Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-05-07

finally soundless.
After a while ] realized that ! was
in pain; that. at intervals. somebody
forced morsels of ice between my
lips; that the darkness around me had
turned grayer.
Years and years later a yellow star
eyes; and after long while l saw
it was the flame of a candle: and
somebody spoke my name.
"I know you. Speed" l said drow-
silly.
"You are all right, Scarlett?"
"Yes, all right. What time
is it?"
heard the click of his hunting
case. Eleven o'clock
What day."
Saturday."
when was hurt! Many days
ago-many weeks?"
You were hurt at half-past three
this afternoon"
turned on the white pillow.
Where is this bed? Where is this
room?"
Shall tell you?"
was silent, struggling with mem
ory.
"Tell me-" l said. whose bed is
this?"
"It is hers"
The candle flame glimmered before
my wide-open eyes once more, and
"Oh. you are all right" he muttered.
then leaned heavily against the bed.
side, dropping his arms on the cover.
let.
That is all / remember that night,
all ! remember clearly. though 1t
seems to me that once i heard drums
beating in the distance; and perhaps
l did.
Dawn was breaking when l awoke
Speed, partly dressed. lay beside me,
sleeping heavily. idiot, get up!"
cried. hitting him feebly.
He was very angry when he found
out why had awakened him; perhaps
the sight of my bandaged head re
strained him from violence.
He stumbled to the floor, bathed
grumbling all the while. and then. tc
my surprise, walked over to a fla,
trunk which stood under the window
and which l recognized as mine.
I'll borrow some underwear" ht
remarked viciously.
whats my trunk doing here?"
demanded.
Madame de vassart had then
bring It"
Had who bring 1T"
"Horan and McCadger-before the,
loft"
Before they left? Have they gone!'
81 forgot" he said, soberly. %
course you don't know that the cir
Gus has gone"
"Gone!" l echoed, astonished.
Gone to Lorient. Buckhurst is II
town again with a raft of picturesque
ruffians," he said. They marched II
furled-the red rag. you know-ant
the first thing they did was to order
| Byram to decamp
"Byram'e people, elephant and all
struck the road little after three
o'clock this morning. in good order
not a tent.peg nor a frying-pan miss
| ing. They ought TO be in Lorient b,
early afternoon"
"Gone!" I repeated. blankly.
lay looking at him, striving to real
ize the change that had occurred In
| SO brief time-trying to understand
the abrupt severing Of ties and condi
tions to which. already, I had become
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS attached.
They all sent their love to you,
he said. They knew you were out
of danger-I told them there was nc
fracture. only a slight conclusion
Byram came to look at you; he
brought your back salary-all OF it
I've got it."
After moment I said: Has Jacque
line gone with them?"
yes. They sail today from Lori
ent. The governor made money yes
terday-enough to start again. Poor
Byram! He's frantic to get back to
America; and. oh. Scarlet. how that
good old man can sMear''
Speed, did you say that little JAG
queline went with Byram?"
He looked at me miserably.
Yes" he said.
was silent.
Yes" he repeated, "she went, lug
ging her pet cat in her arms. She
would go; the life has fascinated her.
begged her not to- felt | was dis
loyal to Byram, too, but what could l
do? ! tell you, Scarlet. wish ! had
never seen her, never persuaded her
to try that foolish dive. She'll miss
some day-like the other one
He walked to the window and stared
moodily at the sea.
MEANWHILE I said. quietly. Il am
going TO get up
He gave me look which ! inter
preted as. Get up and be damned"
complied-in part
CHAPTER XIX.