The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-12-07

finally disentangled the handle OF the
pail from those loose fingers and ran
to the brook which babbied near at
hand Returning. she drenched steve's
face with Icy water She lifted his
head and propped II as comfortably rs
she might upon one thigh and opened
his flannel shirt The ball had passed
through. for back and front the shirt
became Immediately wetter with fresh
blood. Blood sickened her, but she
whipped OF the coat OF her boyish rid.
ing habit and wrenched the sleeves
from her linen blouse They were des
perately scant. yet they provided pads
with which to check that dreadful ooz
ing. And when they were In place
she turned again to bathing his fore
head.
A folded sheet OF paper came to view
when she tried once to ease his heavy
body from the position which was
numbing her leg. and she seized upon
II iercely. IL was only a brief line.
bidding him come to her. but II bore
her name. With instant. bodiless clari
~ which had marked all her mental
processes 80 far. its purport was hers.
She had not written-the hand that
had traced her signature had been un.
strung for once. She understood.
though such knowledge seemed Of 1T.
tie moment now.
She kept the pads cold and wet She
went for fresh water and stumbled
and fell more than once because Of the
treacherous 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.
IL was the first time that Barbara had
looked upon the face'of man who bad
died In violence. Big Louie's face was
growing indistinct now. but she knew
that be was smiling-knew that his
eyes were dreamy and mild. Death.
like life. had been q quite incompre-
hensible 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 wonder.
ed how long-or how soon-it would be.
When she babe him walt until she
could bring the team he nodded his
comprehension. He was watching for
her return. And he came to his feet
with a readiness that made her heart
leap with hope. But be fell twice be-
fore 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 mad
ly to prevent his returning to Big
Louie
HE viii wait quiet until we come
for him." 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 Sc
quence I'm his acquiescence. however.
big Louie never could find his way
alone" he unused. "and that Is strange,
too. for he was born In these hilla he
was always getting lost And with
that he must not desert Louie! She
had even more trouble with him this
time. He will lose his head" he ex-
postuiated mildly-his old. unfailing at
titude OF gentleness toward her. HE
will lose his head and waste his
strength In running from things which
do not exist"
big Louie will hnd his way this
time" She was whimpering again In
her helplessness. He is-already
home"
There she learned that her voice
could control him when her arms avail
ed not at all against even his dead
weight And 30 she talked as steadily
as she was able while she drove. Once
he iurched against her. When be pull.
ed himself together he was 80 sanely
apologize OF a sudden that she search
ed his face with hungry eyes. But he
was talking now to himself
II must not touch herr he stated
firmly. And then. drearily: Il am sick
I have never been SO slck-before."
with that he subsidized. but his silence
was far more dreadful than his wan.
derines had been. and as fast as she
dared she pushed the heavy team on,
with Ragtime following behind like q
dog. He slipped back against her al.
most Immediately. and this time be
had not the strength with which to
apologize nor iift himself erect With
his head heavy In the hollow Of her
arm. they came at length to the open
pasture hills. They topped the rise
and faced the loops on loops Of high.
way that ran down to Morrison at the
river edge. And so she brought him
home. At the sight Of his city" she
sobbed aloud. but he. sunken and slack
" sMs,A 's@