The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1918-04-04
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: AT DUTY'S CALL .
u BY VICTOR RADCLIFFE -

ey VICTOR RADCLIFFE -;
"Stop, oh, stop!"
The auto had just turned q sharp
curve in the road, when Mrs. Flora
Minturn gasped out the warning in a
shrill cry of terror. :.
Just in time, her brother. at the
wheel by her side, managed to give
the speeding machine a mastery
swerve and escaped running directly
over a human form extended PROSTATE
in the middle Of the highway.
"Oh, Hector, it's a womanl"
breathed his sister, as the machine
halted. Hector Wayne sprang from
the auto and fastened back thirty feet.
The white moonlight limned a motion
less figure prone and stilll arrayed in
feminine garments. A wealth of
golden hair showed, flowing loose and
gently rufled by the breeze. Awed,
thrilled, Wayne bent over the form.
Honk-honk! Taking the curve, its
lamps sweeping the road ahead Of it,
a second car would have found. the
insensible woman directly in it's course.
had not Wayne rapidly seized her,
bearing her to the side Of the road.
The machine dashed by. He carried
his burden to his own cur.
Isis she dead, Hector?" she asked
in a hushed whisper.
mo, but she is hurt about the head"
and he glanced at his coat sleeve
where the golden head had rested. 1t
was damp and discolored with blood.
What shall we do?" sputtered Mrs.
Minturn.
"Her body is warm, she is breathing
regularly. It will take only a few
minutes to u to the house. We will
do that" Within a few minutes they
arrived at the home Of his widowed
sister. With the aid of a servant they
lifted and carried their patient into
the house and placed her on q couch
In the library.
Hector Wayne had received his med
lcal diploma only a week previous, but
had not as yet established an office.
Only for a moment did he stand gaz
Ing at the radiant loneliness Of the
first patient fate had placed in his
charge. Then, with quick directions to
his sister, who fastened to cooperate
with him, he had located and treated
a cut on the side of the head of the
patient and attended to -sprained
wrist and some minor bruises, and
ordered that she be removed to an
upstairs room.
Only once did the patient o
and then for a single moment. She
opened her eyes, looked dreamily
about her and then her face was con-
vulsed with sudden terror. She shrank
back, waving her hands wildly as
though beating away a dread appari-
ton, she screamed: "Save mech,
save me! He tried to kill me"
Vague as were the words, they
shocked Mrs. Minturn and caused her
brother to look serious. There had
come some direful tragedy into the
life of this fair creature, it was appar-
ent. She spoke nothing further of her.
self or Of those to whom she belonged,
however. For a week she lay inert,
and emerged, from the ravages of a
consuming fever weak and Respondent.
"She has told me a %little," Mrs. Min
turn announced to her brother one
day. "Her name is Mrs. Viola DAN
vers and her husband-why, Hectorl
what is the matter?"
He had turned deathly pale.
"Her husband is a profigate, q
gambler-worse," went on Mrs. Min
turn. I'm a mad rage, because she
would not give him the part Of her
fortune he had not dissipated, he
threw her from an automobile and left
her in the road where he found her."
To the city went Hector Wayne the
next day. He had passed a sleepless
night and n full of earnest thought.
To protect the happiness Of Viola
Danvers was now his one motive.
Although he found many who knew
Danvers, m had seen him for over
a week except one man, who regarded
the inquiries of Hector with suspicion
until he informed him that he came
from the wife Of Danvers.
HE needs her." bluntly spoke this
former gambling companion Of Dan
vers. "He was shot a week since by
a man he defrauded, and his victim
vows he will finish him completely if
he ever meets him again. Danvers is
not only in hiding, but in a serious
condition with his wound. I'll give
you his address,"
Willis Danvers had no money or
friends. He could not understand
why a man, to him a perfect stranger,
should interest himself in surrounding
him with comfort and attendance.
Hector made nc explanation. Leaving