The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1913-04-25

III The two tents of the d.
n vision ward in the hos
NI pital had been pitched
VIZ end to end, thus turning
2 ::: :;:: .: 4; #: 4:
poured in a broad. dane
cling. shifting column of gold through
the open tent flap. The air was
hot, not an endurable, dry heat,
but moist. sticky heat which
drew an intolerable mist from the
water standing In pools beneath the
plain flooring Of the tents. The flies
had no barrier and they entered in
noisome companies, to swarm, heav-
lily buzzing, about the medicine spoons
and the tumblers and crawl over the
nostrils 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 the 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 a 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
thermometer; but he was much more
confident of the success Of his lesson
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 so
quietly under the sheet, with de-
3ected attention. Once he laid his
hand shyly on the sick mans fore
head. and when he took it away he
strangled a desperate sort of sigh.
Then he walked to the end of the tent
and stared dismally down the camp
street, flooded with sunshine. well,
thank God, there's Spruce!" said he
A man in a khaki uniform, carrying
6ale of mosquito netting, was walking
smartly through the glare. He
stopped at the tent. How goes it,"
said he, cheerfully, but in the lowest
Of tones. He was a short man and
thin, but with a good color under his
tan. and teeth cleaning at his smile,
white as milk.
"Why, I'm kinder worried about
MAXWELL"
Before he could finish his sentence,
8pruce was at Maxwell's cot. His
face changed. "Git the hot-water bot
tie quick's you CAM" he muttered,
~and git the screen-the one 1 made!"
As he spoke he was dropping brandy
into the corners of Maxwell's mouth
The brandy trickled down the chin.
HE looks awful quiet, don't he?"
whispered the nurse with an awe
struck glance
"You git them things!" said Spruce,
and he sent a fash 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
Ties. Then he watched Spruce's rapid
but silent movements. At last he
ventured to breathe: "Say, he amt
he ain't-he amt"
Spruce nodded. The other turned
a kind Of groan into a cough and
wiped his face. Awkwardly he helped
Spruce wherever there was the chance
for hand; and in little while his
bungling agitation reached the work.
er, who Strengthened up and turned
a grim face on him.
WAS it me-" he whispered then.
For Gods sake, Spruce-I did every
thing the doctor told me, highs
could remember. I didn't disturb him,
cause he 'peared to be asleep. IL
never saw a man die before!"
1T amt no fault Of yours" said
Spruce in the same low whisper.
I'm sorry for you. Did you give him
the ice I got?"
yes, I did, sergeant"
The soldier was looking at the pla.
cid face. A sob choked him. "Ho
said: Thank YOU every time gave
him anything" he gulped. God! it's
murder to put fools like me at nurs-
Ing; and the country full of women
that know how and want to GOMEZ"
'S-s-s! 'Tain't no coed talking.
You done your best. Go and report"
AS the wretched soldier numbered
OF, Spruce set his teeth on an ugly
oath.
Il ought to have stayed. maybe"
he thought, "but I've been doing with
80 little sleep, my head was feeling
dirty queer; and the doctor sent me.
Collapse, of course; temperature ran
down to normal, and poor Tooley
didn't notice, and him too weak to
talk! Well, I hope git the G boys
through. that's all I ask"
He went over to the next cot. where
lay the nearest of the G boys, greet
ing him cheerily. Hello, Dick?"
Dick was a handsome young spec
ter, just beginning to turn the corner
in a bad case Of typhoid fever. His
blue eyes lighted at Spruce's voice;
and he sent a smile back at Spruce's
smile. did you get some sleep?"
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-
preston of pleasure. IT don't believe
any of the others get milk" he MUIR
INJURED; "save the rest for Edgar"
Edgar don't need it, Dick" Spruce
answered gently.
Dick drew q long. shiYerinr sigh and