Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-08-29


gaze with his own. 81 am a woman,
absolutely alone, entirely at your
mercy; you are stronger than l, l
have no choice but to do what you
bid me. And in addition to the nat
ural weakness of my sex | am the
more helpless from this foot. What
do you intend to do with me? How
do you mean to treat me?"
1t was a bold, a splendid question,
and it evoked the answer 1t merited.
CAS- God is my judge" said the man
quietly, Just as you ought to be
treated, as l would want another to
treat my mother, or my sister, or my
wife"-she noticed how c~uriously his
lips suddenly frightened at that word
IF l had one. / never harmed a wom-
an in my life" he continued more
earnestly, "only one. that is." he cor
rected himself, and once again she
marked that peculiar contraction of
the lips. "And I could not help that"
he added.
81 trust you," said the girl at last,
after gazing at him long and hard as
II to search out the secrets of his very
soul. You have saved my life and
things dearer will be safe with you.
l have to trust you"
81 hope" came the quick comment,
shat it is not only for that. | don't
want to be trusted upon compulsion.'
you must have fought terribly for
my life in the food" was the answer.
II can remember what 1t was now
and you carried me over the rocks
and the mountains without faltering
Only q man could do what you have
done. l trust you anyway"
Thank you," said the mar briefly
as he bent over the injured foot again
The boot laced up the front, the
short skirt left all plainly visible
With deft fingers he undid the sodden
knot and unlaced it, then stood hest
tatingly for a moment.
Il don't like to cut your only pail
of Shoes" he said as he made
slight motion to draw 1t off, and Their
observing the spasm Of pain, stopped
Needs must" he continued, taking
out his knife and Sitting the
leather.
He did it very carefully SO as no
to ruin the boot beyond repair, ant
finally succeeded in getting 1t OF
without giving her too much pain
And she was not SO tired or SO miseI
able as to be unaware Of his gentle
ness. His manner, matter Of fact
business like, II he had been a docto
one would have called 1t professional
distinctly pleased her In this tryin
and unusual position. Her stockin
was stained with blood. The man ros
to his feet, took from a rude home
made chair a light Mexican blanke
and laid 1t considerably across tn
girl.
Nov If you can manage to get Of
your stocking yourself, ! will e wha
can be DONE" he said, turning away.
1t was the work Of a few second
for her to comply with his reques
Hanging the wet stocking CAREFUL
over a chair back, he drew back tn
blanket a little and carefully inspec
ed the poor little foot. He saw o
once that 1t was not an ordinar
sprained ankle, but it seemed to hir
that her foot had been caught b,
tween two tossing logs, and had bee
badly bruised. 1t was very painful
but would not take so long to heal a
a sprain. The little foot, normally 6
white, was now black and blue an
the skin had been roughly torn an
broken. He brought a basin of col
water and a towel and washed of Ii
blood, the girl fighting down the pal
and successfully sitting any outcry.
Now" he said, 'you must put Q
this gown and get into bed. BY IL
time you are ready for 1t I will hay
some broth for you and then we wi
bandage that foot. l shall not con
In here for some time, you will |
quite alone and safe" 4
He turned and left the room, Shit
ting the door after him as he we,
out. For q second time that day En-
Maitland undressed herself and th
time nervously and in great hast
; She was almost too excited and a
$ ~prehensive to recall the painful G.
cumstances attendant upon her FIR
t ~disrobing. She said she trusted II
r man absolutely, yet she would n
have been human If she had n
looked most anxiously toward III
closed door. He made plenty of mol
L In the other room, bustling about
t II to reassure her.
Y She could not rest the weight
her body on her left foot, and gettil
8 rid of her wet clothes was a SON
/" what slow process in spite Of b
o hurry, made more so by her extrer
nervousness. The gown he gave b
o was far too big for her, but soft a
warm and exquisitely clean. 1t drs
. ed her slight figure completely. Lea
ing her sodden garments where tn
3 had fallen. for she was not equal
d anything else. she wrapped herself
the folds Of the big gown and ms
aged TO get into bed. For all its ru
n appearance it was a very comfortat
sleeping place; there we're springs a
d good mattress. The unbleach
sheets were clean, although they b
If been rough dried; there was a dc
1 cious sense Of comfort and rest
i her position she had scarcely co
f They are pawned o for $500. TIL
, have been there n month and
II ticket was given. / have used up 1