The Washington herald., 1916-08-28

Almost took my finger off," between
his teeth, as he dashed into the bath
room.
But as he held his hand under the
faucet, the water, washing off the
blood smear, showed only a slight skin
cut.
"Oh," Helen's caught breath came
out. "Oh, I was so frightened! That
was so dangerous-it might've been a
fearful cut"
"Eh, whatre you talking about?'
roared Warren, who always took his
slightest injury most seriously. "Its
cut to the bone"
TO the bone9" STOPPING closer.
why, dear, its. just grazed the skin.
It's not even bleeding"
Cut too deep to bleed"
Helen. She was too accustomed to
Warren's alarming howl over the
slightest pin prick.
This II make it all right" with ma
ternal air that his little-boy attitude al
ways aroused. Hold still" With the
cork she dabbed on a drop of New
Skin.
Ouch! What're you trying to do?"
Jerking away his finger, intolerant OF
the slightest smart
It'll only sting a moment"
Nursing his hand with his most ag-
grieved expression, Warren slouched
back to bed.
Turn that blooming fan off ~
I'll take it and go back on the
couch"
NO, you don't-you stay right where
you are | can't sleep with that viii
famous thing buzzing out there"
Now thoroughly awake, Helen lay in
silent endurance The suffocating dark
ness was almost unbearable Having
had the fan, the dead stiffness OF the
heat was by contrast more poignant.
Goaded by her increasing discomfort,
she felt a resentful yelling at War
ren's selhshness. If he did not want
the fan by the bed, he should at least
let her have it in the library
Hurts like the devil" growled War.
rem. Think there's any danger of
blood poison"
Helen reassured him, keeping the
sarcasm out of her voice.
A threatening rumble eliminated in
blasting crash. A CLINT OF lightning
and a louder crash. The alleviatng
storm was near. Already a faint
breeze lifted the torridity.
Helen's relief at the cooling air was
tempered by her instructive fear OF
lightning From a child it had always
terrified her.
More menacing rumblngs, then the
patter of heavy drops Another crash
and a flame of light lit the room
With a shrinking shudder she buried
her face in the pillow
How about those dining room win
dows" demanded Warren. as the drops
thickened. It's coming that way"
At the slightest suggestion that the
windows be raised or lowered, Helen
was always out OF bed to keep him
from getting up. But now, though il
was raining hard, she ignored the init
nation. Afraid Of the lightning, she
shrank from going into the dining room
alone.
ITS coming that way, I tell you" i'm
patient at her delay. "Your room, toe
windows up in there"
you go, dear. You know I'm
afraid! Oh-oh.' at another rendine
flash.
Huh, you're not a child. YOU know
Old enough TO outgrow that" shuffline
out A muttered oath as he bumped
against a chair Then the sound OF
slamming windows.
As he came back. a glittering streak
seemed shot straight into the room
"Oh-oh" clutching his arm while
he kicked off his slippers. Dear, hold
me! I'm so afraidr
You ARE a coward" contemptcl-
ously. BE careful there-look out for
that finger"
"Oh, your finger" with a hysterica'
/ laugh Il may be a coward about
lightning, but you-you're so VERY
brave about a little pain
"How's that" belligerently.
81 know I'm afraid Of lightning
can't help it" defantly. But I'm no
afraid Of every little scratch. Tha
time the fruit lar tore my hand open
didn't make half the fuss you have over
this"
Here another clashing illumination
( and Helen sought the refuge OF her
pillow. Perhaps the justice of her &C
cusation or the pathos of her silen
cringing touched Warren, for he reach
ed protecting arm about her
, You're right. Kitten. That was {
pretty bad hand-and you didn't whim
per But when I'm hurt. you think
squeal like stuck pig? Well, maybe
do. When it comes to bearing pain,
guess most men aren't in it with WON
en-. Hello, what's that"
"Oh, it's Pussy Purr-Mew. She!
afraid, too-let her stay"
"All right, both OF you snuggle up,
! humorously. Il don't know that In