The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1917-09-06
Auhorof"7M Spoilers, ""7Heh Iron 7iaR'
"7He GHUer Horde" Etc.
CHAPTER xvlI.-continued.
NDPEX I5EACFA
cssrss y E~s., . s'-.A--

A little later Paloma, pale and heavy
eyed, stole into the room, and Dawes
cheerful greeting awoke Mrs. Strange
with a Jerk.
"SoI You're feeling better, aren't
your" the latter woman cried, heartily.
Eyes. How did / get hereT" Dave
asked. IL must have been right sick
and troublesome to you"
Paloma smiled and nodded. "Sickl
Why, Dave, you frightened us nearly to
deathl You were clear out of your
head"
Mrs. Strange broke into his frown-
ing meditation to ask, "How long since
you had q nights sleep?"
81 Oh, the prosecutor at Browns
Vile amt let me alone a minute for a
week."
"Umphl / thought SO. You puzzled
that piIl-roller, but doctors don't know
anything, anyhow. Why, he wanted to
wake you up to find out what allied
you'll / threatened to scald him IL he
did"
II seem to remember talking a good
QShi, Dufc NtuluIeus Il EtChOu L.
said a lot OF foolish things" He caught
the look that passed between his
nurses and its significance distressed
him.
Mrs. Strange continued: 'That's
how we guessed what your trouble
was, and that's why / wouldn't let that
fool doctor disturb you. Now that
you've had a sleep and are all right
again, I'm going home and change my
clothes. / haven't had them Off for
two nights"
"Two nightsw Dave stared In be-
wilderment. Then he lamely apollo
gized for the trouble he had caused,
kindness.
He vas shaky when, an hour later,
ne came downstairs for breakfast; but
otherwise he felt better than for many
days; and Blaze's open delight at see
ing him did him as much good as the
food he ate.
Dave spent part Of the morning sun
ming himself on the porch, reading the
papers with their exciting news. Dur
ting his absence Paloma had done her
best to spoil Montrosa, and among 9TH
er marks of favor had allowed her free
run of the yard, where the shade was
cool and the grass fiAe, and where de-
iicious tidblts were to be had from the
kitchen for the mere asking. In con-
sequence, Dave did not remain there
long until he was discovered. Mont
rosa signaled, then trotted toward him
with ears and tail lifted. Her delight
was open and extravagant; her well
come was as enthusiastic as o horse
could make II. Gone were her coQuetry
and airs /: she nosed and nibbled Dave;
she rubbed and rooted him with the
violence Of a battering-ram. and per-
mitted him to hug her and murmur
words Of love into her velvet ears. She
snapped confidence for confidence,
too; and then. when he finally walked
back toward the house, she followed
closely, as IL fearful that he might
again desert her.
Phil Strange met the lovers as they
turned the corner of the porch, and
warmly shook Dawes hand. "Teeny-
my wife-told me you was better" he
began. $50 i beat 1t out here. I hung
around all day yesterday, waiting to
zee you. but you was batty."
." was pretty sick" Dave acknowi-
edged. "Mrs. Strange was mighty kind
to me-"
.Sick people get her goat. She's got
q way with EN- and with animals, toe.
Why, Rajah, the big python with our
show. took sick one year. and he'd have
died sure only for her. Same with o
lot Of the other animals. She knows
naore'n any vet / ever saw"
Perhaps I needed a veterinary In
stead Of a DOCTOR" Dave smiled. 81
guess I've got some horse blood Ii me.
Geer Montrosa had thrust her head
under his arm and was waiting for
him to scratch her ears.
"Well. I brought you some mall"
Strange fumbled In his pocket for a
small bundle Of letters, explaining:
@Blaxe gave me these for you as i
passed the post Office"
Dave took the letters with q word Of
thanks. and thrust them carelessly In
70 his pocket. .What seems to be the
troubleY' he inquired.
"Y0u remember our last talk7 We'll.
them Mexicans have rot me ratified.
I've been trying everywhere to locate
you. II you hadn't come home I'd have
eone to the prosecuting attorney, or
somebody
'srhen you've learned something