The Winslow mail., 1911-06-24

|
Max came down from the roof
alone, and I cornered him in the up
per hall
I'm going crazy, Max" 1 said.
Nobody will tell me anything, and
can't stand it. How was he hurt?
Who hurt him?'
Max looked at me quite a long time.
I'm darned if 1 understand you,
Kit he said gravely. you said you
disliked Harbison.''
so 1 dol did," l supplemented.
"But whether l like him or not has
nothing to do with it. He has been
| injured-perhaps murdered'-I chok-
ed little. "Which-which of you
did it?"
Max took my hand and held it, look
| ing down at me.
Il wish you could have cared for me
like that" he said gently. Dear lit
| tie girl, we don't know who hurt him.
didn't, if that's what you mean. Per-
haps flower pot"
l began to cry then, and he drew
me to him and let me cry on his arm.
He stood very quietly, patting my
head in brotheriy way and behaving
very well, save that once he said:
Don't cry too long, Kit: 1 can stand
only certain amount"
And just then the nurse opened the
door to the studio, and with Max's
arms still around me, raised my
head and looked in
Mr.. HARRISON was conscious. His
eyes were open, and he was staring at
us both as we stood framed by the
doorway.
He lay back at once and closed his
eyes, and the nurse shut the door.
There was no use, even If 1 had been
allowed in, in trying to explain to
him. To attempt such thing would
have been to presume that he was in
terested in an explanation. l thought
bitterly to myself as l brought the
nurse cracked ice and struggled to
make beef tea in the kitchen, that
lives had been wrecked on less.
Dal was allowed ten minutes in the
sick room during the afternoon, and
he came out looking puzzled and ex-
cited. He refused to tell us what he
had learned, however, and the rest of
the afternoon he and Jim spent in the
cellar.
The day dragged on. Downstairs
people ate and read and wrote letters,
and outside newspaper men talked to-
gether and gaZed over at the house
and photographed the doctors coming
in and the doctors going out. AS for
me, in the intervals of bringing
things, l sat in Bella's chair in the
upper hall, and listened to the crackle
of the nurses starched skirts.
At midnight that night the doctors
made thorough examination. When
they came out they were smiling.
He is doing very WE'LL" the young
er one said-he was hairy and dark,
but he was beautiful to me- He is
entirely conscious now, and in about
an hour you can send the nurse off
for little sleep. Don't let him talk
And so at last l went through the
familiar door into an unfamiliar room,
with basins and towels and bottles
around, and a screen made of Jim's
largest canvases. And some one on
the improvised bed turned and looked
at me. He did not speak, and | sat
down beside him. After a while he
put his hand over mine as it lay on
the bed
You are much better to me than /
Deserve" he said softly. And because
his eyes were disconcerting, l put an
ice cloth over them.
Much better than you deserve" 1
said, and patted the ice cloth to place
gently. He fumbled around until he
found my hand again, and we were
quiet for long time. l think he
dozed, for he reused suddenly and
pulled the cloth from his eyes.
"The-the day is all confused" he
said, turning to look at me, 'but-one
thing seems to stand out from every
thing else. Perhaps it was delirium,
but | seemed to see that door over
there open, and you, outside, with
with Max. His arms were around
you"
1T was delirium, l said softly. 1t
was ny. final lie in that house of
mendacity.
He drew satisfied breath, and
lifting my hand, held it to his lips and
kissed 1t.
Il can hardly believe it is you,' he
said. Il have to hold firmly to your
hand or you will disappear. Can't
you move your chair closer? You are
miles away" So did it, for he was
not to be excited.
After little
ITS awfully good of you to do this.
have been desperately sorry, Kit,
about the other night. 1t was a ruff
iianly thing to do-to kiss you, when
| thought"
You are to keep very still,' 1 re-
minded him. He kissed my hand
again, but he persisted.
IL was mad-crazy." l tried to
give him some medicine, but he push
ed the spoon aside. you will have