The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-12-07
AT DUTYS CALL :
- BY VICTOR RADCLIFFE -


wheel by her side, managed to give
the speeding machine n mastery
swerve and escaped running directly
over human form extended PROSTATE
In the middle of the highway.
"Oh, Hector, it's woman"
breathed his sister, as the machine
halted. Hector Wayne sprang from
the auto and FASTENED back thirty feet.
The white moonlight limned a motion
less figure prone and still, arrayed in |
feminine garments. A wealth of |
golden hair showed, flowing loose and |
gently ruffled by the breeze. Awed, |
thrilled, Wayne bent over the form.
Honk-honk Taking the curve, its
lamps sweeping the road ahead of it,
a second car would have found the
insensible woman directly in its course,
had not Wayne rapidly seized her,
bearing her to the side of the road.
The machine dashed by. He carried
his burdeneto his own car.
"Is--is she dead, Hector?" she asked
In a hushed whisper.
mo, but she Is hurt about the head"
and he glanced at his coat sleeve
where the golden head had rested. 1t
was damp and discolored with blood.
"What shall we do?" sputtered Mrs.
Minturn.
''Her body is warm, she is breathing
regularly. 1t will take only few
minutes to run to the house. We will
do that" Within a few minutes they
arrived at the home Of his widowed
sister With the aid of servant they
lifted and carried their patient into
the house and placed her on u couch
in the library.
Hector Wayne had received his med
ical diploma only a week previous, but
had not as yet established an office.
Only for a moment did he stand gaz-
ing at the radiant loneliness Of the
first patient fate had placed in his
charge. Then, with quick directions to
his sister, who FASTENED to cooperate
with him, he had located and treated
cut on the side of the head of the
patient and attended to a sprained
wrist and some minor bruises, and
ordered that she be removed to an
upstairs room.
Only once did the patient recover
> and then for single moment. She
opened her eyes, looked dreamily
about her and then her face was con
vulsed with sudden terror. She shranB
back, waving her hands wildly as
though beating away dread appari
ton, she screamed: "Save me-oh
save me He tried to kill mel"
Vague as were the words, the.
shocked Mrs. Minturn and caused he
: brother to look serious. There hat
come some dlreful tragedy into tn
: life of this fair creature, 1t was appar
ent. She spoke nothing further of her
self or Of those to whom she belonged
however. For a week she lay inert
and emerged from the ravages Of
consuming fever weak and Respondent
"She has told me little" Mrs. Min
turn announced to her brother on
day. Her name is Mrs. Viola Oar
vers and her husband-why, Hector
what Is the matter?"
"A He had turned deathly pale.
IL "Her husband is a prohigate,
r; gambler-worse," went on Mrs. Mil
lr turn. "In a mad rage, because sh
IT would not give him the part of he
fortune he had not dissipated, b
a threwxher from an automobile and lei
70 her In the road where he found her
a To the city went Hector Wayne I'll
ey next day. He had passed sleeples
or night and one full Of earnest though
ng To protect the happiness Of VIC
of Danvers was now his one motive.
ay Although he found many who kne
Tx Danvers, none had seen him for ov'
a week except one man, who regardt
er the inquiries of Hector with suspici(
lis until he informed him that he can
n from the wife of Danvers.
en- "He needs her." bluntly spoke th
nd former gambling companion of Da
yo vers. che was shot week since
We a man he defrauded, and his victi
ce vows he will finish him completely
nd he ever meets him again. Danvers
ito not only in hiding, but in serio
ID condition with his wound. I'll gi
you his address,"
We Willis Danvers had no money
of friends. He could not understal
IN why a man, to him a perfect stgang'
full should interest himself in surroundi
ct. him with comfort and attendant
he Hector made no explanation. Leavi
with the landlady ample funds to pl
zee vide for the care Of Danvers, he
1p- turned to his sisters home.
es, ssMrs. Danvers," he told their (
ell tient, "your husband is seriously Ill
er, the city. Your place Is by his sid
ut She shrank. An expression of
ne utmost repugnance came into her ia
OF "You-you tell me this !" she voic
oh- breathlessly.
an 1T is your duty" insisted Hect
''No matter for the past. You MI
BILE forget" he faltered, "as l must
full She grasped his hands In mt
nd anguish. Then her tears and h
rec kisses covered them as the fair, gold
Ing head bent submissively.
len 1t was dusk when he accompani
her to the city. They reached
'ut, clearinghouse where her husba