Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1912-02-29

uioE DIOdlulllB lOIu LII tudt. kJlCcp
was of course the very best OF medi.
cines for her, and vet she should not
be allowed to sleep until she had got
rid Of her wet clothing and until
something had been done for her
wounded foot. 1t was indeed an en-
barrassing situation,
He surveyed her for few moments
wondering how best to begin. Then
realizing the necessity for immediate
action, he bent over her and woke her
up. Again she stared at him In be.
wilderment until he spoke.
"This is my house" he said, 1--WE
are home"
'Home!" sobbed the girl.
Under shelter, then" said the man.
"You are very tired and very sleepy,
but there is something to be done;
you must take off those wet clothes
at once, you must have something to
eat, and I must have a look at that
foot, and then you can have your
sleep out"
The girl stared at him, his program,
II radical one under the circum-
stances, was nevertheless rational
one, indeed the only one. How was 1t
to be carried out? The man easily
OWNED her thoughts.
"There Is another room In this
house, q store room. cook In there"
he said. II am going in there now to
get you something to eat; meanwhile
you must undress yourself and go to
bed"
He went to rude set of box-like
shelves draped with 0 curtain, appar-
eltly his own handiwork, against the
wall, and brought from 1t long and
somewhat shapeless wooden gown.
you can wear this to sleep In" he
continued. First Of all, though, am
going to have look at that foot"
He bent down 10 where her wound,
cd foot lay extended on the bed.
wait" said the girl. lifting herself
on her arm, and as she did go he lift
cd his head and answered her direct
gaze with his own, liam a woman,
absolutely alone, entirely at your
mercy. you are stronger than I, I
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 bold, a splendid question,
and It evoked the answer 1t merited.
"As God is my judge said the man
quietly, "just as you ought to be
treated, as ! would want another to
treat my mother, or my sister, or my
wife'-she noticed how curiously his
lips suddenly tightened at that word
III / had one. Inever harmed wom-
an In my life," he continued more
earnestly, "only one, that is, "she cor
rected himself, and once again she
marked that peculiar contraction Of
the lips. "And l could not help that"
he added, n
II 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.
have to trust you" 4eS
Il hope came the quick comment,
that II 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.
I can remember what 1t was now.
n S4 ss =. : azA TIA 4ls.s
and the MOUNTAINS without faltering.
Only man could do what you have
done. l trust YOU anyway"
THANK you,' said the man briefly
~ he bent over the injured foot again.
4 The boot LACED up the front, the
short skirt left all plainly visible.
With deft fingerslhe undld the sodden
knot and unlaced, It, then stood hesl-
tatingly for moment.
II don't like to cut your only pair
Of Shoes" he said as. he made a
slight motion to draw It of, and then
observing the spasm of pain, stopped.
Needs must" he continued, taking
out his knife and Sitting the
leather.
! He did II very carefully so as not
; to ruin the boot beyond repair. and
finally succeeded in getting It of
without giving her too much pain.
And she was not SO tired or SO miser-
able as TO be unaware Of his gentle
ness. His manner, matter Of fact,
business like, II he had been doctor
one would have called 1t professional
distinctly pleased her In this trying
and unusual position. Her stocking
was stained with blood. The man rose
to his feet, took from rude home
made chair q light Mexican blanket
and laid II considerably across the
girl.
Nov II you can manage to get OF
your stocking yourself. will see what
can be done" he said. turning away.
It was the work Of few seconds
for her to comply with his request.
Hanging the wet stocking carefully
over . chair back. he drew back the
blanket q little and carefully inspect
Cd the poor little foot. He saw ut
once that It was, not an ordinary
sprained ankle. but II seemed to him
that her foot had been caught be-
tween two tossing logs, and had been
badly bruised. Il was very painful.
but would not take so long to heal as
sprain. The little foot, normally so
white, was now black and blue and
the skin had been roughly torn and
broken. He brought basin Of cold
water and towel and washed OF the
blood, the girl fighting down the pain
and successfully sitting any cutlery.
"Now," he said, you must put on
this gown and get into bed. BY the
time you are ready for Il l will have
some broth for you and then we will
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