Dewey County advocate. [volume] (Timber Lake, S.D.) 1910-1913, 1911-07-14

though 1t was possibly only ooncuG
sion.
The men spent most Of the morn
ing together.
Max came down from the rod
alone, and cornered him in the up.
per hall.
I'm going crazy, Max" I said.
Nobody will tell me anything, and l
can't stand It. How was he hurt
Who hurt him?"
Max looked at me quite long time.
I'm darned II I understand you,
Kit" he said gravely. "You said you
disliked HARRISON"
$50 I dol did," I supplemented
But whether I 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. II that's what you mean. Per.
maps doWer-pot@
began to cry then, and he drew
me to him and lot me cry on his arm.
He stood very quietly, patting my
head in brotherly way and behaving
very well, save that once he said:
Don't cry too long. Kit: I can stand
only a certain amount"
And just then the nurse opened the
door to the studio, and with Max's
arms still around me. I raised my
head and looked in.
Mr.. HARRISON was conscious. His
eyes were open, and he was staring at
us both a. 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 II l 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. I 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.
Dial 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. 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.
or one said-he was hairy and dark.
but he was beautiful TO mo. "He Il
entirely conscious now, and in about
an hour you can send the nurse on
for little sleep. Don't let him talk"
And 80 at last I 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 l sat
down beside him. After q 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, put an
ice cloth over them.
Much better than you deserve"
said. and patted the ice cloth to place
gently. He fumbled around until he
found my hand again. and we were
quiet for a long time. 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 1t was delirium,
but l seemed to see that door over
there open, and you. outside. with
with Max. His arms were around
you"
1T was delirium," I said softly. It
was my hnal lie In that house Of
mendacity.
He drew . satisfied breath, and
lifting my hand, held It to his lips and
kissed it.
IT can hardly believe It IL you." he
said. II have to hold firmly to your
hand or you will disappear. Can't
you move your chair closerf You are
miles away" So did it. for he was
not to be excited.
After little
Its awfully good Of you to do this.
1 have been desperately sorry. Kit.
about the other night. It was . ruff
family thing to do-to kiss you. when
/ thought"
you are to keep very still." 70
minded him. He kissed my hand