The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-11-21

climbing the fence opposite thu
: Baxter gate, going through tn,
: Dawes pasture and over the lit
. tie hill back of the livery stable
and coming out in the rear of the
post office and close to the saloon
/ Captain Fri trotted through tht
pasture and over the hill. Just a.
he came to the bayberry bushes
ON the other side he stumbled and
fell flat.
He knew what it was that hi
had stumbled over the moment
that he fell across it. and his fin
gers trembled SO that he could
scarcely scratch the match that he
took from his pocket. But 1t was
lighted at last, and as its tiny
blaze grew brighter, the Captain
saw John Baxter lying face down.
ward in the path, his head pointed
toward his home and his feet to-
ward the billiard saloon.
Lighting another match, Cap
tain Fri examined the fallen man
hurriedly. The old "Come-Outer'
lay in the path with his arms out
stretched, as il he had fallen while
running. One coat sleeve was
badly scorched, and from pocket
in the coat protruded the neck
of a bottle. The bottle was
empty. but it's odor was strong
1t had contained kerosene. The
evidence was clear, and the Cap
tain knew that what he had feared
was the truth.
Captain Fri weighed the
chances, specialized on the result,
and then did what seemed to him
right. He threw the bottle as far
away from the path as he could
and then stripped off the coat,
and. folding it into a small bum
die, hid it in the bushes near by.
Then he lifted the limp body, and
turned 1t so that the gray head
was toward the billiard saloon in
stead of from 1t.
Perez and Jerry were still busy
with the water buckets when their
friend came painting up the knoll
to the pump. He sent them hunt
ing for DIR. Palmer, who was sure
to be in the crowd somewhere, and
in few moments all four were
back over the way Captain Fri
had just come.
John Baxter was lying Just as
the Captain had left him, and the
others watched anxiously as the
doctor listened at the parted lips,
and thrust his hand inside the
faded blue waistcoat.
Hes alive" he said, after a
moment, "but unconscious. We
must get him home at once"
"He heard the bell and was
runnin' to the fire when he was
took" said Captain Jerry. Run
out in his shirtsleeves, and was
took when he got as fur as here. !"
81 warned him against over
exertion or excitement months
ago." said the Doctor. I'VE must
find some one to take care of him
at once. l don't believe the old
man has relation within a hun
dred miles"
"Why don't we take him to our
house," suggested Captain Jerry.
wouldn't seem SO plaguey lone
some, anyhow"
"By mighty" calculated Cap
tain Err in establishment. well,
Jerry, I'll be switched II you amt
right down brilliant once in a
while. He can have the spare
room. Why didn't l think of that,
/ wonder?'
And SO John Baxter, who had
not paid a visit in his native viii
lage since his wife died, came at
| last to his friends home to pay
what seemed likely to be a final
one. They carried him up the
stairs to the spare room, un-
dressed him as tenderly as theii
rough hands would allow, and laid
him in the big corded bedstead.
The Doctors examination of the
patient and demands for glasses
| of water, teaspoons, and the like
kept Perez and Jerry busy. 1t was
some time before they noticed that
Captain Err had disappeared.
"D'you think he'll die. Doctor2'
inquired Jerry In a hushed voice
as they came out of the sick room
into the connecting chamber.
Cant say. He has had Q
stroke of paralysis. I don't thinl
he'll die tonight, but If he lives he
will need a good nurse, and