Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-11-02

| s@,aJ' q ~
The Eye. Of tho Two Mot In Defiance.
cing forward fetlock deep in sand
Mounted upon q swifter animal Fair
balm forged ahead; he could see the
two horses now plainly their heads
uplifted, their reins dangling. With
out perceiving more he knew already
what was waiting there on the sand,
and swore fercely. squirting his horse
mercilessly, forgetful of all else. even
the girl. in his intense desire to reach
and touch the bodies. He had begged
to do this himself. to be privileged
TO seek this man Hawley, to kill him
but now he was the physician, with no
other thought except 5 hope to save.
Before his horse had even stopped he
flung himself frorS the saddle, ran
forward and dropped on his knees be-
side Keith, bending his ear to the
chest, grasping the wrist in his fin.
eers. As the others approached. he
glanced up, no conception now Of
auFht save his own professional work.
Water, Bristoe," he exclaimed
sharply. Dash some brandy in 1t.
Quick now There, that's It; hold his
head up-higher. Yes, you do It, Miss
tcrc. ho~c. Ben. 'akr this. and nry
his teeth open-well, he got . swallow
anyhow. Hold him just a. he is--can
you stand II? rye got to md where
he was hit"
"Yes-yee." she answered. don't
don't mind me-"
He tore open the wooden shirt,
soaked with blood already hardening.
felt within with skilled fingers, his
eyes keen. his lips muttertns uncon.
sciously
Quarter OF an irch-quarter OF an
inch too h!gh-scraped the lung
Lord, If can only get 1t out-got to
do 1t now-can't wait-here, Brlstoe,
that leather case on my saddle-run.
damn you-we'il save him yet, girl
there, drop his head in your lap-yes,
cry II you want to-only hold still
/ open the case, will yorktown here,
where I can reach it-now waterfall
our canteens-Hope, tear me on .
strip Of your under-skirt-what am
going TO do!-extract the ball--got TO
do it-blood poison In this sun"
She ripped her skirt, handing 1t 10
him without word; then dropped her
white face in her hands, bending,
with closed eyes. over the whittier faco
resting on her lap, her lips trembling
with the one prayer, "Oh. God. Oh.
, Cod" How long he was at It, or
what he did, she scarcely knew-she
heard the splash OF water; caught the
fash Of the sun on the probe; felt the
half conscious shudder OF the wound
ed man, whose head was in her lap.
the deft, quick movements OF Fair
balm, and then
That's tive got it-missed tho
lung by hair-damn me I'm proud OF
that 1ob-you're good girl"
She looked at him. scarce able to
see her eyes blinded with tears.
"Will-will he live? Oh, tell me-"
Live! Why shouldn't he!-nothins
but hole to close up-naturell do
that, with bit OF nursing-here. row
don't you keel over-g1ve me the rest
| or that skirt.
He bandaged The wound, then
glanced about suddenly.
"How's the other fellow"
Dead returned Bristoe, shot
through the heart"
Thought so-have seen Keith fhOot
before-I wonder how the cCse eYer
managed to get him"
AS he arose to his feet, his red face
glisten.ng with perspiration. and be-
gan strappng his leather case, the
others rode up, and Bristoe, explaining
the situation, set the men to making
/ preparations for pushing on to the
water-hole. Blankets were swung be-
tween ponies. and the bodies OF ths
dead and wounded deposited therein,
firm hands on the brides. Hope rode
close beside Keith, struggling to keep
back the tears, as she watched him
lying motionless, unconscious, scarce
ly breathing, So. under the early glow
or the desert stars, they came to tho
weter-hole. and halted.
The wounded man opened his eyes,
and looked about him unable to COM
prehend At first all was dark, silent;
then he saw the stars overhead, md a
breath of air famed the nearby fire.
the ruddy glow OF fame flashing
across his face. He lard voices
family, and thus. little by little, con-
seriousness asserted itself and memory
! struggled back into his bewildered
brain. The desert-the lonely leagues
OF ssnd--his fingers gripped as II they
felt the stock OF gun-yet that was
all over--he was not there-but he
was somewhere-and alive. alive II
hurt him to move, to breathe even.
and after one effort 10 turn over he
lay perfectly stiil. staring up into the
black arch OF sky, endeavoring to
think. to Observation-Disclosures was he!
How had he come there? Was Haw'
ley alive also? A face bent over him,
the features family visible In the mas b
Of freight, His dull eyes lit up In
sudden recollection.
Doc! is that your"
Sure, old man." the pudgy fingers
feeling his pulse. tho gray eyes twink.
ling Narrow squeak you had-sO
ing to pull through all right though
no sign OF fever"
Where am II"
AT the wGter-holc: sling YOU In Z
blanket, and get you into Larned 70