The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-02-03
Daily Short Story
BILLY'S BANDAGES.
CBy noLLrE MONSTER

Perhaps even had BILLY heard tre
motor horn he uslght not have thrown
had 10; heard Il and since IL hsd sesr a
speeding motor BE had not had a chance
OF saving himself.
Consequently Billy opened his very
blue eyes few DAYS aftsh the accident
IN a scene curiously interesting 10 one
v no had never before seen the inside
or a hospital
Never in Hilly's checkered career w.
ne hNsSsncd from sleep In soft. white
sheeted bed with downy pillows. nor had
sHer seen AZ his BEDSIDE a great bowl
"Maybe the old wolf az the door cot
ne. after All; he muttercd. "and this IL
" hat We call heaven"
-, Did you speake SOFT voice It his
elbow questioned
Silly would have turned had his body
eimitted a.. tbs mind certainly leaped
eSSerN toward that other mind that had
addressed him.
I was wondering" he began but
mere are 50 many wonders that I cannot
sh.Siiy what l wonder most. he ended
with smile.
You were Knocked down by a motor
three DAYS ago the nurse told Hun
Eently. You've a nasty cut on your
mead and broken arm
Might have been worse" was Billy =
comment the while ne lonEcd 20 see the
lace OF the girl. When she arose he saw
biz and bright nut Nho is Da~ins
TOT all thisT His free hand swept In the
Mr.. Marks. Of course-it was entirely
nls fault. lie admits 90 speed and care
less driving, because he was tn "A despe-
rate hurry. lie has ordered the best at
tention Tor you and our head surgeon
4 suppose Tshave had the best nurse
also. suggested Billy. II was rather "A
pity he missed the color that sprang in
10 ms companions cheeks.
IN any case. a ma mighty sight bet
Yer on thau ! was before. There was n
great proving about my ballroom door.
snd what he wanted is more than I can
make out There was nothing IN. my
perhaps ne only wanted 30 sharpen his
teeth on my bopy structure"
Tie nurse dropped a light question.
reason.
"oh. yes. he answered. ct could have
a position II ! wanted 50. but" a visit liI
smile swept across his features. II have
spent my 20 years wanting 10 be an
artist and ~ can't be an artist. 1
would Just AZ soon the motor had nm
lshed me. lie paused moment. then
added. Il am glad now. however. 20 be
alive hope my drawing were not
crushed under the wheels Of tIat car
they are the best I have done"
II viii inquire when Miss Marks comes
today. she Is the daughter or the man
VINO knocked you down. In day OF so
VIII let her come and talk TO you. n is
Gated the fragrant blossoms .-The en-
tire family are friEhtfully upset and
want 20 oil they can Tor you"
During the day he discovered the
nurses pencil lying on the table in the
shadow OF The flowers. out OF sheer
force OF habit his fingers began tracing
light sketches ON the only available sur
face convenient. His bandaged left arm
held close 20 his side. made an excellent
easel. and Billy became Interested in
making tiny a. aracter heads OF the vari-
Gus nurses and surgeons that fitted be-
fore his quick eyes.
|, Linen IS rather a good medium to
work on he decided. ond smiled az the
series OF little heads that arose from the
bandages on his arm.
Later IN the day when the nurse
caught sight OF his arm she cast ten
der little smile AZ Bulys drawings. lie
met the smile with "a bnlf-wlstful OK
preston and 0etermiued To make dozen
little heads u his nurse. The contour OF
her face was wonderfully lovely
She took on the bandages with n rCnt
remark and put on fresh ones. She felt
glad Tor his sake that the outer linen
strips could be changed daily. IL would
be some time before the inner ones
would be touched.
"if you continue as nicely a. YOU have
today ! will get Mise Marks 20 see YOU
the day after tomorrow she told him
When she had reached the outer hall
the nurse looked long ond critically at
the little sketches on her patients ban
dages. \ soft smile curved her lips and
a look OF surprise gathered In her intel
ligcn eyes.
81 viii show them TO uncle" she said