The Lamar register., 1917-09-26

dies which she had commandeered. He
summoned sufficient courage to block
her way and inquire:
"What you got there, now, ma'am?"
Mrs. Strange glared at him balefully.
With an effort at patience she in
quired: Say! What ails you, any
how?"
Jones swallowed hard. understand,
he's friend Of mine. No magic goes"
"Magic?"
"No-coclzroaches or snakes tongues,
or"
Mrs. Strange fingered a heavy china
bowl as If TEMPTED to bounce it from
Blaze's head. Then, not deignlng to
argue, she whlsked past him and into
the sicllroOm. 1t was evident from her
expression that she considered the
master Of the house u harmless but
offensive old busybody.
For some time longer Blaze hung
about the sickroom; then, his presence
being completely ignored, he rlsked
further antagonism by telephoning for
Jonesville's leading doctor. Not find
Ing the physician at home he sneaked
out to the barn and, taking Paloma's
car, drove away in search of him. 1t
was fully two hours later when he re-
turned to discover that Dave was sleep
ing quietly.
Dave slept for twenty hours, and
even when he awolie 1t was not to
clear appreciation of his surroundings
At first he was relieved to find that
the splitting pain in his head was gone
but imagined himself to be still in the
maddening local train from Browns
vile. By and by he recognized Palu-
ma and Mrs. Strange, and tried to talk
TO them, but the connection between
brain and tongue was imperfect, and
he made n bad business of conversa-
ton. 1t seemed queer that he should
be in bed ut the Jonescs'. When he had
recovered from his surprise he turned
his head and saw Mrs. Strange slum-
bering in a chair beside his bed; from
her uncomfortable position and evil
dent fatigue he judged that she must
have kept a long and faithful vigil
over him.
A little later Paloma, pale and heavy
eyed, stole into the room, and Dawes
cheerful greeting awoke Mrs. Strange
with a jerk
"Sol You're feeling better aren't
youI" the latter woman cried, heartily.
"Yes. How did 1 get here?" Dave
asked. 81 must have been right sick
and troublesome to you"
Paloma smiled and nodded. "Slcl
Why, Dave, you frightened US nearly to
deathl You We're clear out Of your
head"
Mrs. Strange broke into his frown-
ing meditation TO ask, How long since
you had nights sleepT
q Oh, the prosecutor at Browns
VILE amt let me alone minute for
week"
'Umphl 1 thought so. You puzzled
that pill-roller, but doctors don't know
anything, anyhow. Why, he wanted to
wake you up to find out what allied
you! I threatened to scald him If he
did"
81 seem to remember talking n good
deal" Dave ventured. Il reckon =
said n 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 l 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. l haven't had them of for
two nights"
1.-TWO nightsr" Dave stared in be-
wildermcnt Then he lamcly apollo
gized for the trouble he had caused,
md tried to thank the women for their
kindness.
He was shaky when. an hour later.
he 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
| ing 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 fine, and where de
/ Ucious tidbits We're to be had from the
| kitchen for the mere asking. In CON
sequence, Dave did not remain there