man.
her tone was kinder.
There is an important business
meeting going on over at the furnace
office, and Mr.. Norman is there with
your father" she said. 1.-THE stenog-
rapher wants me to ask you about
some papers Mr.. Norman thinks you
NAV have, and"
She stopped in Difference to the vel i.
low pallor that was creeping like Gu
rious mask over the face of the man
In the bed. Through all the strain OF
the last twenty hours she had held her
self well in hand, doing for him only
what she might have done for a sick
and suffering stranger. But there were
limits beyond which love refused to be
driven.
Toni" she gasped. rising quickly to
go to him.
Wait" he muttered: '1et me pull
myself together. I'm weaker than a
| GIRL" he whispered. VINCE mean
the thug, hit me lot harder than he
| needed to. What was 1 saying
yes; the papers. viii you-wlll you
go over there in the corner by the door
and look behind the mopboard? You
will find a piece of 1t sawed so 1t will
come out. In the wall behind it there
| ought to be a package"
She found it readily-a thick packet
securely tied with heavy Irvine and a
little charred at the corners.
| That's it," he said, weakly. Nov
J one more last favor; please send Aun,
'Phrony up IS YOU go down. Tell her
want my clothes"
You are not going to gst up7" sha
id