Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-08-31

esAS WSOASs 0o60-AiSh .AuQ-KOOd-
BY" And before she could reply. ne
had lowered himself over the ciitrs
edge and was crashing through the I'M
derbrush on the slopes below.
CHAPTER XIII
II Thomas Gordon. opening his eve.
to consciousness on the mid wess
morning. felt the surprise which might
naturally grow out of the sight Of Az.
dea sitting In a low rocker at his bed
side he did not evince II. possibly be-
cause there were other and more mar.
picking things for the tired brain to
grappls with first
For the moment he did not stir or
try to speak. There was a long drea m
somewhere In the past in which he mad
been lost in the darkness. stumbling
and cropping and calling her TO
come and lead him out to life and
light 1t must have been a dream. no
argued. and perhaps this was onIv a
continuation Of 1t. Yes, no: aha No.
there in visible presence. bending over
. tiny embroidery frame: and thew
were alone together.
"Ardea!" he said. TREMENDOUSLY.
She looked up. and her eyes w.ra
like cooling wellsprings TO ouench ma
fever fres In his
You are better" she said, RISING.
"Il go and call your mother"
Walt minute" he pleaded: the,
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
-rhis is Wednesday"
The cool preciseness Of her replies
cut him to the heart He did NOT mead
to ask her why she had come. It was
mere neighborliness. and not for him
but for his mother He remembered
the Saturday evening quite clearly
now: Jspheth's shout; the two m.n
springing on him: the instant Just pre-
ceding the crash OF the blow when he
had recognized one OF his ASA iiants
and guessed. the identity of the other.
IT was no more than right that you,
should come" he said. bitterly. ut
was the least you could do. since your
-" -
She was moving toward the door, and
MA ungrateful outburst had the eftec,
OF stopping her. But she did not 20
back to him.
Il owe your mother anything she
likes to ask" she affirmed. in the sam.
colorless tone.
And you owe me nothing. at all. Won
would say 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 hers
less than an hour ago."
Where IL he now?"
She hesitated There Is urgency OF
some kind In your business affairs.
Your father spent the night in South
Tredegar; and 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
th-grindlng was from the pain 1t
cost him to move. Would you mind
handing me- that desk telephone before
you go?"
II you wish to speak to some one.
perhaps could do 1t for you." she sug-
gested. quite in the trained nurse tone.
II you could stretch your goodwill
toto my mother--that far" he sail.
please call my office-number Ave-
twenty six G-and ask for Mr. Nor
man.
She compiled, but with only a strange
young woman photographer at the 9TH
err end of the wire. a word Of explana-
ton was necessary. This Is Miss
Dabuey. at Woodlawn. Mr. Gordon ia
h,H =. ,l.y,-
you want to say?" she asked. turning
tc him.
Just ask what's going on: II 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 Ardea's col
or came and went in hot flashes and
her eyes grew large and thoughtful as
she listened. When she put the ear
piece down and spoke to the sick man,
her tone was kinder.
There is an important busines,
meeting going on over at the furnace
office, and Mr.. Norman is there with
your father" she said. 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.
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 sick
and suffering stranger. But there werc
limits beyond which love refused to be
| driven.
Tom" she Gasped. rising quickly to
go to him.
Wait" he muttered: .let me pull
myself together. I'm weaker than u
girl" he whispered "vlnce-I mean
the thug. hit me lot harder than he
needed to. What was saying ?-oh,
yes; the papers. VIII you-will 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 1t there
ought to be package
She found 1t readily-a thick packet
securely tied with heavy Irvine and
little charred at the corners.
That's It," he said. weakly. Now
one more last favor; please send Aunt
| 'Phrony up as you go down. Tell her
want my clothes"
You are not going to get up?" she
said