Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1913-11-29
WHAT THE why WAS.
By R. 3. SHELTON.

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McPhee walked down to the car
with the eminent surgeon. McPhee
was plainly worried. AS they reached
the big limousine and the surgeon
was about to step in, McPhee laid a
hand on his arm.
You're not satisfied with the way
he's coming on, are your he said
boldly. with a backward nod Of his
head towards the rough little shack
on the hillside
The surgeon looked at him narrow
ly. mo, I'm not" he said simply.
McPhee scowled. "What1l we dor"
The surgeon shrugged his shout
ders Then he got into the car.
"Ill be over again this afternoon"
he said.
He nodded to his chauffeur. The
car went spinning towards Renford in
a great cloud of dust.
Across the hills came the whirr of
pneumatic drills and the squeal Of
cranes and the putting of donkey en-
gines McPhee knew he should be
over at the tunnel Every minute of
his time was precious, but instead of
going over to the works, he trailed up
! the hills to the little cluster of com
| Portable looking camps. On the porch
of one sat a sallow young man
wrapped in blankets. Beside him was
the orderly the surgeon had brought
| out from the hospital
ooh you Billy Craill" called Nc
Phee, trudging up the rough path.
you're looking pile better this
| morning. I'm coming to call"
IT'S a pity I ever got out alive"
he grunted
| "You don't mean you're a quitter?"
said McPhee with lifted brows.
"Not generally" said Billy. Gust
now-well, maybe / am
"Why?" said McPhee
Billy was silent.
"He never asks how things are get
ting on" thought McPhee. "He
doesn't care about anything This
isn't like him. There's a why to it
somewhere. wonder what the why
is"
Aloud he said, as q car pulled up to
the foot of the hill: Hello, here's
the doctor back Or, no it isn't either.
He's in a limousine. Who's getting
out? BY George, a woman!"'
Someone was running up the Hill, a
girl, young, 1.-the, eager Her long
| veil streamed out behind her; she
was stripping off her gloves as. she
can't
There was a cry from Billy Grail,
a queer, childish, broken cry. lie half
rose from his chair, the chair he had
not left without help for weeks and
weeks.
The girl gained the porch She
seemed not to see either McPhse or
the orderly theref Her. eyes were 1er
| the stricken man. t'".-~s ZGl
"Billy!" she cried. ooh, BiIig,
Billy!" -5i'sSsz qr..5 - ~.
Then she sank down her head on'hi
knees. fITd We fS@s,., @E .~A1
'I've come / ran away We just
got back on the Polinia. l didn't
know about the accident until them,
And l didn't know what-what we
meant to each other until heard yoH
might die. Oh, Billy"
Billy Crail's voice came, very un-
steadily. Was he with your"
THE marquis? Yes. ran away
from him. too"
1T said in a paper-a paper l saw
last week that you were to be married
today"
81 am"
you are?"
surely. To you, Billy"
"You are going straight back
there" said Billy Grail family, but
with an evident attempt at f1rmness.
'Of course l am. And you're go
ing with me. Well go straight back
to get their forgiveness"
McPhee suddenly came to his
senses. He tiptoed backward, off the
porch and down the hill But he had
not gone a hundred yards when Billy
Crail's voice hailed him. He looked |
back. There-miracle of miracles
was Billy Grail standing erect on the
porch edge. He was making a |
trumpet of his hands.
"Oh, McPhee!" he yelled. Bring |
my -duds over from your camp. My
decent things are all in the trunk
tiere. Bring them a-running, will +,
your"
At five the limousine of the eminent /
surgeon stopped at the foot of the
hill. McPhee met him. McPhee was
all agrin. The eminent surgeon
liked that. McPhee had not grinned
that way since the accident to Billy
Grail.
"How's the patient?" said the sur
geon. Better. take it from your