The Springfield herald., 1913-04-11

N pital had been pitched
end to end, thus turning
them into one. The sun
IN :::::: ::::;:: !, :. !: :s:'::: :::,.. !; !:
poured In broad. danc-
cling, shifting column Of gold through
the open tent nap. The air was
hot. not An endurable, dry heat.
but . moist. sticky heat which
drew an intolerabie mist from the
water standing In pools beneath the
plain flooring Of the tents. The hies
had NO barrier and they entered In
noisoms companies, to swarm, heav-
fly bus1ing, about the medicine spoons
and the tumblers and crawl over the
Aostrils and mouths Of the typhoid
patients, too weak and stupid to
brush them away. The other sick
men would lift their feeble skeletons
Of hands against them; and tall SOL
der who walked between the cots
and was tho sole nurse on duty.
waved his palm-leaf fan at them and
swore softly under his breath.
' There were ten serious cases in the
ward. The soldier was raw man de-
tailed only the day before and not
used to nursing. being blacksmith
In civil life. An overworked surgeon
had instructed him in the use OF a
thermometer; but he was much more
confident of the success Of his lesson
than the instructed one. There was
one case In particular bothered the
nurse; he returned to the cot where
this case lay more than once and
eyed the. gaunt figure which lay 10
quietly under the sheet, with de-
dected attention. Once he laid his
hand shyly on the sick mans fore
head. and when he took 1t away he
strangled . desperate sort Of sigh.
Then he walked to. the end Of the tent
and stared dismally down the camp
street, flooded with sunshine. We'll.
thank God, there's /sprucel" said he.
"A man in khaki uniform. carrying a
bale Of mosquito netting. was walking
smartly through the glare. He
stopped at the tent. How goes it?"
said he, eheerfully. but. In the lowest
of tones. He was short man and
thin, but with good color under his
tan, and teeth cleaning at his smile.
white a milk.
why. I'm kinder worried about
MAXWELL
Before he could finish his sentence.
Spruce was at Maxwell's cot. His
face changed ''Git the hot-water bot
tie Quick's. you cant" he, muttered.
~.And git the screen-the one made!' .
A. he spoke he was dropping brandy
into the corners of Naxwell's mouth.
The brandy trickled down the chin.
Tie looks awful quiet, don't he?"
Whispered the nurse with an awe
struck glance.
s'You git them thinss!" said Spruce.
and he sent = nash Of his eyes after
his words. whereat the soldier shut
ned out Of the tent, returning first
with the screen and last with the bot
tles. Then he watched Spruce's rapid
but silent movements. At last he
Nentured to breathe: "Say, he amt
Tho ain't-he Amt"
Spruce nodded. Tho other turned
= kind Of groan into cough and
wiped his face Awkwardly he helped
6prucs wherever there was the chance
Ior hand: and In . little while his
bungling agitation reached the work
Or. who Strengthened up and turned
= grim face ON him.
WAS It me?" he whispered then.
s'For Gods sake. spruce-I did every
thing the doctor told me. highs /
could remember. / didn't disturb him.
scause he 'peared to be asleep, IL
never, saw \ man die before!"
1T amt NO fault Of yours" said
Spruce in the same low whisper.
Tim sorry for you. Did you give him
the ice gotf' i
"Yes, I did. sergeant"
The soldier was looking at the pla-
cid face. A sob choked him. "He
haid: Thank you.' every time gave
MIN anything" he gulped. God! its
murder to put fools hke me at nurs-
ing: and the country full Of women
that know how and want to comet"
''S-ss! FTain't no good talking.
You done your best Go and report. "
As the wretched soldier numbered
Oh. Spruce set his teeth on an ugly
oath.
II ought to have stayed. maybe. "
Ne thought "but I've been doing with
20 little sleep. my head was feeling
dirty queer; and the doctor sent me.
fCou8p8os o2 CuUID6s IoApp htut0 Idu
down to normal, and poor Tooley
didn't notice. and him too weak to
talki Well. hope / git the g boys
Through. that's all I ask!"
He went oyer to the next cot. where
Nay the nearest OF the @ boys. greet
Ing him cheerily. Hello. Dick!"
Dick was . handsome young spec
ter, just beginning to turn the corner
in bad case Of typhoid fever. His
blue eyes lighted at Spruce's voice;
and he sent . smile back at spruce's
smile. did you get some sleep7"
said he. whats that you have in
your hand?"
That's milk. real milk from a cow.
Yes, lots Of sleep; you drink that"
The sick man drank It with an ex-
pFession OF pleasure. II don't believe
any Of the others get milk" he muir
INJURED; save the rest for Edgar"
Edgar don't nsed It, Dick" Spruce
answered gently.
Dick drew = long. shivering sigh and
his eyes wandered to the screen. "He
was = soldier and he died for his
country Jest the same ~ II he we're
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