Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-11

helped him with q woman's tenderness
to undress and clothed him in clean
underwear and a clean coarse night
shirt
I'm nightly obliged to you, stran-
ger" murmured Joe drowsily as he
sank on his pillow after swallowing a
cup Of hot broth.
You're welcome" said the other
solemnly, and. tiptoeing out. he closed
the door.
Joe did not awake again until the
next morning. He knew that the win
dows were wide open. for he breathed
the fresh, sweet air, and he could hear
the song of birds. His eyelids felt
very stiff and sore, and he was CRATE
full for the bandage that covered them.
Mr.. Smith came in presently and,
after a pleasant greeting to the in
jured man, bathed his face and hands
and brought some breakfast to him.
Joe bit into hot corn muffin, and
his hand fell upon the Counterpart.
He turned his blindfolded eyes toward
the stranger.
''Who made these mullins" he ask
ed in a choking voice.
There was a hesitating silence be-
fore Mr.. Smith replied. Then. MY
daughter made them" he replied.
"Your daughteri Why-who-excuse
me-" stumbled Joe, "but they are like
those my wife makes, and never tast-
ed any others like emf He hastily
resumed his breakfast, and the portion
of his face below the bandage glowed
redly.
Mr.. Smith said nothing. :
When the doctor appeared he de-
clared that Joe had little fever, and
he changed his medicine. Once more
Joe heard three voices In consulta-
ton in the next room. He could now
recognize Smiths voice and that OF
the doctor, but the third one was that
Of q woman, pitched low and soft, and
eluded his searching mind
Where have I heard that voice be-
foreT he asked himself again and
again as the days passed by, but the
answer did not come-then.
During those long days and nights
Of pain and helplessness Joe Pebble
had leisure to think over what he had
done, and he resolved that when he
recovered that he would go north
again and endeavor to become recon-
ciled to his wife and her father.
The thought OF this coming journey
did much to hasten his recovery.
On the evening of this particular
day-a Sunday 1t was-he lay there
alone in the room. Presently Smith
came In and talked to him. They
talked on various matters, and finally
Joe told him about his former life In
Wyoming and ended by confidlng his
sin to the old man. He told it all-of
his wild longing for freedom, how he
had fought it for days before making
up his mind to leave his wife and
how, after the irrevocable step had
been taken, of the remorse he had
suffered.
81 think of them two helpless ones
/ day and night" he groaned. what
has become of them? A coyote
wouldn't have acted meaner'n I did
Don't God ever give folks a chance to
make good when they've sinned?'
The elder man did not answer for q
long time. Then he arose and benz
over the bed for a brief instant. II
believe he does, son: believe he WILL"
he said solemnly, and Joe heard him
pass from the room and close the door.
From the room overhead he heard
| the murmur of voices long into the
night. They were talking when he
| fell asleep, and once he started wide
| awake because he thought he heard a
| woman's sobs. Don't cry, Gertie; ev-
! erything is all right he murmured
drowsily and went TO sleep again.
The next day the DOCTOR came and
removed the bandage.
After the doctor had gone Joe watt
ed impatiently for Mr.. Smith to come
| in. He was eager to see the face Of
! the man who had been so kind to him.
AL at once a bulky form filed the
doorway, and Mr.. Smiths slow, DELHI
crate step approached the bed. In the
dim light Joe's eager eyes did not at
first recognize him; then he sat bolt
upright in bed and stared with whiten-
ing face into the kind, forgiving eyes
of-his father-in-law
Father he murmured brokenly and
hid his face in his hands.
Som said the older man solemnly,
and he laid his hand upon Joes dark
hair in the old familiar caress, for
the two had been very fond of each
other
at has been you all along?" asked
Joe after awhile.
Yes" said the other And in few
words he told the repentant man that
after his desertion Gertrude and be
had left Wyoming and come down into
Texas to start anew. The old man
had little money, with which he
bought the ranch. They had never ex-
pected to see Joe again. When they
recognized him in the injured stranger
whom Starbrow had led them to they
had hastily assumed the name Of
Smith for the time being
And Gertrudef" asked Joe brokeniy.
'Can she remember me and believe me
to become what she's worthy OFF,
I'm here, Joe" came Gertrude's
voice in anaWer