Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-26
1athvof"Ne Spoilers, ""7Ae Iron Trail
"7he &iuer Horde" Etc.
@D REX BEACF1


scaIy. lie muttorcd something unin-
telligble. "Ive been dying to see you,
she told him, "and thank you for Civ
ing me Paloma's work. love You
both for it,"
Blaze was immensely relieved that
this dreaded crisis had come and gone;
but wishing to make assurance doubly
sure, he contorted his features into u
smile the like of which his daughter
had never seen, and in n disguised
voice inquired. Nov where do you
reckon you ever saw me?'
The seamstress shook her head. IL
don't know, but I'll place YOU before
long. Anyhow, Tn glad you aren't
hurt. From the way you called Paloma
| thought you were. I'm handy around
sick people, so l."
Listen" Paloma Interrupted.
There's someone at the front door"
She left the room; Blaze was edging
after her when he heard her utter Il
stitled scream and call his name.
Now Paloma was not the kind of
girl to scream without cause, and hei
cry brought Blaze 70 the front Of the
house at Il run. But what he saw there
reasSured him momentarily; nothin.
was in sight more alarming than one
of the depot hacks, In the rear seat of
which was huddled the figure of Il
man. Puloma was flying down the walk
toward the gate, and Phil Strange was
awaiting on the porch. AS Blaze flung
himself into view the latter exclaimed:
Il brought him straight here, Mr..
Jones, cause | knew you was his best
friend"
"Who? Who is ito
Dave Law. He must have come in
on the noon train. Anyhow, found
hlm-like that" The two men hurried
toward the road, side by side
whats wrong with him." Blaze de-
handed.
II don't know. He's queer--he's off
his utuh' w hHh IL iiuiu tllile Will
him"
Paloma was In the carriage Mt Dawes
side now. and calling his name; but
Law, 1t seemed. was scarcely con-
scious. He had slumped together; his
face was vacant, his eyes dull. He was
muttering to himself a queer, delirlous
tumble of words.
'Oh, dad He's sick-sick," Paloma
sobbed. "Dave. don't you know us?
You're home, Dave. Everything is
all right now"
"Why, you'd hardly recognize the
boy" Blaze exclaimed: then he added
his appeal to his daughters. But they
could not arouse the sick man from
his coma.
"He asked me to take him to Las
Palmas," Strange explained. Looks
to ME like Il sunstroke.'
Paloma turned an agonized face TO
her father. get n doctor. quick" she
implored 'hc frightcns me-"
But Mrs. Strange had followed, and
now she spoke up in matter-of-fact
tone: doctor nothing" she said. IT
know more than all the doctors. Pa
Iona, you 90 into the house and get u
bed ready for him, and you men lug
him In. Come, now, on the run, all Of
you! I'll show you what to do She
took instant charge of the situation,
and when Dave refused to leave the
carriage and began to fight off his
friends gabblng wildly. II was she
who quleted him Elbowing Blaze and
her husband out of the way. she lcosed
the young mans frenaied clutch from
the carriage and, holding his hands in
hers, talked to him in such way that
he gradually relaxed. 1t was she who
helped him out and then supported him
into the house. 1t was she who got
him upstairs and into bed, and 1t was
she who finally stillcd his bnbbe.
"rhc poor man is burning up with a
fever" she told the Others, and fevers
are my long suit Get me some towels
and lot of Ice
Blaze, who had watched the snake
charmer's deft mlnlstratons with
mingled amnzement and suspicion, In
CURED what are you going to do
with Ice? Ice amt medicine"
I'm going to pack his head In It.