The Dolores star., 1916-12-29

winets. what Do you suppose ne e.a
do to nnd poor Lemr
"If we ever do ind him." said VII
lett. and his eyes hardened. IF Ne
ever dor
Charlie drew back. q little fright.
ened. Hes Mary Alice's father" he
said.
He killed my boy" said willett.
harshly.
But what did your boy do to himr'
asked Charlie. gently.
Nothing, Of course: unless be an
noyed him by something he may have
said"
'No." said Charlie; he put liquse
in Lens drinking water"
'What do you meanr"
Little Dick saw 1t: he told his
mother this afternoon"
But why should"
''I'll tell you, Mr.. willett. The Boss
and mother have got 1t all figured out.
Francis put the whisky in the dipper
when LENS back was turned, for Q
joke. 1t wasn't joke to him; II meant
ruin and disgrace. He got terrible
mad and threw the bucket at Fran
els. and ran away. and we don't even
know where he"
The sitting-room door opened and
Doctor Billy came out. In his eyes
famed that almost fanatic light which
marked him for what he was. Mrs.
Willett followed close behind. grief
and hope struggling for the mastery in
her haggard face.
Doctor Glenn agrees with me that
there Is a chance" said Jackson. eff
we operate at once. Don't get your
hopes up; wen do our best. What
do you say?"
There is only one answer to give
you. Billy" said willett. Don't you
agree. Annaw
There is only one answer" replied
the woman. She went and hid her face
on her husbands breast.
IAN we've got. dear, all we've got:
they must save him. And Charlie boy
says they will: that's my only hope"
Jackson and Glenn and two nurses
were at work upon Francis Willett's
damaged head, when Sam Thomas
thrust his face In at the kitchen door.
Come out here, every body that can"
he said. "Quick!"
Everybody hurried into the yard.
"Now. get busy" said Sam: .'the
barns on fire! You've got to save the
barn or you'll lose your patient. doc.
tors or no doctors. II the barn goes.
the housen 60. and that's no dream.
My land! I wish I had Lem here.
He's as good 3 a whole army. Char
lie. show Mr.. willett how the hose
works"
Sans fire precautions were far more
adequate than those on most farms.
Every body fell to and helped. There
were ladders to be raised aud two or
three lines of hose to be run. the
horses to be led out. something for
everybody to do. In Eve minutes wa.
ter poured into the burning building.
In fifteen minutes Sam said the barn
would be saved. In half an hour the
fire was reduced to q few ahreds of
smoke.
"I'm goin' to ind out what started
It." said Sam. He disappeared with
his lantern through the great doors
Then they heard him shout: "Mr. VIII
lett. you and that driver Of yours come
here quickv' -...
Martha. Charlie and Mary Alice
were standing watching. but Mrs. VIII
lett had slipped back into the house.
She reappeared and called: "Oh, where
is my husband? Where is John? Tell
him to come quickly. The doctors
have finished: they say our boy will
live"
In the barn doorway appeared Sam
and the Willetts' chauffeur. carrying
the great hulk of Lem Brown. while
Willett lighted the way with the Ian
tern. Mary Alice screamed and ran
forward. Mrs. Willett came on. quite
uncomprehending. in the exultation of
her own good tidings. that new trag-
edy.
He will live. he will live" she was
saying. Francis will live"
"All right" said Sam Thomas. blunt.
~. "Now tell them doctors to get busy
and save Lem. He amt such a bad
Teller. after all. He set that fire. and
by CORY. I want him here to help
repair the DAMAGE.
CHAPTER XIV.