Semi-weekly herald., 1911-02-27

coolly. Then rapidly. succ1nctly and
clearly he went over the case and laid
out a course OF treatment. Out OF It
all Lee deduced that her mother was
very Ill indeed, though not In danger
of sudden death.
"she's on the chute" said Fessen-
den. "and everything dspends upon her
own action whether she takes the
plunge this winter or twenty years |
from now. She's a strong woman, or |
has been. but she has presumed upon |
her strength. She used to live out Of
doors, she tells me, during all her ear
ly life. and now. shut In by these
walls, working sixteen hours day,
she is killing herself. Get her out II
you can and cut out stImulants."
As he rose and approached the coun-
ter Lie showed n couple of gold pieces
across the board THAT wipes you
of my map" she grimly declared. 81
hope you enjoyed your ride"
ITS up to you, madam" he replied.
pocketing the gold. Good day!"
"Tll be down again in day or
two" called Redfeld.
uc tuiNulht pSkuh " pun opi'
and the wheels to spin, and Lee Vir-
ginia was left to face her mothers OBJ
stinate resistance alone. She felt sud
denly very desolate, very weak and
very poor. what II mother should
die?" she asked herself
Gregg was standing before the coun-
| ter talking with Lie MS Lee returned.
and ~ said with n broad smile. "I've
Just been saying I'd take this hotel
on your mothers hands provided you
went with it,
| In the mouths Of some men these
words would have been harmless
enough. but coming from the tongue
of one whose life could only be oh
scurely limited at the Jest was an In
suit. The girl shuddered with repul-
sion. and Lie spoke out:
"Now, see here, Ballfrog. I'm dead
on the hoof and all that, but neither
you nor any other citizen like you can
be funny with my girl. She's not for
you. Now. that's final! She amt your
kind"
She turned to Lee. I'm hungry.
Where's that grub chart Of miner?
Lee brought the DOCTORS page Of
notes and read 1t through, while her
mother snorted at intervals: "Hnh!
Dry toast, weak tea. no coffee, no al
cohol. Huh! 1 might as well starve
gs-fish-milk! Why didn't he say
J boiled live Holsters and champagne
tell you right now Pm not going tt
go into that kind Of n game. II I dl'
Pm going to die eating what 1 blame
pleasev'
The struggle had begun. With des
perate courage Lee fought. standing
} squarely In the rut of her mother'i
daily habit. "You must not hive W
here any longer" she insisted. "Yor
must get out and walk and ride.
, can take care Of the house. at leas
till we can sell It,"
1t was like breaking the pride of al
, athlete, but little by little she forced
upon her mother a realization Of hel
true condition, and at last LAze con
sented to offer the business for sale.
Lee longed for the presence Of Rosi
Cavanagh at this moment. when al
her little world seemed tumbling Int
ruin, and almost in answer to her word
less prayer came a messenger from tn,
little telephone Office, Some one want
to talk to you"
She answered this call hurriedly
thinking at first that 1t must be Mrs
Redheld. The booth was in the littl'
sitting room Of a private cottage, ant
the mistress Of the place, q shrewt
little woman with inquisitives eyes
said, Sounds to me like Ross Cava
. nagh's voice."
Lee was thankful for the booths pri
2 vacy, for her cheeks famed up at thi
remark, and when she took up the re
. ceiver her heart was beating 80 lou,
1t seemed as II the person at the othe
( end Of the wire must hear 1t. "Wh
| Is It, pleasef" she asked, with breath
less intensity.
Z mans voice came back over tn
/ wire so clear, so distinct, so intimate
, 1t seemed as II he were speaking int
= her ear. at Is l, Ross Cavanagh.
4 want to ask how your mother is"
: "She is terribly disheartened by wha
the doctor has said, but she Is in n
q. immediate danger"
He perceived her agitation and wa
instantly sympathetic. "Can / be Q
T. use? Do you need mel II you do l.
l. come down"
"Where are your
/ II am at the sawmill, the neare1
telephone station"
"How far away are your
"About thirty miles"
n "Ohw She expressed In this littl
= sound her disappointment, and AZ
e trembled over the wire he spoke quicl
e ly: "Please tell me! DO you want Ii
r. to come down? Never mind the di
lance. can ride 1t in few hours"
She was tempted, but bravely sal,
u mo; I'd like to see you, Of course, b,
n the doctor said mother was in no dai
II ger. You must not come on our q
count"
b He felt the wonder of the moment
= intercourse over the wilderness steel
l. and said so. You can't imagine no
e strangely sweet and civilized your vol,
a sounds to me here In this savage plac
q 1t makes me hope that some day yc
It and Mrs. Redfeld will come up ar
a visit me in person"
J. II should like to come"
IL A.