American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-04-02
toopYnsh. By Little, Brown and Company
CHAPTER XII.

IL was past noon When ward rOue
down the steep slope 10 the creek
bank just above his cabin. lie was
sunk deep IN that mental depression
which so often follows close upon the
heels OF a great outburst OF passion.
Mechanically he twltched the reins and
sent Rather down the last shelf OF bank
and he did not look up TO see just
where he was. Rather was a well train
ed horse, since he was Wards. He
obeyed the rein signal and stepped on a
two foot bank into "A nest OF loose piled
rocks that slid treacherously under his
feet. Sure fOote1, though he was. he
stumbled and fell. and II vas sheer In
stinct that took Wards feet from the
stlrrups m time.
Ward sprawled among the rocks,
dazed. The shock OF the fall took him
out OF HIS nc OF abstraction and he
pulled away from Rather as the horse
scrambled up and stood shaking before
rim. lie tried To scramble up also.
Ward sat aud stared stupidity at his
left leg where, midway Between his knee
and his foot. II turned out at an unnat-
ural angle. He thought %resentfully that
he had had enough trouble for once
without having a broken leg on top OF
Il all.
"NOw this n one deuce OF a 1xV' he
stated dispnssionntely. when pain had
In u measure cooled his FIRST anger. He
looked around him like a man who Is
taking stock OF his resources. He was
not far from the cabin. He could get
there ~ crawling. But what then2
Ward looked at Rather. standing do
cilely within reach OF his hand. He
considered getting on-if he could, and
riding well, the nearest place was M.
teen miles. And that was a good, long
way from a doctor. He glanced again
M the cabin and tried 10 study the sit
uation impcrsonally. III Il were some
other fellow. now. what would Ward
advise him 10 do under the circum.
stanccs3
lie reached down and felt his leg
gingerly. SO far as he could tell Il was
a straight. simple break-snapped short
on %agalns. a rock, he judged. lie shook
his head over the thought OF riding iif-
teen miles with those broken bones
grinding their edges together. And
still. what else could he dor
He reached out, took the relns and
led Rather a step nearer so that no
could grasp the stirrup With his voice
he held the horse quiet while NE pulled
himself upright upon his good Reg.
ghen, with pain hurried. jerky move
meuts he pulled on the saddle. glanced
around him and flung Il behind a buck
brush. lie slipped or the bride. iung
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 he swung around
and faced the cabin. II was not far
to a man with two sound legs. A hum
drcd yards. pc haps.
Ward crawled There on his hands and
one knee. dragging the broken leg after
him. II was not a nice experience, but
Il served one good p%urpose-it wiped
from HIS mind all thought Of that black
past wherein Buck had figured 50
shamefuliy. He had enough to think OF
with his present plight, without wor-
rying over the past.
In half an hour or so Ward rested his
arms upon his own doorstep and drop
pod his perspiring face upon thsm He
lay there a long while In a dead faint.
After awhile he moved. lifted his
head and looked about him duly az irst
aud then with a certain stoical 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 crawled farther
up 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
hands. Like a hurt animal, he had
obeyed his instinct and had crawled
home.
His eyes went slowly around the cab.
s In, measuring his resources and his
e needs and limitations. He pulled his
Z one chair toward him-the chair which