Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-18
The Daily Story
HIGBY'S LAST CURE-BY CLARISSA MACKIE.
Copyrighted. 1918. by Literary Bureau
SSA MACKIE.

mestic installed in the kitchen. one
who was not given to nocturnal wan
behring's.
The next few days witnessed a busy
period in Mr.. Higby's existence AS
sisted by a carpenter he constructed a
square platform between the four
chestnuts in the large back yard.
When 1t was all completed and a COM
Portable cot bed within the wire in-
closure. MI. Highly invited his neigh
bors to Inspect the innovation.
OF course 1t wasn't right Captain
Fletcher said that the platform should
have been dashed to the trees. not nail
ed. First strong breeze we have will
wrench your timbers apart" he
warned
Nonsense" said Mr.. Highly tovially.
else. and ''Pifle." he remarked to a
third critic. Then be went into the
house and made preparations for his
ascent TO his nest.
Mrs. Highly tearfully prepared a bas-
ket Of extra bedclothing. "Yeu will
catch your death Of cold. Henry" she
murmured- And suppose yeu should
tAila sHS why. you'd be killed. At any
rate, you'd break every bone in your
body"
''F4ddlesticks.' was Mr.. Higby's
hackneyed response.
You're tempting Providence" cash
ed Anastrsia at last There isn't q
thing the matter with you. Henry, but
there Will be before you get through
with this business. l wish you
wouldn't &c."
Never natnd. my dear" assured Mr.
Higby with the gentle patience OF one
who knows he L. right. You viii un-
derstand some day how 1t is with me.~
Behind closed blinds many curious
eyes watched Mr. Higby's lantern as
It slowly assembled the long ladder that
led up to bis lofty perch. The lantern
swung In his hand as he steadied HIM
self on the ladder. A strong wind was
rising and the trees were swaying with
a low musical creak OF boughs. Up on
the dizzy height of the platform he
pulled manfuIly on the rope to which
the basket OF extra bedding was fast
ened and presently the basket loomed
over the railing and was deposited on
the floor.
Before long Henry Highly had taken
the second step in his projected cure
for rheumatism. He had slipped out
of his bathrobe and slippers and jump
ed into the little cot, which was clamp
ed down to the platform. For long
time he lay awake looking up at the
IAk, . h.
young foliage Of the trees, for 1t was
early spring. He saw the white clouds
go drifting across the face OF the
moon. He felt the rhythmical swing
of the trees as they bent to the fresh
ening wind, and finally he fell asleep.
He slumbered. only to awaken to a
moment Of supreme terror when it
seemed that the bottom had dropped
out of the universe and he was being
propelled through nothingness to OBJ
| nvion. He was conscious that he
! struck the soft branches of trees In his
| downward passage, and then some
thing hard arose to meet him and blot
| out his sense of pain.
When he awoke from this second
sleep he was not swinging in his nest
| among the treetops, with the stars
rooted over his head. He was in his
own stationary bed on the second floor
of his home Two physicians regard
| ed him speculatively, while Anastasia
| hung, pale and anxious eyed. close to
! his pillow.
what happened?" he asked feebly.
1.-THE wind was so strong that the
trees pulled the platform apart, and
you fell to the ground" said DR.. Brown
cheerily. We'll have' you up and
around in a few months"
"a few months" gasped Highly.
"Why, what's the matter with me? I
can't move"
"Of course you can't" said Dr.
Jones bluffly. you've only broken
three ribs, fractured your left leg,
broken your right wrist and wrenched
your back. What in thunderation
were you doing up there, eh?"
at was a cure for rheumatism" said
Mr.. Highly, with difldence.
well, you cured the rheumatism, all
right" assured the doctor; but, man
alive, you've got enough now to take
care OF for awhile! No need to warn
you to keep quiet"
When they were alone Highly ex-
changed q look with his wife, and his
own eyes were repentant
I'm an idiot, Anastasiaw he blurted
out IT'S too bad | didn't break my
fool neck as well as the other bones!"
But Anastasia assured him that the
enforced rest would benefit him and
that when his broken parts had been
knit together he would probably enjoy
perfect health. 81 hope you will,
dear said Anastasia slowly. Life
is too short to fuss over imaginary
ills"-
Il know, 1 know" put In Henry Hig-
by hastily. 81 had TO break every
bone in my body to cure myself But
I'm cured now, Anastasia. Where
that Family Doctor|"
cit is burning in the kitchen stove
this very moment" said Anastasia
firmly.
"Goodr said Highly. turning his face
to the wall