Meade County news., 1918-04-04

obeyed. She got the washbasin and
towel and prepared to battle his
head. he wanted q drink. And when
she held cup to his lips and saw how
greedily he drank. q little sob broke
Unexpectedly from her lips. She
gritted her teeth after 1t and forced
laugh.
You're sure q hard drinker," she
Dantered and wet her handkerchief to
lay on his brow.
That's the first decent drink I've
had for a 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
n broken leg for about six weeks. And
when l got gay and thought 1 could
handle myself again, put myself out
OF business for a while, and caught
this cold before l came to and crawled
back into bed. rm-sure glad you
showed up, old girl. l was-getting up
against 1t for fair" He coughed.
Looks lire it." Billy Louise held
herself rigldly back from any emo
tional expression. She could not af-
ford to go to pieces" now. She tried
to think just what q 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 60 jumping up and down on
your broken leg, Ward Warren; the
nurse forbids 1t. 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
pretty worthless specimen right
now," he said apologetically. "But I'm
yours to command, Blll-the-Conk
You're the DOCTOR"
"Nope, I'm the cook, right now. I've
got hunch. How would you like a
cup of tea, patient?"
"rd rather have coffee-Doctor VIII
liam."
"Tea, you mean. I'll have It ready
In ten minutes" Then she weakened
before his imploring 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 a chance, bucka.
rooW
"How much sugar, patientT Billy
Louise turned toward lin with the to-
mato can sugar bowl in her hands.
"None. 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"
"Snre-get It, too" Ward spoke be-
tween long, satisfying gulps. "How's
your other patient, Wilhelminai How's
mommie7"
"Oh. Wardi She's dead-mommie's
dead" Billy Louise broke down un-
expectedly and completely. She went
down on her knees beside the bed and
cried as she had not cried since she
looked the last time at mommie's still
face, held in that terrifying calm. She
cried until Wards excited mutterinys
her that she must pull herself
together.
You be s-stlll," she commanded
brokenly. fighting for her former safe
cheerfulness. I'm all right. Pity
If you've got to pity some
body. I-can stand-my trouble. l
haven't got any broken leg and
lookin' cough" She managed laugh
hen and took Wards hand from her
lair and laid It down on the blankets.
Now we won't talk about things any
more. You've got to have something
lone for that cold on your lungs" She
'ose and stood looking down at him
With puckered eyebrows.
"Mommle would say you ought to
lave good sweat" she decided. "Got
ny ginger%
II dunno. I guess not" Ward NUT
cred confusedly.
swell, I'll go out and find some sage,
hen, and give you sage tea. That's
mother cure-all."
She did not spend all her time pick
ng sage twigs. A bush grew at the
orner Of the cabin within easy reach.
he went first down to the stable and
ed Blue inside and unsaddled him.
Ward was lying quiet when she went
4, except that he was waving her
andkerchief to and fro by the cor
ers to cool It. Billy Louise took It
rom him, wet itAgaln with cold water,
nd scolded him for getting his arms
rom under the covers. That, she said,
'as no nice way for a hookin'-cough I
ian to do. 1
Ward meekly submitted to being Gov
red to his eyes. Then he wriggled his {
hin free and demanded that she kiss I
Inn. Ward was fairly drunk with hap I
mess because she was there, in the &
lbin.