Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-11-07

AAN4VEsy
on his knees he reached out pair OF.
long arms and made dexterous grab.
and his fingers closed on the collar OF
Yancy'e shirt. "Neighbor, / certainly
have got you!" said Cavendish. be-
tween his teeth. He drew Yancy close
alongside the raft. and, slipping hand
under each arm, pulled him clear OF the
water. The swift current swept the
raft on down the stream. It rode fairly
in the center OF the lane OF light. but
no eye had observed It's passing. Mr..
Cavendish stood erect and stared down
at the blood-stained face, then he drop
ped on his knees again and began q
hurried examination Of the still fig-
ure. There's . little LIE herenot
much, but some-you was we'll worth
fishing up!" he said approvingly. after
a brief interval. "Polly!" he called
raising his voice.
This brought Mrs. Cavendish from
one Of the two cabins that occupied the
center Of the raft. She was a young
woman, still very comedy, though OF a
matronly plumpness. She was in her
nightgown, and when she caught sight
of Yancy she uttered a shrek and fled
back into the shanty.
II declare, Dick, you might ha' told
q body you want alone!" she said re-
proachfully.
3 Her cry had aroused the other deni-
zens of the raft. The two heads of the
six little Cavendishes rose promptly
from long bolster In the smaller Of
the two shanties. and as promptly six
little lCavendishes, each draped in a
single non-committal garment, appar-
emily cut by one pattern and not at all
according to the wearer's years or
length of limb, tumbled forth from
their shelter. ~.
'Sho', Polly, he's senseless! But
you dress and come here quick. Now
you young folks, don't you fetch him!"
for six small Cavendishes, excited be-
yond measure, were crowding and
showing for nearer sight Of Yancy.
They began to pelt their father with
questions. Who was it? Sho', in the
river? Sro', all cut up like that
who'd cut him? Had he hurt himself?
Vas he throwed in? When did pop
fish him out? Was he dead? Why
did he lay like that and not move or
speak-sho'! This and much more
was flung at Mr.. Cavendish all in one
breath, and each eager questioner seiz-
ed him by the hand, the dangling
sleeve of his shirt, or his trousers
they clutched him from all sides. Il
never seen such a family" said Mr.
Cavendish helplessly. "Now, you-all
shut up, or low I'll lay into you" s
Mrs. Cavendish's appearance created
q diversion in his favor. The six rush
ed on her tumutously. They seized her
hands or struggled for fragment of
her skirt to hold while they poured out
their tale. Pop had flshed up man
he'd been throwed into the river! Pop
didn't know If he was dead or not
he was all cut and bloody!
81 declare, I've a mind to skin you
II you don't keep still! Miss Con-
stance" Polly addressed her eldest
child, 'Tm surprised at you! You might
be heather savage for all you got
on your back-get into some buds this
Instant" Cavendish was on his knees
again beside Yancy, and Polly, by a
determined effort, rid herself of thd
children. "Why, he's a grand-looking
man, amt he?" she cried. LA, what
a PITY" =. ,as.
'You can feel his heart beat, and
he's bleeding some" said Cavendish.
LET me see-just barely .autters,
don't It? Henry, go mind the sweep
and see we don't get aground! Keppel,
you start fire and warm some water!
Connie. you tear up my other petticoat
rlro fe<{ oil ~
you!" And then began period Of
breathless activity. They first lifted
Yancy into the circle of illumination
cast by the fire Keppel had started on
the hearth Of fiat stones before the
shanties. Then, with Constance to
hold pan Of warm water, Mrs. Caven-
dish deftly bathed the gaping wound
in Yancy's shoulder where Murrell had
driven his knife. This she bandaged
with strips torn from her petticoat.
Next she began on the ragged cut left
by Slosson's club.
Hes got a right to be dead!" said
Cavendish. .......4|.
j.. Get the shears, Dick--1 must snip
away some of his hair"
All this while the four half-naked
yOuuSSLSIS CdVcLnlSuSS, VcIy SILL INV,
stood about the stone hearth in the
chill dawn and watched their mothers
surgery with breathless interest.
Only the outcast Henry at the sweep
ever and anon lifted his voice be-
tween sobs Of mingled rage and dis
appointment, and demanded what was
doing.
Think h. is going to die, Polly?"
Cavendish at length. Their
heads. hers very black and glossy, his
very blond, were close together as they
bent above the injured man.
II never say q body's going to die
until he's dead" said Polly. Hes
stili breathing, and Christian has got
to do what they can. Don't you think
you ought to tie up?"
THE freshet's leaving US. I'll run
until we hit the big water down by
Pleasantville, and then tie up" said
Cavendish.
II reckon we'd better lift him on to
one Of the beds-get his wet clothes
OF and wrap him up warm" said Polly.
"Oh, put him In our bed!" cried all
the little iCavendishes.
And .Yancv was horn a into tho email