The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-11-11
WHAT The %HHy' Was;
BY r. 3. SHELTON.

|
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 q
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. "Whatll we dor
The surgeon shrugged his shout
ders. Then he got into the car.
I'll be over again this Afternoon"
J 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 sallcw young man
wrapped in blankets. Beside him was
the orderly the surgeon had brought
out from the hospital
"Oh you Billy Grail" called Nc.
Phee. trudging up the rough path.
You're looking pile better this
morning. I'm coming to CALL"
ITS a pity l ever got out alive"
he grunted.
"You don't mean you're = quitter!'
said McPhee with lifted brows.
"Not generally" said Billy. "JuSt
now-well, maybe : am"
"Why?" said McPhee.
Billy was silent.
"He never asks how things arc get.
ting on thought McPhee. HE
doesn't care about anything This
isn't like him. There's why to Il
somewhere. l wonder what the why
is"
Aloud he said, as car pulled up to
the foot Of the hill: Hello, here's
the doctor back Or, no 1t isn't either.
He's in limousine. Who's getting
out? BY George, a woman!"
Someone was running up the hill.
girl, young. 1.-the, eager. Her long
veil streamed out behind her; she
was stripping of her gloves a. she
can't.
There was a cry from Billy Grail.
queer, childish. broken cry. He 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 McPhee or
the orderly there. Her eyes were for
the stricken man.
BILLY" she cried. "Oh. Billy.
Eilly!"
Then she sank down her head on his
knees.
1--WE come. I ran away. We just
got back on the Polinia. didn't
know about the accident until then.
Ard didn't know what-what we
meant to each other until heard you
might die. Oh, Billy"
Billy Gratis voice came. very I'm.
steadily. Was he with you?"
9TH" marquis? Yes. ran away
from him, too"
1T said in paper-a paper I saw
last week that you were to be married
today"
81 am"
"You are+'
Surely. To rou, Billy"
"You are going straight back
there" said Billy Grail family. but
with an evident attempt at firmness.
"Of course l am. And you're GO
ing with me, Well 60 straight back
to get their forgiveness"
McPhee suddenly came to his
senses. He tiptoed backward, OF tho
porch and down the hill. But he had
not gone hundred yards when Billy
Crail's voice hailed him. He looked
back. There-miracle OF miracles
was Billy Grail standing erect on tho
porch edge. He was making q
trumpet of his hands.
"Oh, McPhee!" he yelled. Bring
my buds over from your camp. My
decent things are all in the trunk
there. Bring them a-running, will
you?"
At Ave the limousine Of the eminent
surgeon stopped at the foot of the
hill. NcPhee met him. McPhee was
all aerin. The eminent surgeon
liked that. NcPhee had not grinned
that way since the accident to Billy
Grail.
"How's the patient?' said the sur.
geon. Better, take it from your
looks"
He turned and looked at the porch.
It was quite empty.
"Gcod Lord, McPhee. where's the
Datiept 2" he paSDed