The Detroit times., 1914-06-02
BY
Henry Russell Miller
COpyright 1913.
The BObbs- Merrill Co

occupation. The voice OF autumn
gales marching through the drying
forest Is mournful only 10 those who
mourn
Something else halted him. "she
must know he thought she must
be made 10 know-that nothing else
counts-that we are to begin over
again together"
He remembered his mission.
There Was a rumble OF thunder lie
glanced overhead and saw the black.
ened sky. heard the rushing wind A
few scattered drops fell lie urged
the horse forward.
lie cast about 10 get his bearings;
there was no corner OF those hills
that he did not know lie was miles
away from the village and near the
foot OF hill that lowered well above
It's nelghbors. He smiled as ne saw
trace OF an old road, almost oblit-
Grated by weeds, that led zig.Zagging
up the eminence IL was Hedges
Hill and near the crest. he remem-
bered, was the clubhouse that shelter
ed the unhappy Piotr
The storm overlook him before he
was halfway mp the hill When ne
reached the clearing on the edge OF
which stood the shea he made his
horse fast TO tree. and, drenched 10
the skin by the pelting rain, entered
the shelter
Al first, in the shadows OF the win
dowless shed, he saw no signs OF
Piotr lie stood in the doorway,
watching the storm. He could see il
sweeping up the river valley, whip
ping the forest-clao nillsides below
him into tossing sea OF faded greens
and maroons and yellows The ram
hid the village from his sight lie
wondered II the woman there, too,
was remembering a storm they had
watched
lie had been there several minutes
when queer choking sound came
from behind him. lie turned quickly,
and as his eyes became used 10 the
darkness, made out the figure crouch
ing half-hidden behind bench in the
far corner.
Hello Is that you Piotr? What
are you doing over there"
The noise came again.
is something wrong with you?'
Mark went closer 10 him m Mark
Truitt Don't YOU know me. Piotr -
Yves" quayered Piotr
What's the matter-sick %
I'm afraid" came the whimpering
reply ITS the storm"
Mark smiled pityingly. So this poor
.nerye-broken creature. who covered
before a little wind and rain and
lightning, was he who had set out TO
harm him.
There, now, Piotr,' he said sooth-
ingly, as to child, lit won't hurt
you. IL isn't much OF storm --you We
seen lots worse in the city And It
won't last long Come. stand up like
a man. Things look better. II you
meet them on your feet He caught
Piotr gently by the arm and drew
him 10 his feet and toward the door
You let me be Piotr jerked him
self loose, fiinching as the lightning
flashed and a sharp crack came from
overhead and covering his eyes with
a dirty skinny hand. He shrank back
into the shadows, but In the flash
Mark had seen the homely twitching
face with its sickly pallor and ho-
lows.
He's in bad way" he thought
4 mere, now, ne repeated dIOuu
gently, I'm not going to hurt you,
Piotr"
Piotr was again in his corner halt
crouching, staring fxedly at Mark.
His eyes made tiny points OF light in
the deep shadow,
"D-did you come here to get me?
"Of course | did ! heard YOU were
hereabouts and | wasn't going to let
you stay up here and starve TO
death"
"Wh-what are you g-going TO do
with me now"
For one thing" Mark answered
gravely. when this rain let's up I'm
going TO take you back 10 town and
get you In the habit OF eating three
square meals day. ! think it's be
ginning TO let up little now
(Contlnued.)
The sanitary condition OF the canal
zone continues to improve.