The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1914-10-15

/
to slip from under him.
His heels fiourished in the air, his
back thumped a bed OF pebbles thinly
oyergrown with moss. The stones
gave. the moss-skin broke. he began TO
slide-grasped al random a youngish
cedar which stayed him imperceptibly.
coming away with all its puny roots
caught at another, no more substan-
tial-and amid Il shower Of loose stone
shot out over the edge and down a
drop OF more than thirty feet
lie was insiantaneously aware q!
the sun. a molten ball wheeling mac
+ ly in the cup Of the turquoise sky.
I Then dark waters closed over him.
lie came up struggling and gasping.
and struck out for something dark
that rode the waters near at hand
something vaguely resembling a
canoe.
But his strength was largely spent.
his breath had been driven out OF him
by the force OF the fall. and he had
swallowed much water-while the field
OF his consciousness was stricken with
confusion.
Within a stroke OF an outstretohed
paddle. he flung up hand and went
down again.
Instantly one occupant OF the
canoe, young and very beautiful wo'
man in a mans hunting clothes. spoke
sharp word OF command and. a.
her sgide steadied the vessel with his
paddle. rose In her place 80 surely
that she scarcely disturbed the nice
balance Of the little craft. and curved
her 1.-THE body over the bow, head
foTemos, into the pool.
MIR. Law had. IN point OF fact, en-
dured more than he knew. more than
even weathered woodsmaa could
have borne without suffering Forty
eight hours Of such heavy woods
walking as he had put In 10 escape
/ the forest fire, would have served TO
PROSTATE almost any man. add TO this
/ ignoring a dozen other mental. nerv-
Gus and physical strainsl merely the
fact that he had been halfdrowned.
tie experienced little fever. little
dellrium. then blank slumbers Of OK.
haustion.
He awoke In dark OF night. 1sholly
unaware that thirty.six hours had
passed since his fall. This last. how.
ever. and events that had gone before.
he recalled with tolerable clearness--
allowing for the sluggishness OF a
drowsy mind Other memories. more
vague. Of gentle ministering hands. OF
face by turns an angelic. a flowers,
tends. and a dear woman's. trou-
bled him even less materially lie
was already sane enough to allow be
had probably been bit out OF his
head. and since II seemed he had been
saved and cared for. he found no rea'
son TO quarrel with present ciroum'
stances.
sull. he would have been grateful
for some explanation Of certain phe.
nomena which still haunted him-euch
as a faint. elusive scent Of roses with
a vague but importunate sense OF q
woman's presence in that darkened
room-things manifestly absurd
With some difficulty. from a dry
throat no spoke. or rather whis
pered "water!''
in response he heard someone move
over creaking floor A sulphur
match splu,tered UNANIMOUSLY. A can
Gle caught fire. Observation-Disclosures
OF course!-the figure OF a woman IL
hunting shirt and skirt. watel
splashed noisily Alan became aware
Of someone who stood at his side. on,
hand offering a glass TO his lips. the
other gently raising his head that h'
might drink with ease.
Draining the glass, he breathed hi'
thanks and sank back. retaining hi
grasp on the wrist OF that unrea
hand. II suffered him without re
sistance. The Authorization ever
went so far as 10 say. In a woman
soft accents:
You are better. Alan7"
lie sighed inoredulously: "Rosel"
The voice responded YEA" TheI
the perfume OF roses grew still NOR
strong. seeming to fan his cheek like
a woman's warm breath. And a mir
aole came TO pass; for Mr.. Law. witt
realized poignantly that all this wal
sheer. downright nonsense, distinct
ly felt lips like velvet caress his fore
head.
He closed his eyes, frightened hi
grasp on that hand Of phantasy. sn'
muttered rather inartlculately.
The voice asked What IL II
dear?"
He responded: 'Delirium
But | like II Let me rayel"
Then again he slept.