Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-03-04

cd his cheerful grin to June. who sat
down prinly at the head OF the bed
The man sank back when the head
nurse left and looked as feeble as he
could. His nurse was smoothing the
pillows when the door opened. and
there came IN a large, heavy jawed
woman, with a long ostrich feather on
her hat. half a dozen cheap rings on
her fingers and two buttons hanging
loosely on her coat. one by a single
thread.
Wen. well. Joer' she said in "A heavy
voice. and she stared at June. "Didn't
I always tell you you'd get it." She
bent over and kissed her husband as a
matter OF propriey. Hurt you much e
Something fercer' huskily murmur-
ed Joe and half closed his eyes.
Tough lucki" said the woman
You wouldn't take out that accident
Insurance l wanted you 10. and now
suppose I can starve'
''Oh. wei. you amt done IL yet-' OBJ
Jected the man, his tone losing some Of
its feebleness. Il guess you can get
along till l can get out OF this. I give
you every cent 1 ever make"
Il guess that's lotr' And the WON
an sat down with thump.
Thirty dollars last week"
And how much the week before?"
We'll. it was a rotten week And
the man turned his eyes toward June.
who looked steadfastly out OF the win
dow. There being no help from that
quarter, he proceeded In helping him
self. You got enough to run you for
ten days. You know you have. Come
on. Alice. be sociable."
"Oh, l can come on al right, and /
can be sociable all right, but sup
pose you don't get out OF here in ten
days! Then what do I do? Starve, I
guess, Say. how do you come TO be in
a private roomg' She looked at June
and shifted. And with a private
nurseT"
The good sport that picked us up
put me here"
The woman surveyed the bare little
room. There We're no curtains at the
windows. no upholstering. no softening
graces OF any kind on the white enam-
eled fittings. but IL had an immense SUI
periority, the cause Of which she could
not fathom. 1t was absolutely clean.
and she paid an unconscious tribute to
that phenomenon.
Why, its better than 1 got It at
home" she complained. The man
turned his head over and back again.
hut lac said nothing.
say" the woman went on, the fell
low that spent the money for this room
and the private nurse would have done
better TO let you go in the public ward
and give you the money for your
wifer'
June. at the window. moved impa-
tently.
Nurse" said the man. "can you get
me my pantss'
June opened the door OF the tiny
white enameled wardrobe in the corner
and brought out the mans trousers.
handing them down with the tips OF
her thumb and forehnger. The wo-
hands into the pockets.
Seven ifty-hye," she reported and
clicked the money into her purse. She
hung the trousers in the wardrobe and
shut the door. -Thatll help a little.
Did you get your pay for this drive:"
Not yet, Alice"
We'll. you tell me who II was. and
III go after it, She had turned from
the wardrobe and was regarding
tray which stood on its folding stand
by the wall. She lifted the napkin.
MY Godr' she exploded "A hot
house peach. And you didn't eat It all
at that, You know what had for my
brcakfnstT Coffee and sinkers and
hash. And here You are living on
the TAT OF the landT
.'Looiy here. Alicer' The man had
raised up in bed. and there was a
rwitch OF pain at the corners Of his /
lips as he stretched out an oil black /.
eucd fOrehnger.
June whiried from the window with |
} snap OF her big eyes. She stll car /
led the thermometer which DR.. Remert I
lad given her. Now she thrust It in I
he mans mouth. put a hand at the .