Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-08-08
The Eyes Of the Two Met In Defiance.

The Eyes Of the Two Met In Defiance.
cling forward fetlock deep in sand.
Mounted upon swifter animal Fair
balm forged ahead; he could see the
two horses now plainly, their heads
uplifted, their reins dangling. Withs
out perceiving more he knew already
what was waiting there on the sand,
and swore fiercely, squirting his horse
mercilessly, forgetful of all else, even
the girl. in his intense desire to reach
and touch the bodies. He had begged
to do this himself to be privileged
to seek this man Hawley, to kill him
but now he was the physician, with NO
other thought except hope to save.
Before his horse had even stopped he
flung himself from the saddle, ran
forward and dropped on his knees be-
side Keith, bending his ear to the
chest, grasping the wrist in his I'm
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 in 1t.
Quick now. There. that's 1t: hold his
head up-higher. Yes. you do 1t, Miss
Hone hare Pan take this srd
his teeth open-wen. he got a swallow
anyhow. Hold him Just a. he is-can
you stand 1t? I've got to find where
be was hit"
"Yes-yes. she answered. don't
don't mind me-
He tore open tho wooden shirt,
soaked with blood already hardening,
felt 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. II can only get 1t out-got to
do 1t now-can't wait-here, Bristoe,
that leather case on my saddle-run,
damn you-we'l save him yet, girl
there, drop his head in your lap yes,
cry II you want to-only hold stan
open the case. will you-down heFa
where can reach it-now waterfall
our canteens-Hope, tear me OF q
strip OF your under-skirt-what am !
going to do?-extract the ball-got to
do it-blood poison in this SUM-
She ripped her skirt. handing 1t to
him without word; then dropped her
white face In her hands, bending.
with closed eyes, over the winter face
resting on her lap, her lips trembling
with the one prayer, "oh. God! Oh.
Cod" How long he was at it, or
what he did. she scarcely knew-sho
heard the splash OF water; caught tho
nash 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
lung by hair-damn me I'm proud OF
tina, job-you're a good girl"
/ She looked at him, scarce able to
see. her eyes blinded with tears.
"Will-will he live? Oh. tell me!-
| Live, Why shouldn't he?-nothing
but hole to close up-nature'll do
that, with a bit OF nursing-here, now
don't you keel oyer-give me the rest
of that skirt
He bandaged the wound, then
glanced about suddenly.
"How's the other fellow"
Dead" returned Bristoe, shot
through the heart"
Thought so-haye 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, and be-
gan strapping his leather case, the
others +, 7"n and Bristoe, explaining
the situation, set the men to making
preparations for pushing on to the
water-hole. Blankets were swung bo.
tween ponies, and the bodies Of the
dead and wounded daposited therein,
firm hands on the briates Hope rode
close beside Keith. struggling to keep
back the tears, as she watched him
lying motionless, 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 q
breath of air famed the nearby fire
the rudy glow of flame flashing
across his face. He heard voices
family. and thus, little by little, con
seriousness asserted itself and memory
struggled back into his bewildered
brain. The desert-the lonely leagues
OF sand-his fingers gripped as if they
felt the stock of q gun-yet that was
all over-he was not there-but he
was somewhere-and alive alive. II
burt him to move, to breathe even
and after one effort to turn over, he
lay perfectly still. staring up into the
, Continual on popa ~