The Snowflake herald., 1917-09-28

backed away, making peculiar clucking
sounds deep in his throat. PalOma
was saying:
''This is my father, Mrs. Strange.
You and he have never happened to
meet before"
''Why, yes we have! | know you, y
the seamstress exclaimed. Then puz-
zled light fiickered in her black eyes.
Seems to me we've met somewhere,
but-Ive met so many people," She
extended her hand, and Blaze took
it as if expecting to find it cold and
scaly. He muttered something unin-
telligible. 'I've been dying to see you,
she told him, ''and thank you for Civ
ing me Paloma's work. l 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 a
smile the like of which his daughter
had never seen, and in a disguised
voice inquired, "Now 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, I'm glad you aren't
hurt. From the way you called Paloma
| thought you were. I'm handy around
sick people, so +"
"Listen!' Paloma interrupted.
Scy Of ton -
She left the room; Blaze was edging
after her when he heard her utter a
stified scream and call his name.
Now Paloma was not the kind of
girl to scream without cause, and her
cry brought Blaze to the front of the
house at a run. But what he saw there
reassured him mOmentarily; nothing
was in sight more alarming than one
of the depot hacks, in the rear seat Of
which was huddled the figure of a
man. Paloma 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: !:
81 brought him straight here, Mr..
Jones, cause 1 knew you was his best
friend"
"Who? Who is it?"
"Dave Law. He must have come in
on the noon train. Anyhow, 1 found
him-like that" The two men hurried
toward the road, side by side.
whats wrong with him?" Blaze de-
manded.
II don't know. He's queer-he's off
his bean. I've had a hard time with
him."
Paloma was in the carriage at Dawes
side now, and calling his name; but
Law, it seemed, was scarcely con-
scious. He had slumped together; his
face was vacant, his eyes dull. He was
muttering to himself a queer, delirious
jumble 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
bOyw 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 a sunstroke."
PaIoma turned an agonized face to
her father "Get doctor, quick" she
implOred; 'he frightens me-"
But Mrs. Strange had followed, and
now she spoke up in matter-of-fact
tone: doctor nothing" she said 81
know more than all the doctors. Pa
Iona, you go into the house and get
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, gabbling wildly, it was she
who quieted him. ElbOwing Blaze and
her husband out of the way, she loosed
the young mans frenzied clutch from
the carriage and, holding his hands in
hers, talked to him in such a way that
he gradually relaxed. 1t was she who
helped him out ana then supported him
into the house. 1t was she who got
him upstairs and into bed, and it was
she who finally stilled his babble,
1.-The poor man is burning up with q
fever" she told the others, "and fevers
are my long suit. Get me some towels
and a lot OF ice"
Blaze, who had watched the snake
charmer's deft ministrations with
mingled amazement and suspicion. In