Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-05-16
CHAPTER X.
The est.

7 AWOKE, l knew not how much
later, into world which at first
had a certain warm comfort and
4 languid luxury about it. Then
felt sharp ~renching and great
pain in my nesk, to which it seemed
my departp6 head had, after all, re-
turned. | looked into the face Of Au-
berry. Re stood frowning, holding in
his hand feathered arrow shaft Of
willow, grooved along its sides to let
the blood run free, sinew wrapped to
hold it's feathers tight-a typical arrow
of the buffalo tribes. But. as Joined
Auberry's gaze, saw the arrow was
headless. Duly | argued that, there
fore this head must be somewhere In
my neck.
Ellen Meriwether sat on the sand,
gently stroking my forehead.
"They have gone,' said she. 1--WE
whipped them" Her hand again light
ly pressed my forehead.
heard someone else say, behind
me, But we have nothing in the
world-not even opium"
True" said another voice, which
recognized as that of Orme. but that's
his one chance"
"What do you know about SURGERY"
asked the first voice, which ! knew
now was Belknap's.
"More than most DOCTORS" was the
answer, with a laugh. Their Toices
grew less distilguishnble, but present
IN I hoor1 nrYpa ,tNoc J',n c,o m q
to do 1t. If the man says So" Then he
came and stopped down beside me,
mfr. Cowles," said he, you're rather
badly off That arrow head ought to
come out, but the risk of going after 1t
is very great. | am willing to do what
you say. If you decide that you
would like me to operate for II, will
do so. It's only right for me to tell
you that it lies very close To the caro-
It'd artery and that it will be an extra
ordinarily nice operation to get it out
without-w well. you know
| looked up into that strange face
the face of my enemy. ! knew 1t was
the face Of a murderer. man who
would have no conjunction at taking
a human life. My mind then was
strangely clear. saw his glance at
the girl | saw. as clearly as though
he had told me. that this man was
as deeply in love with Ellen Meri
wether as | myself: that he would win
her If he could; that his chance was
as good as mine. even II we were
both at our best ] knew there was
nothing at which he would hesitate,
unless some strange freak in his ma
ture might influence him. Remorse,
mercy, pity. | knew did not exist for
him. But with II fash II came to my
mind that this was all the better, If
he must now serve as my surgeon.
He looked into my eye, and | re.
turned his gaze, scorning to ask him
not to take advantage of me. now that
] was fallen. His own eve changed
1t asked Of me, as though he spoke:
Are you. then. game to the coref
Shall | admire you and give you an
other chance. or shall kill you nowi''
/ say that | saw, felt, read all this in
his mind. ! looked mp into his face
and said:
You cannot XII me. ! am not go
ing 10 die. 60 on. soon. then"
A sort Of sigh broke from his lips.
as though be felt content do not
think It was because he found his foe
a worthy one. do not think he con-
sidered me either as his foe or his
friend or his patient. He was simply
about to do something which would
test his own nerve. his own resources.
something which. II successful. would
allow him TO approve his own belief
In himself. said TO myself that I