Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-05-21


Il can remember what 1t was now,
and you carried me over the rocks
and the mountains without faltering.
Only man could do what you have
done. l trust you anyway"
Thank you" said the man briefly
as he bent over the injured foot again.
The boot laced up the front, the
With deft fingers he undid the sodden
knot and unlaced it, then stood hest
tatingly for moment
I don't like to cut your only pair
of Shoes" he said as he made
slight motion to draw 1t off, and then
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 not
to ruin the boot beyond repair, and
| finally succeeded in getting it off
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, if he had been doctor
one would have called it 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 it considerably across the
girl.
Now if you can manage to get off
your stocking yourself, | will see what
can be DONE" he said, turning away
1t was the work of a 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 it was not an ordinary
sprained ankle, but it 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 so
white, was now black and blue and
the skin had been roughly torn end
broken. He brought basin of cold
water and a towel and washed off 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 it l win have
some broth for you and then we will
baHdage that foot. 1 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 a second time that day Enid
Maitland addressed 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 if she had not
looked most anxlously toward that
closed door. He made plenty of noise
in the other room, bustling about as
if to reassuTe 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-
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 it was a very comfortable
sleeping place; there were springs and
a good mattress. The unbleached
| sheets were clean, although they had
been rough dried; there was 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 inn" he asked.
When she babe him enter she saw
he had In his hand a saucepan full of
some steaming broth. She wondered
how he had made it in such hurry,
but after he poured it into a granite
ware cup and offered it to her. she
took it 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.
Il am going to hurt you." he said.
Il am going to find out If there is
anything more than a bruise. any
bones broken"
There was no denying Tat he did
pain her exquisitely.
Il can't help It," he said as she
cried aloud. Il have got to see what's
the matter. / am almost through
now"
GO on, I can bear it." she said
family. Il feel so much better. any
way, now that l am dry and warm. "
so far as l can determine" said
the man at last, 1T is only bad, ugly
bruise: the skin is torn, it has been
battered. but it is neither sprained
nor broken, and l don't think it is go
ing to be very serious. Now l am go
ing TO battle it in the hottest water
you can bear. and then will bandage
Ii and let you so TO Sleep"
He went out and came back with a
kettle of boiling water. with which he
laved again and again the poor. torn,
battered little member. Never In her