Newark post., 1914-01-07

friends and himself just how to un-
dertake solution Of the mystery
that now confronted them.
A few days afterward when he
was preparing to soak a pile of
green saplings in the pond nearby,
he heard the voice of Rache calling
him to dinner. AS he was about to
enter the kitchen door, Jimmy stop
ped to wipe his hands which he had
washed at the pond. There were
two linen towels, one partly soiled,
the other clean. Jimmy started to
use the clean one when Rache or
dered him not to touch that one but
use the other When Jimmy re-
fused to obey her command she flew
into rage, grabbed sharp adze
and threw it with such force that
when it came in contact with the
calf of Jimmy's leg it almost sever
ed it. Jimmy dropped instantly,
and the sight of the blood softened
the savage temper that had caused
the murderous deed Rache sprang
to his assistance. She realized the
dreadful situation and determined
to save Jimmy's life. Her energy
knew no bounds. With her own
hands she closed and bandaged the
wound; carried Jimmy to bed
and placed him gently in comfort
able position Then she ran for
Grandpapy and whispered to him
that Jimmy had cut one Of his legs
nearly off.
While Grandpapy was bringing
Doctor Allen, Rache was busy car
ing for Jimmy and Strengthening
the home. She first removed every
suspicious looking article and every
tell-tale condition, and planned
that plausible story should be
told by both Jimmy and herself.
AS preliminary she told Jimmy
how sorry she was for what she
had done and that it was her in
tention to nurse him back to health
and strength. She promised to care
for him and earn the living as long
as his helpless condition lasted, on
one condition-he must tell the
same story concerning the wound
that she did,-to the effect that it
was the result of an accident caus-
ed by the slipping of his adze when
dressing hoop poles.
Jimmy made the promise and
she assured him so long as he ad-
hered to it all would be well, but
should he fail her she would finish
the job and kill him outright.
None too soon had the matter
been arranged for the news had
spread and neighbors were already
at the door. Grandpapy and Doc
tor Allen arrived and his profess
sional knowledge together with the
unfailing attention of Rache and
the kindness of neighbors tended to
make the circumstance not so bad |
after all.
Rache could not now leave jim
my to make her weekly round as a
but the clothes were
brought to her and this source of |
revenue thus remained unimpaired. |
But suspicious were by no means
satisfied by the accident story.
How to get at the truth Of the mat
ter was the question that agitated
the neighborhood. Should Rache
suspect the sentiment concerning
ler it would probably stir her to
other deeds and frustrate Grand
oapy's and Doctor Aliens deter
to solve the problem.
No one could gain access to jim
ny alone as Rache always entered
he room first and remained until
after all others had gone.
One day when Grandpapy and
he Doctor were at their wits ends
to solve the mystery, the Doctor,
while on his daily visit to Jimmy,
just remembered that he had for
gotten his medicine kit and had left
it at Grandpapy's. Much to his
Rache offered to run after
it. Away she went promising to be
back in few minutes.
Now here was the opportunity.
Jimmy and the Doctor knew the
time was short. The Doctor told .
Jimmy his life was only a matter
of a few days or a few weeks at the
fartherest, and asked him to tell
him the truth Of the affair.
Jimmy complied but insisted that
Rache must be kept in the dark as
to his having told.
From this time on Jimmy had
his good and bad days, according !
to the condition Of his wound, and
oxrap ba,,;,, ~ ,y,nlo4oJ h -.