Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-04-25

iNiiN loNbi VI luC i oS-
sible Accident company put
the receiver to his ear with
one hand and stifled yawn with the
other.
YES. yes he answered, then sud
denly on the alert at the reply: Rail
road accident five miles east of SYRIA
cuse? Has our policy in her pocket?
In dangerous condition? Unconscious,
you say? All right! will look up
policy 1884 Immediately and commune
cate with friends"
He suddenly remembered that it was
the luncheon hour, and for the mo-
ment the force consisted of only him
self and the office boy
Come here, Tim" he called to the
other visible representative. Hold
down this desk and the telephone
while l hunt policy"
He ran the cards in the file case
mo. 9S34-Louise Bradley, aged TWEEN
ty-four-orphan-no near relatives
beneficiary st. Johns church, Calves
ton, Tex"
"Humph! Seems there is no one to
notify" he muttered perplexedly. Gal
weston is decidedly distant, and the
church board might have to hold a
session before it could come to her aid.
Seems queer For girl of twenty four
to have no relatives at all--got mixed
up with the Galveston flood, / sup
pose"
He gazed at the card abstractedly,
wondering the best course to pursue,
for the company was supposed to be
able to cope with anything unexpected
that might arise. If there were no
relatives to notify, it could at least see
that she had proper medical attention.
"Ill go myself--too much Incidence
is boring me to death--frst accident
we've recorded today And an hour
later Richard Hartleigh. representing
the Possible Accident company, board
ed tain that would put him into
Syracuse in two hours.
When he reached the improvised hos
pital, farmhouse whose doors had
been thrown open to the sufferers, the
doctor in charge took him to Louise
Bradley.
I'm afraid this will be the worst
case" he said. Seems like conclusion
of the brain. Well see that everything
possible is done for her"
Hartleigh looked pityingly at the
slim slip of girl, her head bandaged
and her face flushed with fever She's
an orphan-no relatives-poor little
thing" And he touched her hand
gently
The girls fingers clasped his, and
she opened her eyes Unexpectedly.
"Dick, you'll stay" she begged
reathlessly-"you'Il not leave me
alone?"
Richard Hartleigh sat down by the
bed and humored her feverish fancy.
yes, Louise; yes, little girl. I'll
stay" he said soothingly.
1t was not until the doctor and the
trained nurse arrived from town an
hour later that he unclasped his fin
gers gently and left her
He walked up and down the meadow
path smoking quietly.
II wonder" he exclaimed finally.
who in thunder Dick isl"
A month later he went down in his
automobile to take her for her first
outing since the accident
''The doctor says you are doing fine
~" He tucked robe around her feet
and put an extra cushion for her back.
Honestly, this accident policy bust
ness is fascinating" and he jumped in
beside her and started the machine.
Il had no idea an insurance com
pany did so much for people," she
laughed. 1T has paid doctors bills
sent flowers and fruit and come down
twice q week to see how the policy
holder was getting on-and lots Of
things
Hartleigh chuckled rather sheepishly.
"The flowers and fruit were little
extra touches thrown in," he conceded.
When he came the next week he
found her strong enough to ramble
down the meadow path with him, and
they finally sat on the fallen log by. the
creek to rest.
II must leave here next week. she
said somewhat regretfully. Il teach
school, and school opens the LIST OF Sep
TENDER"