The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1918-11-01

WY eu. one got the WaSnDaSln ana /
q towel and prepared to battle his
mead. He wanted drink. And when
she held cup to his lips and saw how
greedily he drank, a little sob broke /
unexpectedly from her lips. She I
gritted her teeth after 1t and forced /
= laugh.
You're sure hard drlnker." she
bantered and wet her handkerchief to
lay on his brow.
THAT'S the first decent drink I've
had for month";" he told her, drop
ping back to the pillow. refreshed to
the point of clear thinking. "Old Lady
Fortunes still playing football with
me, William. I've been laid up with
broken leg for about six weeks. And
when / got gay and thought l could
handle myself again. put myself out
OF business for while, and caught
this cold before l came to and crawled
back into bed. Tm-sure glad you
showed up, old girl. l was-getting up
against 1t for fair" He coughed.
Looks like it." Billy Louise held
herself rigidly back from any emo
tional expression. She could not at
ford to $50 to pieces" now. She tried
to think just what a trained nurse
would do. in such a case. Her hospi-
tai experience would be Of some use
here, she told herself. She remem-
bered reading somewhere that no ex-
perience is valueless. II one only ap-
plies the knowledge gained.
First" she said cheerfully, "the pa
tient must be kept quiet and cheerful.
SO don't go jumping up and down on
your broken leg, Ward Warren; the
nurse forbids It, And smile, If 1t kills
you"
Ward grinned appreciatively. Sick
as he was, he realized the gameness
of Billy Louise; what he failed to real
lie was the gameness of himself. "Tm
a pretty worthless specimen right
now" he said alphabetically. "But I'm
yours to command, Bill-the-Conk.
You're the DOCTOR"
Nope, I'm the cook, right now. I've
got a bunch. How would you like a
cup of tea, patient?"
I'D rather have coffee-Doctor Will
liam"
Tea. you mean. I'll have 1t ready
in ten minutes" Then she weakened
before his lmploring eyes. you really
oughtn't to drink coffee, with that fe-
yer, Ward. But maybe if don't make
1t very strong and put In lots Of
cream Well take Z chance, bucka.
rool"
"How much sugar, patient?' Billy
Louise turned toward I'm with the to-
mato can sugar bowl in her hands.
"None. l want to taste the coffee
this trip"
"Oh. all right It's the worst thing
you could think Of, but that's the way
with patient. Patients always want
what they mustn't have"
"Sure-get 1t, too" Ward spoke be
tween long, satisfying gulps. flows
your other patient, Wilhelmina? How's
mommier
"Oh, Ward She's dead-mommie'
deadW Billy Louise broke down I'M
expectedly and completely. She went
down on her knees beside the bed anc
cried as she had not cried since she
face, heldsin that terrifying calm. She
cried until Wards excited mutteri1 5s
warned her that she must pull herself
together.
"You be s-still," she commanded
brokenly, fighting for her former safe
cheerfulness. I'm all right. Pity
yourself. II you've got to pity some
body. lean stand-my trouble.
haven't got any broken leg and
hookin' cough" She managed laugl
then and took Wards hand from hel
hair and laid it down on the blankets
Now we won't talk about things an,
more. You've got to have something
done for that cold on your lungs" Sh'
rose and stood looking down at hin
with puckered eyebrows.
"A1ommie would say you ought t.
have good sweat" she decided. go
, any gingerY'
Il dunno. guess not" Ward NUT
| tered confusedly.
: well. I'll 60 out and find some sage
then, and give you sage tea. That
another cure-all."
oAC OAu lOl Speuu Hi utl tliut plth
: Ing sage twigs. A bush grew at tn
corner Of the cabin within easy reach
t She went first down to the stable an
= led Blue inside and unsaddled hin
Ward was lying quiet when she wen
In, except that he was waving he
= handkerchief to and fro by the col
: ners to cool 1t. Billy Louise took
e from him. wet 1t again with cold waite
Y and scolded him for getting his arm
] from under the covers. That, she salt
was no nice way for hookin' -coug
r man to do.
Ward meekly submitted to being COZ
I cred to his eyes. Then he wriggled hi
g chin free and demanded that she kis
I him. Ward was fairly drunk with hal
a piness because she was there, in tn
:. cabin.
:, Ward Warren, you're q perfect
4 awful hookin'-cough man! There. No
4 that's going to be the only o2e-Ol
r Ward, 1t isD'tl" She knelt and curve
an arm around his face and kisse
s him again and yet again. II do lov