Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-26

ICoorr.sh, by Little, Brown md Company
CHAPTER xI.
Fortune Kicks Aoain,

oFtunO NiCH0 %SaIUs
TT was past noon when Ward rode
IL down the steep slope to the creek
bank just above his cabin. he was
sunk deep in that mental depression
which so often follows close upon the
heels OF a great outburst OF passion.
Mechanically he twitched 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 we'll train
ed horse, since he was Wards. He
obeycd the rein signal and stepped of q
two foot bank into a nest Of loose piled
rocks that slid treacherously under his
feet. Sure footed, though he was, he
stumbled and fell, and it was sheer in
stinct that took Wards feet from the
stirrups IN time.
Ward sprawled among the rocks,
dazed. The shock Of the fall took him
ont of his, tit of abstraction and he
pulled away from Rather as the horse
scrambled up and stood shaking before
him. He tried to scramble up also.
Ward sat and stared stupidity at his
left leg where, midway between his knee
and his foot, 1t turned out at an unnat-
ural angle. He thought resentfully that
he had had enough trouble for once
without having broken leg on top OF
it all.
Now this is one deuce Of fix" he
stated dispassionately, when pain had
in a measure cooled his first anger. He
looked around him like man who Ia
taking stock of his resources. He was
not far from the cabin. He could get
there by crawling. But what then?
Ward looked at Rather, standing do
cilcly within reach OF his hand. he
considered getting on-if he could, and
riding-well, the nearest place was fl
teen miles. And that was good, long
way from a doctor. He glanced again
at the cabin and tried to study the sit
uation impersonally. If it were some
other fellow, now, what would Ward
advise him to do under the circum
stances!
He reached down and felt bis leg
gingerly. So far as he could tell it was
a straight, simple break-snapped short
of against a rock, he judged. He shook
his head over the thought of riding fif
teen miles with those broken bones
grinding their edges together. AnC
still, what else could be co?
He reached out, took the reins ano
led Rather step nearer so that NJ
could grasp the stirrup. With his voice
he 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 bucI
/ brush. He slipped off the bride, funl
/ that after the saddle and gave Rattlel
a slap on the rump. The horse moved
away and Ward stared after him will
set lips. Anyway, you can look after
yourself" he said, and balanced upor
his right leg while he swung arount
and faced the cabin. 1t was not far
to a man with two sound legs. A hun
dred yards, chaps.
Ward crawled there on his hands ant
one knee, dragging the broken leg afte
him. 1t was not nice experience, bu
1t served one good purpose-it wipet
from his mind all thought OF that bDacl
past wherein Buck had fignred 9.
shamefully. He had enough to think O
with his present plight, without wor
rying over the past:
In half IN hour or 80 Ward rested hi
! arms upon his own doorstep and drop
ped his perspiring face upon them. III
lay there long while in dead faint.
After awhile he moved, lifted hi
head and looked about him duly at frs
and then with a certain stoical accept
ance of his plight. He looked into tn
immediate future and tried TO forecas
its demands upon his strength and t.
prepare for them. He crawled farthe
up on the step, reached the latch an
opened the door. He crawled IN, pullet
himself up by the foot Of his bunk ant
sat down weakly with his head in hi
hands. Like hurt animal, he ha'
obeyed his instinct and had crawle'
home.
His eyes went slowly around the cat
in, measuring his resources and hi
needs and limitations. He pulled hi
| OnA chair town ri him-tho ehAi P WILD