The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1911-06-17

said II might be q fractured skull. al
though It was possibly only concus-
sion.
The men spent most Of the morn
Ing together.
Max came down from the roof
alone. and cornered him in the up
per hall
I'm going crazy. Max" said
Nobody will tell me anything. and I
can't stand it, How was he hurt?
Who hurt him!"
Max looked at me quite long time.
I'm darned II l understand you.
Kit he said gravely. You said you
disliked HARRISON"
so l dol did," supplemented.
But whether like him or not has
nothing TO do with It, He has been
injured-perhaps murdered"-l 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.
I 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, pattinE my
head in brotherly way and behaving
very well. save that once he said
Don't cry too long Kit: can stand
only a certain amount"
And just then the nurse opened the
door TO the studio. and with Maxs
arms still around me, l raised my
head and looked in.
Mr. HARRISON was conscious. His
eyes we're 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 II l had been
allowed in. In trying to explain to
him. To attempt such a thing would
have been to presume that he was In
terested In an explanation. ! thought
bitterly to myself as 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 >fternoon. 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 a 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 30 at last l went through the
familiar door into an unfamiliar room,
with basins and towels and bottles
around, and a screen made of Jims 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. | 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 we're
quiet for 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 dehrium.
but l 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 my flnal lie In that house OF
mendacity.
He drew a satisfied breath, and
lifting my hand. held it to his lips and
kissed 1t.
Il can hardly believe 1t is you.' he
said. II have to hold firmly to your
hand or you will disappear. Can't
you move your chair closer? You are
miles away" So l did 1t, for he was
not to be excited.
After q little
It's awfully good Of you to do this.
| have been desperately sorry. Kit,
about the other night. 1t was a ruff.
fianly thing to do-to kiss you, when