Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-10-19

phone fdle anu MrS. l(eeu whispered,
"I'll answer it,"
Does your head ache?" asked the
doctor.
AS though to locate the confused
throbbIng pain, Helen raised her hand
to her head. There was blood-chill.
ing feel of crisp singed hair. Then a
leaping terror as her fear-stiffened fin
gers CROPPED over her face.
mo. your face isn't touched" COM
forted the doctor, divining her fears.
you got off very easy-gasoline is
dangerous stuff. Does that bandage
feel too tight?"
A slam of the outer door. Though
her face was to the wall, she knew 1t
was Warren who burst into the room.
The next second he was kneeling
by the bed. The vague dread Of his
stern apprehension fell from her as she
felt his encircling arms.
Its all right, Mr.. Curtis" the doc
tors voice was quietly reassuring.
"Only slight burn under the arm"
"HOw did it happen?" huskily.
Cleaning something in gasoline"
"GasOline!" groaned Warren.
"Yes. they will use it. Your wife
ran out into the hall-wOrst thing she
could have done. If Mrs. Reed hadn't
thrown a rug about her it might have
been serious. Everybody else seemed
paralyZed."
Mrs. Reed, So she owed her rescue
| to Mrs. Reed, The words throbbed In
the blurred blackness before Helen's
closed eyes.
With awkward, unsteady fingers
/ Warren was smoothing back the singed
/ hair.
/ "She's suffering little from shock.
/ I'll leave some quieting powders in
| case she can't sleep. You can give
her one at nine and repeat in an hour
if necessary, I'll call in the morning
| to dress the arm"
The doctor gone, Helen for the first
time looked up at Warren. He was
strangely white and haggard.
"Oh," family, They frightened you
when they 'phoned."
That's all right-don't think Of me.
Does your arm hurt?" still smoothing
the crisp, roughened hair.
Her head moved in denial, not want
ing to admit the pain.
Mrs. Reed, who had been waiting in
the other room, came to the door. You
don't need me now. Mr.. Curtis. but If
you should later-just phone down."
81 won't attempt to thank you, Mrs.
Reed" Warren rose from the side OF
the bed. There are some things you
can"
ooh. please don't speak of it. I'm
very glad was able to do something.
We had almost the same accident In
our family suppose that's why
thought of the rug"
He was following her to the door.
Their low murmured voices came from
the hall.
Helen's turmoiled thoughts were re-
hearsing the tragedy. The bathroom
What damage had been done? She had
visions of heavy repair bill-of the
tiled walls and porcelain tub cracked
by the flames.
Warren was again by the bed. but
. she did not look up. Just then II
seemed easier to lie there witt
closed eyes. Now that they were alone
she was struggling against hysterica
. desire to burst into tears. She
yearned yet dreaded for him to com
fort her
, There was a long silence. He was
holding her hand, stroking slowly thu
unbandaged arm. From the stree
came the rhythmic clatter Of hoofs
and the receding rumbling Of wheels.
"Well, Kitten, how about the gaso
, line? Is one lesson going to b.
3 enough?"
, Helen nodded. biting her lips t.
: steadiness. Another silence. Then sh'
asked. quiveringly:
5 Dear the bathroom! Did-did i
+, iniure the walls or ceiling?
Haven't looked" briefly. YOUR
all right-that's all that counts. An.
: damage is dirt cheap if it'll make yo'
leave that Internal stuff alone"
|. "Oh, I'll never use it again." choktni
| back a sob. 'I'll never even have 1
in the house"
] "All right, Kitten, I won't rub it in
[ A Jolt like this is pretty tough on bot
of us" Then, with relieving humOl
: "WelI, you won't have to frizz you
i hair for a while. You've made pref
ty good job of that"