The Pulaskian. (Pulaski Heights [Little Rock], Ark.) 1915-1929, 1918-09-06
sA.aAAAAANeNNSNN
CHAPTER xxI-continued.

.ow strength, new determination. I.
ssoupht YOU back when you were al
Srt gone. saved you after the Others
had given you up, and now you arr
nine to do with as | please. You be
ioro TO me and 1 sha'n't consult you."
She turned, for figure had dark
med the door; it was one of her Eng
Isb.speaking conyalescents who wa.
acting as a sort of orderly.
aSenorita," the man said, with 6
lash Of white teeth, 1--WE have another
sick man, and you'd never guess who
is that American, Ell Demonio-"
Ts he sick or wounded?' Esteban
inquired.
aShot by Spanish bullet. He asked
At once for our senorita."
aOf course. I'll come in an instant. ,
When the messenger had gone Norine
hent and pressed her lips to Esteban's
4 aRemember, you're mine to do with as
A please" she said; then she fed down
q the grassy street.
s Branch was waiting at Norine's
uuarters, a soiled figure of detection.
i Ills left arm lay in 3 sling across his
breast. He looked up at her approach,
bit she scarcely recognized him, SO
Greatly changed was he.
aHello, Norine! !" he cried. swell
4 they got me-"
Norine paused in establishment.
1Why, Lesliel 1 was so frightened
But-you can't be badly hurt"
bad enough so that Lopez sent me
IN. A fellow gets fyblown If he stays
in the field, so beat it,
"Has your arm been dressedY"
NO. wouldn't let these rouHhsand-
tumble doctors touch 1t, They'd ampu-
tate at the shoulder for q hangnail. l
don't trust EN-"
uThen rlI' look at it."
ut doesn't hurt, really" he declared.
aIts only scratch"
@Then behave yourself" Norine
forced the patient into a chair and
withdrew his arm from the sling.
Then despite his weak resistance, she
deftly removed the bandage. From
his expression she felt sure that she
must be hurting him, but when the
Injury was exposed she looked up In
vonderment.
TseslieI" she exclaimed seWhat In
The worl2--"
Branch struggled wssh himself, he
swallowed hard, theA said: "You can
see now why I didnt go to doctor;
did it-shot myself. You won't give
ne away"
Norine seated herself weakly; she
stared in bewilderment at the unhappy
speaker. afraid? You, FL Demonio i!
Why, yoa aren't afraid of anything p
"Sayl You don't believe all that
stuff, Go you? I'm afraid of my shadow
and always have been. I'm not brave
and never was. They told me l was
going to die and 1t scared me so that
tried to end things quickly.
couldn't bear to die slowly, TO know
that I was dying by inches. But, Lord
It scared me even worse TO go into
battle. / was blind with fright all the
time and ] never got over it. Why
the sight of "a gun gives me chill, and
1 jump every time one goes off. Lord
how I've stifferedl / went crazy at our
nrst engdgenient-Acrazy with fear.
didnt know where l was, or what hap
pened,, or anything. Afterward, when
lhey Hailed me as hero, thought
they were Kidding, that everybody
must know how frightened I was
After time saw that I'd fooled them
ana that shamed me- Them had tc
keep 1t up or become ridiculous. But
1t nearly killed me-"
It SO happened that the president
ana Well-nigh the entire provisional
cabinet were in Cubitas. Leslie and
Norlne went directly to the former. He
promptly sent for the minister of jus
uce, who in turn CALAMITY put himself
AZ Norine's disposal. In no time the
news had spread and there was sub
uued excitement throughout the camp
Norine was between tears and laughter
wnen she ran painting into Esteban's
canin, leaving Branch to wait outside.
al sight of her Esteban uttered 9
,ow cry of happiness. "Dearestl I've
oeen lying in stupor of delight. The
mofld has become bright. l hear peo-
pe laughing. What changer
:, I've arranged everything The pres
,uent and his cabinet are coming tC
Hltness the ceremony"
;. hsteoan poised upon his elbow, his
s saee was a study. "What have you ar
'an .ss he managed to inquire.
I, sh-h!" Norine laid finger upor
:. MS ups. "The guest of the republic il
" oe married today"
:. Noflne Oh, my dear" quavered
~, rae SICK man. Il can't let you do thi:
a anau thing. Think! I'm ready for the
~. ms VIII make you well. We're go
t as away when the very next expedi
uon arrives"
r.. haven't the strength to refuse
aas'eDan murmured. "And yet, how
t. ~ ! leave Cuba? What right have
:" accept hanninasc and Iooyo Rosa