Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-07-02
CHAPTER XIV.
Norine lakes CHARGE.

During the next Few Gays ORellly
had reason to bless the happy chance
which had brought Norine Evans to
Cuba. During the return journey from
San Antonio de los Ban0s he had dis
covered how really i'll Esteban Varona
was, how weak his hold upon life.
After listening to his rawlings, O'Reil1y
began to fear that the poor fellows
mind was permanently affected. 1t was
an appalling possibility, one to which
he could not reconcile himself. To
think that somewhere in that fevered
brain was perhaps locked the truth
about Rosa's fate, if not the secret of
her whereabouts, and yet to be unable
to wiring an intelligent answer to
single question, was intOlerable. The
hours of that ride were among the
longest O'Reilly had ever passed.
But Norine Evans gave him new
heart. She took complete charge of
the sick man upon his arrival in camp
then in her brisk, matter-of-fact way
she directed O'Reilly to go and get
some much-needed rest. Esteban was
Ill, very Ill, Sic dull1llCO, WAS no
competent doctor near, and her own
facilities for nursing were primitive
indeed; nevertheless, she expressed
confidence that she could cure him,
and reminded O'Reilly that nature has
blessed way of building up a resist
ance to environment. AS a result of
her good cheer O'Reilly managed to
enjoy a nights sleep.
He was up at daylight to offer his
services in caring for Esteban Varona.
but Norine declined them.
His fever is down a little and he
has taken some nourishment," she re-
ported ''That food you boys risked
your silly lives for may come in handy,
after ALL"
II dare say he won't be able to talk
to me today?" OReilly ventured.
mot today, nor Cor many days, I'm
afraid"
IF you don't mind, then, I'll hang
around and listen to what he says" he
told her, wistfully. HE might drop
word about Rosa"
ITO be sure So far he's scarcely
mentioned her. 1 can't understand
much that he says, of course, but Mrs.
Ruiz tells me it's all jumbled and quite
unintelligible."
about two weeks after O'Reilly's re-
turn to the City Among the Leaves. In
a hammock swung between two trees
Esteban Varona lay, listening to the
admonitions of his nurse
Johnnie O'Reilly had just babe them
both a hearty good morning and now
Norine was saying: "One hour, no
more. You had temperature again
last night, and it came from talking too
much. Remember, it takes me just one
hour to make my rounds. and If you
are not through with your tales of
blood and battle when get back you'll
have to finish them tomorrow" With
a nod and a smile she left.
AS Ksteban looked after her his
white teeth cleaned and his hollow
face lit up.
''She brings me new life" he told
0'Reilly. "She is so strong, So healthy,
so full of life herself. She is wonder
full! When first saw her bending over
me thought 1 was dreaming. Some
times, even yet, 1 think she cannot be
real. But she Is, eh?"
''She is quite substantial" O'Reilly
smiled. "All the sick fellows talk as
you do"
Esteban looked up quickly; his face
darkened. ''She-er-nurses others,
Ell? Tn not the only one?"
swell, hardly"
There vas brief pause; then Este
ban shifted his position and his tone
changed. Tell me. have you heard
any news?"
"Not yet, but we will bear some be-
fore long Tn sure"