Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-02

49,
He Walked Nervously Up and Down.
some steaming broth She wondered
how he had made it in such a hurry,
but after he poured 1t into a granite
ware cup and offered it to her, she
took 1t without question. It was thick,
warming and nourishing. He stood by
her and insisted that she take more
and more. Finally she rebelled.
well, perhaps that will do for to-
night" he said; now let's have a look
( at your foot"
| She observed that he had laid on
the table a long roll of white cloth;
/ she could not know that he had torn
up one Of his sheets to make BAN
dages, but so it was. He took the lit.
tie foot tenderly in his hands.
81 am going to hurt you," he said.
81 am going to find out If there is
| anything more than a bruise, any
bones broken"
There was no denying that he did
| pain ner e4QulSltely.
81 can't help it," he said as she
cried aloud, 81 have got to see what's
the matter. I am almost through
now
go on, can bear It," she said
family. Il feel so much better, any
way, now that 1 am dry and warm"
$50 far as 1 can determine" said
the man at last, st is only bad, ugly
bruise; the skin is torn, 1t has been
battered, but it is neither sprained
nor broken, and 1 don't think it is 60
ing to be very serious. Now 1 am 60
ing to battle 1t in the hottest water
you can bear, and then l will bandage
it and let you go to sleep"
He went out and came back with q
kettle of boiling water, with which he
laved again and again the poor, torn,
battered little member. Never in her
life had anything been so grateful as
these repeated applications of hot wa
ter. After a while he applied heal.
ing lotion of some kind, then he took
his long roll Of bandage and wound
it dexterously around her foot, not
drawing it too close to prevent circu
lation, but just tight enough for sup
port, then as he finished she drew Il
! back beneath the cover.
Now" said he, there is nothins
more I can do for you tonight, IL
there?"
: Nothing
Il want you to go to sleep now, 70,
> will be perfectly safe here. I am GO
hn
. NO." said the girl apprehensively
: 81 dare not be left alone here; be
; sides l know how dangerous it woul,
be for you to try to descend the canol
: in this rain; you have risked enougi
for me, you must wait until the morn
Q ing; 1 shall feel better then"
But think Of the anxiety OF you
Z friends"
t Il can't help it," was the nervou
reply. 81 am afraid TO be left alon
s here at night
!. Her voice trembled; he was fearful
y she would have a nervous breakdown
e Very well,' he said soothingly,
t will not leave you till the morning"
t Where will you stay?"
, III make a shakedown for mysel
n in the store room" he answered,
, shall be right within call at any time.
n 1t had grown dark outside by thi
!, time and the two in the log hut coul
s barely see each other
o Il think 1 shall light the fire." col
d tinued the man, sit will be sort {
d company for you and it gets cold u
d here nights at this season. / shouldn
e wonder if this rain turned into snow
n Besides, 1t will dry your clothes fc
you"
n Then he went over to the fireplac
e struck a match, touched 1t to u
9 hndling under the huge logs alreac
Ii prepared. and in moment cheerf
70 blaze was roaring up through II
70 chimney. Then he picked up from II
floor where she had cast them in
y heap her bedraggled garments. +
1t Strengthened them out as best
ID could, hung them over the backs
is chairs and the table, which he DIRE
Je. as near to the fire as was safe. Ha
D ing completed this unwonted task
lr- turned to the woman who had waite
st ed him curiously and nervously Il
he while.
OF rs there anything more that I CT
OF do for your"
at Nothing. You have been as xii
Sc and as gentle as you were strong al
as brave"
He threw his hand out with depl
OF eating gesture
ng Are you quite comfortable?"
le- yes"
er "And your feot?"