The Mena weekly star., 1911-12-07


forward and dropped on his Lnaos -.
sioe Keith, bending his ear to the
cnest, grasping the wrist in his fu.
gers. AS the others approached. he
glanced up, no conception now Of
aught save his own professional work
Water. Bristoe." he exclaimed
sharply. Dash some brandy n !,
Quick now. There. that's il: hold mia
mead up-hisher. Yes. you DO II. MIS-
""Te hare Ben. take this. and prv
mis- teeth open-well. he got swallow
anyhow. Hold him just as he is-can
you stand 1t? I've got to find whera
he was hit"
"Yes-yes," she answered. don't
don't mind me"
he tore open the WOODEN shirt
soaked with blood already hardening,
Ielt within with skilled fingers. his
eyes keen, his lips muttering uncon.
| sciously.
quarter of an inch-quarter OF an
inch too high-scraped the lung
Lord, If can only get It out-got to
90 II now-can't wait--here Bristoe.
That leather case on my saddle-run,
damn you-weIl save him yet. girl
there, drop his head in your lap-yes,
cry AZ you want to-only hold Still
open the case, VIII you-down here.
where ! can reach it-now waterfall
our canteens-Hope. tear me off
strip OF your under-skirt-what am I
gong to do?-extract the ball-got to
do it-blood poison In this sun"
She ripped her skirt. handing It to
him without word; then dropped her
white face In her hands, bending,
with closed eyes, over the whittier face
resting on her lap. her lips trembling
with the one prayer. "Oh, Cod Oh.
Cod" How long he was at it. or
what he did, she scarcely knew-she
heard the splash OF water; caught the
Hash 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 the
lupg by hair-damn me I'm proud OF
that job-you're good girl"
She looked at him, scarce able to
see, her eyes blinded with tears.
''Will-will he live. oh tell mel"
"Livei Why shouldn't hs?-nothlng
but a hole to close up-nature1l do
that. with bit OF nursing there, now
don't. you keel over-give me the rest
Of that skirt"
He bandaged the wound then
glanced about suddenly.
"How's the other fellow"
Dead" returned Brlstoe, shot
through the heart"
Thought so-have seen Keith shoot
before-I wonder how the cuss ever
managed to get him."
AS he arose to his feet. his red face
glistening with perspiration, ard be-
gan strapping his leather case, the
others rode up, and Bristoe. explaining
the situation, set the men TO making
preparations for pushing on to the
water-hele. Blankets were swung be
tween ponies. and the bodies of the
dead and wounded deposited therein,
firm hands on the brides Hope rode
close beside Keith. struggling to keer
back the tears, as she watched him
lying motfonless, unconscious, scarce.
ly breathing So, under the early glow
OF the desert stars. they came to the
water-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, and
breath Of air famed the nearby fire,
the rudy glow OF flame flashing
ACROSS his taoe. He heard voices
family, and thus, little by little. con
sciousness asserted itself and memory
struggled back into his bewildered
brain. Tho desert-the lonely leagues
Of sand-his fingers gripped as if they
felt the stock of gun-yet that was
all over-he was not there-but he
was sorewhere-and alive, alive II
hurt him to move, to breathe even,
n sy p sdsT p' 9o stat f f Up f into me
black arch of sky, endeavoring to
think. TO understand-where was hel
How had he come there? Was Haw'
ley alive also7 A face bent over him
the features family visible In the fias.
OF freight. His dull eyes lit up i
sudden recollection.
Doc! Is that your"
Sure. old man." the pudgy fingers
feeling his pulse, the gray eyes twink
ling. Marrow squeak you had-go
ing to pull through all right, though
no sign Of fever"
Where am II"
AT the water-hOls: sling YOU in a
blanket, and get you into Larned to
morrow"
There was q moments silence,
Keith finding II hard to speak.
"Hawley-f@ he whispered at last.
"Oh, don't worry: you got him al
right. Say his voice SOLDERING, may
be 1t was Just as well you took that
Job. II it had been me would have
been in bad
The wounded mans eyes questioned
ITS a bad mix-up. Keith. Waite
never told us all of It. ! reckon he
didn't want her TO know, and sht
never shall. If can help 1t. I've been
looking over some papers in his pooh
et-he'd likely been after them this
trip-and his name amt Hawley. He's
Bartlett Gale, Christie's father"