The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-10-15
\ ! IA n;rreciseiy then the hillside seemed

back thumped bed OF pebbles thinly
oyergrown with moss. The stones
gave, the moss.skin broke. he began to
slide-grasped at random a youngish
cedar which stayed him imperceptibly.
coming away with all its puny roots
caught at another. no more substan.
tial-and amid q shower of loose stone
shot out over the edge and down a
drop of more than thirty feet.
He was instantaneously aware Of
the sun. a molten ball wheeling mad
ly in the cup Of the turquoise, sky.
Then dark waters closed over him.
He came up struggling and gasping,
and struck out for something dark;
that rode the waters near at hand
something vaguely resembling a,
canoe. III
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 Ills consciousness was stricken with:
confusion.
Within stroke OF an outstretched.
paddle, he flung up hand and went,
down again. !. J
Instantly one occupant OF the
canoe, young and very beautiful wo-
man In a mans hunting clothes, spoke
sharp word Of command and. as
her guide steadled the, vessel with his
paddle, rose IN her place 30 surely
that she scarcely disturbed the nice
balance Of the little craft. and curved;
her 1.-THE. body over the bow, head
foremost into the pool.
=
Mr.. Law had, In point of fact, en-
dured more than he knew; more than
even weathered woodsman could
have borne without suffering. Forty
eight hours of such heavy woods
walking as he had put in to escape
the forest fire, would have served to
PROSTATE almost any man; add to this
ignoring dozen other mental, nerv-
GUS and physical. strains merely the
fact that he had been half-drowned.
He experienced a3little fever little
delirium, then blank slumbers OF ex-
haustion. t-s..ss.
He awoke in dark Of night, wholly
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
"a face by turns an angels, a flowers,
a fiend's, and dear woman'S, trou-
bled him even less materially. He
was already sane enough to allow he
had probably been a bit out of his
head, and since 1t seemed he had been
saved and cared for, he found no rea-
son to quarrel with present circum-
stances. ~
Still, he would have been grateful
for some explanation Of certain phe'
nomena which still haunted hfm-such
as a faint, elusive scent Of roses with
a vague but importunate sense of q
womans presence in that darkened
room-things manifestly absurd -.
With some difficulty, from dry
throat, he spoke, or rather whis-
pered: "Water!"
i In response he heard someone move
over a creaking floor. A sulphur.
match spluttered UNANIMOUSLY. A can;
die caught fire, Observation-Disclosures.
OF course!-the figure OF a woman In
hunting shirt and skirt. Water
splashed noisily. Alan became aware
of someone who stood at his side, one
hand Offering glass to his lips, the
other gently raising his head that he
might drink with ease.
Draining the, glass, he breathed his
thanks and sank back. retaining his.
grasp on the wrist OF that unreal
hand. 1t suffered him without re-
sistance. The hallucination even
went SO far as to say, in woman's
soft accents: 4
you are better, Alan?"
He sighed incredulously: "Rose!"
The voice responded "Yes!" Then
the perfume OF roses grew still more
strong, seeming to fan his cheek like
woman's warm breath. And a mir
acle came to pass; for Mr.. Law, who,
realized pofgnantly that all this was
sheer, downright nonsense, distinct;
ly felt lips like velvet caress his fore;
head. 1
He closed his eyes. frightened his.
grasp on that hand Of phantasy. and
muttered rather, inarticulately.
The voice asked: What is it;
dear?" I:
He responded: "Delirium
But I like 1t i, ~ Let me rave!"
Then again he slept.
The Trey o. Hearts will be shown