Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-12-21
''Then Ill Come Back to You"
LARRY EVANS
Auraon sf aoxcE 70 EVERY HAN"

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tomorrow might come too late. And then
she caught the slack pound of his pulse.
From there on she was less panic
stricken. She gained control of faculties
shocked for a time until uselessness. Meth
cd marked her DISQUALIFICATION mechan-
zeal, but sure. She was horribly afraid Of
Big Louie, but she finally d~isentangled the
handle Of the pail f-rm those loose fingers
and ran to the brook which babbled near
at hand. Returning, she drenched Steve's
face with icy water. She lifted his hea.,
and propped it as comfortably a. she
might upon one thigh and opened his flan-
mel shirt. The ball had passed through.
for back and front the shirt became wetter
with fresh blood. Blood sickened her, but
she whipped off the Goa Of her boyish
riding habit and wrenched the sleeves
from her linen blouse. They were des-
perately scant, yet they provided pads
with which to check that dreadful oozing.
And when they were in place she turned
again to bathing his forehead.
a folded sheet of paper came to view
when she tried once TO ease his heavy
body from the position which was numb
ing leg, and she seized upon it fiercely.
1t was only a brief line. bidding him come
to her, but it bore her name. With instant.
bodiless clarity which had marked all her
mental processes SO far, it, purpose was
hers. She had not written-the hand that
traced her signature had been unstrung
for once. She understood. though such
knowledge seemed of little moment now.
She kept the pads cold and wet. She
went for fresh water and stumbled and
fell more than once because of the treach-
erous footing in the deepening shadows.
But she was no longer afraid of the dark.
She had grown TO fear Big Louie less.
even though there was no help for Big
Louie any more. IT was the first time that
Barbara had looked upon the face OF a
man who had died in violence. Big Louie's
face was growing indistinct now, but she
knew that nc was smiling-knew that his
eyes were dreamy and mild. Death. like
life, had been a quite incomprehensible
puzzle TO that slow witted one who had no
name. But he had smiled seldom in life.
In death his smile was almost childish.
almost sweet and questioning beyond all
else.
Alone with him who still lived. the pallid
girl sat and waited and wondered how long
or how soon-it would be. When she
bad him wait until she could bring the
team he nodded his comprehension. He
was watching for her return. And he came
10 his feet with 4 readiness that made her
heart leap with hope. But he fell twice
she lifted him. half with her hands.
half with her voice, to the seat.
She crawled in beside him, and the next
moment she had to struggle madly TO pre-
vent his returning 10 Big Louie.
"He will wait quiet until We come for
she protested. "There isn't room
for Big Louie-and he won't mind
Her logic made an impression upon him.
for he smiled. There was no sequence in
his acquisencc, however.
big LONE never could find his wav
he mused. "and that is strange.
too, for he was born in these hills. He
was always getting LOST And with that
must not desert Louie! She had even
more trouble with him this time. "He will
lose his head" he expostulated mildly-his
old, unfailing attitude Of gentleness toward
her. ale will lose his head and waste his
strength in running from things which
do not exist"
big Louie viii find his way this time
was whimpering again in her help
"He is-alreadv home"
There she learned that her voice could
him when her arms availed not AT
against even his dead weight. And 81
she talked as steadily "a she was able while
She drove. Once he lurchcd against her.
he pulled himself together he was
80 sanely apologize Of a sudden that she
his face with hungry eyes. But
was talking now to himself.
Il must moi touch herr he stated firm
v. And then, drearily: "I am sick. |
never been 50 sick-before."
With that he subsidized. but his silence
far more dreadful than his wander
nes had been. and as fast as she dared
she pushed the heavy team on, with Rag
lime following behind like a dog. Tie slip
,ed back against her almost immediately.
this time he had not the strength with
To apologize nor lift himself erect |
his head heavy in the hollow of her
srm, they came at length to the open pas
are hills. They topped the rise and faced
he loops on loops Of highway that ran
Town to Morrison at the river edge. And
20 she brought him home. AT the sight Of
Ms "city' she sobbed aloud, but he. sunk