The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1915-08-19


Then she turned and disappeared in
the deep cleft between the gigantic
bowlder upon which she had been sit
ting and another--small only by com
parison. There, ten feet down. in a
narrow alley Uttered with ragged
stones, lay the crumpled body OF a
man. 1t lay with the left arm doubled
under It, and from cash in the fore
| head trickled thin stream OF blood.
Also, It was the body of such man
as she had not seen before.
Although from the man came low
groan mingled with his breathing, It
was not such sound as comes from
fully conscious lips, but rather that
of a brain dulled into coma.
Freed from her lettering excess Of
shyness by his condition. the girl
| stepped surely from foothold to foot
hold until she reached his side. She
stood for q moment with one hand on
the dripping walls of rock. looking
down while her hair fell about her
face. Then, dropping to her knees,
she shifted the doubled body into a
leaning posture, Strengthened the
limbs, and began exploring with eff
cient fingers for broken bones.
She had found the left arm limp
above the wrist, and her fingers had
diagnosed a broken bone. But uncon-
| seriousness must have come from the
blow on the head, where a bruise was
already blackening, and cash still
trickled blood.
She lifted her skirt and tore long
strip of cotton from her single petit
coat. Then she picked her bare-footed
way swiftly to the creek bed, where
she drenched the cloth for bathing and
bandaging the wound. When she had
done what she could by way of first
aid she sat supporting the mans
shoulders and shook her head dubi-
ously.
Finally the mans lids fiuttered and
his lips moved. Then he opened his
eyes.
"Hello!" said the stranger, vaguely.
his lips smiled. 1t was friendly, un.
Outstanding smile, and the girl, fight
ing hard the shy impulse to drop his
shoulders and fee into the kind mask
ing OF the bushes, was IN a measure
treasured.
you must hev fell often the rock"
she enlightened.
II think / might have fallen into
worse circumstances" replied the I'M
known.
81 reckon you kin set up after
little"
Yes, of course" The man suddenly
realized that although he was quite
comfortable as he was he could
scarcely expect to remain permanently
in the support of her bent arm. He
attempted to prop himself on his hurt
hand and relaxed with a twinge of ex-
treme pain. The color. which had be-
gun to creep back into his cheeks, left
them again, and his lips compressed
themselves tightly to bite off an ex-
clamation of suffering.
Tibet air left arm air busted" an
nounced the young woman, quietly.
"Ye've got ter be heedful."
Had one of her own men hurt him
self and behaved stoically 1t would
have been mere matter of course; but
her eyes mirrored a pleased surprise
at the strangers good-natured nod and
his quiet refusal to give expression
to pain. 1t relieved her of the neces-
sity for contempt.
I'm afraid" apo1ogized the painter,
that I've been great deal Of trouble
to you"
Her lips and eyes were sober as she
replied.
81 reckon thet's all right"
"And what's worse, I've got to be
more trouble. Did you see anything
of brown muller"
She shook her head.
HE must have wandered off. May
/ ask to whom am indebted for this
first aid to the injured7"
II don't know what We means"
She had propped him against the
rocks and sat near by, looking int his
face with almost disconcerting steadi-
ness; her solemn-pupiled eyes were
unblinking, unsmiling.
why, mean who are your" he
laughed.
81 hain't nobody much. l Jest lives
over yon."
But" insisted the man, surely you
have a name"
She nodded.
Hits Sally"
Then, Miss Sally. I want to thank
YOU"
Once more sire nodded. and. for the
nrst time. let her eyes drop. while she
sat nursing her knees. Finally she
glanced up ana asked with plucked-up
courage;
Stranger, what mout yore name
be-"
"Lescott-George Lescott."
How'd we git hurt3"
He shook his head.
Il was painting-up there" he said;
"and | guess got too absorbed In the
work. / stepped backward to look al
the canvas and forgot where the edge
was. stepped too far"
The man rose to his feet, but he tot.
tered and reeled against the wall OF
ragged stone. The blow on his head
nau ieIL MN rant anu alzzy. ne sa,
down again.
I'm afraid" he ruefuliy admitted
that I'm not quite ready for discharge
from your hospital"
| fsYou lest SET WHARF var at The