The Springfield herald., 1912-06-21

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want to be trusted upon compulsion."
you must have fought terribly for
my life in the food" was the answer.
81 can remember what 1t was now.
and you carried me over the rocks
and the mountains without faltering
Only a man could do what you have
done. trust you anyway"
Thank you." said the man 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 1t. then stood hesi-
tatingiy for a moment
Il don't like to cut your only pair
Of Shoes" he said as he made a
slight motion to draw It off, and then
observing the spasm OF pain. stopped.
Needs must" he continued. taking
out his knife and Sitting the
leather.
He did 1t very carefully so as not
to ruin the boot beyond repair, and
finally succeeded in getting 1t 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 a 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 a rude home
made chair a light Mexican blanket
and laid 1t considerably across the
girl.
Now II you can manage to get on
your stocking yourself. will see what
can be DONE" he said, turning away.
1t 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 a little and carefully inspect
ed the poor little foot He saw at
once that 1t was not an ordinary
sprained ankle. but 1t seemed to him
that her foot had been caught be-
tween two tossing logs, and had been
badly bruised. 1t was very painful.
but would not take SO long to heal as
sprain. The little foot, normally 80
white, was now black and blue and
the skin had been roughly torn and
broken. He brought basin of cold
water and a towel and washed of the
blood. the girl fighting down the pain
and successfully sitting any outcry.
Now" he said. you must put on
this gown and get into bed. BY the
time you are ready for 1t l will have
some broth for you and then we will
bandage that foot. l shall not come
In here for some time. you will be
quite alone and safe"
He turned and left the room. shut.
ting the door after him as he went
out. For n second time that day Enid
Maitland undressed herself and this
time nervously and in great haste.
She was almost too excited and ap-
prehensive to recall the painful cir
cumstances attendant upon her first
disrobing. She said she trusted the
man absolutely. yet she would not
have been human II she had not
looked most anxiously toward that
closed door He made plenty OF noise
In the other room. bustling about as
II to reassure her.
She could not rest the weight of
her body on her left foot. and getting
rid of her wet clothes was some
what slow process in spite of her
hurry. made more so by her extreme
nervousness. The gown he gave her
was far too big for her. but soft and
warm and exquisitely clean. 1t drap-
ed her slight figure completely. Leav-
Ing her sodden garments where they
had fallen. for she was not equal to
anything else. she wrapped herself In
the folds of the big gown and man.
aged TO get into bed For all its rude
appearance 1t WAS a very comfortable
sleeping place. there were springs and
good mattress. The unbleached
sheets were clean. although they had
been rough dried; there was a deli
cious sense of comfort and rest In
her position She had scarcely com.
posed herself when he knocked loud
upon her door
May | come in?" he asked
When she bade him enter she saw
he had in his hand a saucepan full of
some steaming broth. She wondered
how he had made 1t in such a hurry,
but after. he poured it into a granite
ware cup and offered 1t to her. she
took 1t without question. 1t was thick.
warming and nourishing. He stood by
her and insisted that she take more
and more. Finally she rebelled.
We'll, 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 long roll OF white cloth;
she could not know that he had torn
up one of his sheets to make ban
dages. but SO 1t was He took the lit
tie foot tenderly in his hands.
'I am going to hurt you," he said.
'T am going to find out II there is
anything more than bruise. any
bones broken"
There was no denying that he did
pain her exquisitely.
'T can't help It," he said as she
cried aloud. II have got to see what's
the matter. am almost through
noy."
"Go ON. can bear It," she said
family. 'T feel SO much better. any