The Arvada enterprise., 1918-04-25


cilely within reach Of his hand. He
considered getting on-if he could, and
riding-well, the nearest place was hf-
teen miles. And that was Q good, long
way from q doctor. he glarced again
at the cabin and tried to study the sit
uation impersonally. II 1t were some
other fellow, now, what would Ward
advise him to do under the circum-
stances?
gingerly. 80 far q be could tell It was
. straight, simple break-4napped short
Of against rock, he Judged. He shook
his head over the thought Of riding NJ
teen miles with those broken bones
grinding their edges together. And
still, what else could he do?
He reached out, took the reins and
led Rattlef q step nearer 80 that b.
could grasp the stirrup. With his voice
lie held the horse quiet while he pulled
himself upright upon his good leg.
Then, with pain hurried, jerky move
ments he pulled of the saddle. glanced
around him and flung It behind bucx
brush. He slipped OF the bride, flung
that after the saddle and gave Rather
a slap on the rump. The horse moved
away and Ward stared after him with
set lips. Anyway, you can look after
yourself" he said, and balanced upon
his right leg while hs swung around
and faced the cabin. II was not far
to . man with two sound legs. A hun
dred yards, 20 haps.
Ward crawled there On his hands and
one knee, dragging the broken leg after
him. It was not Q nice experience, but
It served ono good purpose-it wiped
from his mind al thought Of that black
past wherein Buck had figured 30
shamefully. He had enough to think Of
with his present plight, without wor-
rying over the past.
In half an hour O. % Ward rested his
arms upon his own doorstep and drop
ped his perspirins face upon thsm. He
lay there long wAils In . dead faint.
After awhile he moved. lifted his
bead and looked about him DULY at nrst
and then with q certain st0ical accept
ance Of his plight He looked into the
immediate future and tried to forecast
its demands upon his strength and to
prepare for them. He orawled farther
ny On the step, reached the latch and
opened the door. He crawled In, pulled
himself up BY the foot Of his bunk and
sat down weakly with his head In his
banda. Like . hurt animal, he had
obeyed his instinct and had craWled
home.
His eyes went slowly around the cab
In. measuring bis resources and his
needs and limitations He pulled his
one chair toward him-the chair which
Buck Olney had occupied 10 unwilling
ly-and placed his left knee upon It
He managed to reach the cupboard
where he kept his dishes, and took down
bottle Of liniment and q box Of car.
bolized vaseline which he happened to
have. He was near the two big xiuc
water pals which he had filled that
morning Just to show Buck Olney how
cool he was over his capture. and be
bethought him that water was going to
be precious In the next few weeks
He lifted down ono pail and swung
II forward a. far a. he could and set
It on the door ahead Of him. Then he
swung the other rail beside It. Pain.
fully he hitched his chair alongside.
lifted tho pals and set them forward
again. He did that twice and got them
beside his bunk. He went back and in.
sIected the teakcttle, found It half full
and carried that also beside the bunk.
Then he rested awhile.
BandSgcs! Well, there was Q new
-four sack hanging on nail. He stood
UP. leaned and got II, and while he
WAS standing he reached for the cigar
box. where he kept his bachelor sewing
outtlt-two spools Of very coarse thread.
some large eyed needles to carry II, an
assortment OF buttons aud pair Of
scissora He cut the nour sack into
strips and sewed the strips together:
his stitches were neater than you might
think.
When the bandaRe was long enough
he rolled II an he had seen doctors do
and iished some pins out Of the cigar
box and laid them where be could get
his fingers on them quickly. He stood
AIMED milk and pried on the lid. 'l'm
liable to need you. too" he muttcrcd
to the rows Of cans, and pulled the box
Close. He took Buck Olney's knife rnd
whlthei some very creiitahlc splints
from tho thin boards and rummaEe,i In
his 'warbaR' under the bunk for hand.
kcrchicfs with which to wrap the
spllnts.
When hc had done all that b. could
do TO prepare for the long sicgc o8 pain
and hclplessness ahead Of him hs NOV.
Cd along tho bunk until he was sitting
near the head Of Il With his broken les
extended before hin and took Q last
look to make surs that everything WAS
ready. He felt his gun at his hip ~
moved belt and all and threw Il back
upon the bed. Theo b turned his had
and stared. frownins. at the black butt
wheee y peotzudsd iron ~ hslsese
NGsssttvsly ready - ~ hAnl H