Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-06-15

MaJ
Deep In South America. on the
ragged fringe OF the outskirts OF prog
ress. Alan Wayne was pushing Ions
bridge across .dried-up watercourse.
He was sick, tired. disgusted. 0vsr
and over again he had grumbled 20
McDougal that II was Job for q mn.
son and McDougal had patiently an.
swered, 'I'm the mason. Mr.. Wayne
DO you lie bye wee and sic the FEVER
q chance to get out OF the body" But
Alan stuck jealously to his Job. Ton
Percent Wayne might retire on hia
laurels but he could never be beaten.
Every third day the fever In hia
bones seized his body In grip thai
could not be denied. shook II till II rat
tied and cast Il down limp, cold and
hot. teeth chattering and then clenchsd
and then chattering again. But on
the days between Alan made up foi
the lapse. He became devil hangins
on the backs OF his men and driving
them to superhuman efforts. Terror
held them. They were Italians. faf
from home. A wilderness stretched
between them and the sea. The sea u
self was none of theirs; Ii WAS but =
added barrier. A mailman had thsm
In thrall Terror drove them. Il war
4 race to finish the bridge befors hs
killed them. II am going to be sick, ht
had told them In cold. rapid words, =
am going to be sick, but before I'm
finished the bridge Ii finished orr" he
smiled and made gesture with bill
hand TO show how he would brush
them allsoff into the dry gorge. Ills
smile terrified more than the raised
hand
The giant gang-bosS McDougal,
stood by and nodded solemn confirma-
ton. When Alan was iii by day, Nc.
Dougal left him and drove the men In
his stead, but when the hour for knock.
Ing or came with the sudden eclipse
OF the sun by the horizon. he hurried
to Alan's tent, fished him out from
some corner on the floor. wrapped him
In blankets, dosed him with quinine,
tempted him with poor, weak brotha
and nursed him, unprotesting. through
the night.
McDougal had followed Alan into
strange lands and strange places end
seen him In many deep hole. and
through IL all Alan had been the Aarue
ia purring dynamo ut work. He had
been the same until this trip Into the
Brazilian wilderness, and here 4
change had come over him. There were
times when he talked and what he said
was, mo more trips for me. McDougal.
I'm consulting engineer from this
on" McDougal had heard more than
one man talk like that under fever and
he frowned, trying to remember one of
them that had ever come back.
Alan was Injured to river fever. He
had fought 1t often, and when he saw
the fetid pools Of stagnant water In
the dried-up watercourse he knew he
would have to fight 1t again. some
how, some night. a mosquito was
bound to get at him. and the fever
would begin. He doubled his proven
tive dose of quinine. but he could not
double his spirits for the battle. He
came to the held with gnawing at
those sources Of health. q calm mind
and sure sleep. Sleep did not come
as OF old after the days work. In
stead he tossed and twisted on hia
narrow cot and finally would turn on
the electric torch to read two letters
over and over again.
One he read with curl OF the lip
It was from pretty woman that had
duttered into his life and out. He had
forgotten her and now she had come
She said, at costs woman to learn
that happiness is not really tangible.
Between being fortunate and happy
gulf is fixed. / was fortunate---just
not misera ble--and stood On the brink
Of the gulf. Happiness brushed me
with It's wings. reached out to
catch II and the gulf took me. How
long will 1t be before / climb back
to the height that seemed not 50 very
high when possessed lit don't
know do not hate you--only
myself. You have known many wom-
en-, but you have not known me. That
is the bitter part. You do not know
what gave you. One thing ask you
and the words as I write are blurred
with tears like my eyes--if ever 4 /
foolish woman, honest and true as
was. offers You the same sacrifice. do
not take II. have suffered for all the
women you will meet"
Fool" said Alan to himself, "fool,
not to see that I turned her wish
washy weakness into strength and
loosed q dumb tongue"