The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1917-07-06
CHAPTER XIV.

Il. spent all OF the evening or that
day with Wilson. He was not to % for
Joe until eleven O'Clock. The injured
mans vitakty was standing him in
good stead. He had asked for Sidney
and she was at his bedside. Doctor Ed
had gone.
X. found Sidney in the roohi. not sit
ting, but standing by the window. The
sick man was dozing. One shaded light
burned In q far corner. She turned
slowly and met his eyes. 1t seemed to
X. that she looked at him as II she had
never really seen him before, and he
was right. Readjustments are always
difficult.
Sidney was trying 10 reconcile the Z.
she had known SO well with this new
X, no longer obscure. although still
shabby, whose height had suddenly be-
come presence, whose quiet was the
quiet Of infinite power.
She wan suddenly shy Of him, as he
stood looking down at her. He saw
the CLEAN of her engagement ring on
her finger. 1t seemed almost defiant,
As though she had meant by wearing
it to emphasize her belief in her lover.
They did not speak beyond their
greeting. until he had gone over the
record. Then: I've can't talk here.
l want to talk to you. X"
He led the way into the corridor. 1t
was very dim. Far away was the night
nurses desk, with Its lamp, Its annunci-
ator, its pile of records. The passage
floor reflected the light on glistening
boards.
Il have been thinking until am al
most crazy. K. And now l know how
it happened. 1t was joe
1.-The principal thing is, not how 1t
happened. but that he Is going to get
well. Sidney"
She stood looking down, twisting her
ring around her finger.
''Is Joe in any danger"
1--WE are going to get him away to-
night. He wants to go to Cuba. He'll
get OF safely. think"
1--WE are going to get him away
You are, you mean. You shoulder all
our troubles. K, as II they were your
own"
TT" He was genuinely surprised.
"Oh, I see. You mean-but my part in
getting Joe OF Is practically nothing.
AS a matter of fact. Schwitter has put
up the money. My total capital in the
world. after paying for the machine
today. Is seven dollars"
you, of course" said she. you
find Max and save him-don't look like
that! You did. didn't you? And you
get Joe away. borrowing money to send
him."
He looked uncomfortable. almost
guilty.
when I look back and remember
how all these months I've been talk.
Ing about service. and you said moth.
Ing mt all. and all the time you were
living what preached-rm SC
ashamed, K"
He would not allow that. 1t dis.
tressed him. She saw that. and tried
to smile.
when does Joe GOT"
Tonight. I'm to take him across the
country to the railroad. I was won.
dering-"
"Yes?'
I'D better explain first. Then If you
are willing to send him a line. think
1t would help. He saw a girl in white
In the car and thought it was you. of
course. Carlotta was taken i'll. And
Schwitter and-and Wilson took her
upstairs to a ROOM"
"Do you believe that, K.?"
II do. He saw Max coming out and
misunderstood. He fired at him then
HE did 1t for me. feel very guilty
r., as If it all comes back to me. I'll
write to him, Of course. Poor Joel"
He watched her go down the hall to-
ward the night nurses desk. Then he
went back into the quiet room.
He stood by the bedside, looking
down. Wilson was breathing quietly
his color was coming up. as he rallied
from the shock. In KS mind now was
just one thought-to bring him through
for Sidney, and then to go away. He
might follow Joe to Cuba. There were
chances there. He could do sanitation
work. or he might try the canal.
The Street would go on working out
its own salvation. He would have to
think of something for the Rosenfelds
And he was worried about Christine
But there again, perhaps, 1t would be
better If he went away. Christine's
story would have to work itself out
His hands were tied. "rd better get
away from here" he told himself say.
agely.
Someone entered the room. he
thought 1t was Sidney and turned with
the light In his eyes that WAS only fol-
her. 1t was Carlotta.
She was not in uniform. She wore q
dark skirt and white waist and her
high heels tapped as she crossed the
room. She came directly to him.
He Is better. isn't her"
"He is rallying. OF course 1t will be
a day or two before we are quite sure
She stood looking down at Wilson's
quiet figure.
II guess you know I've been crazy