The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-02-01


Buck Olney.
When she came back Wards eyes
were wild again, and he started up
In bed and glared at her. Billy Lou
Use laughed at him and told him to lie
down like nice buckarOo, and Ward,
recalled TO himself by her voice,
obeyed. She got the washbasin and
a towel and prepared to bathe his
head He wanted drink. And when
she held cup to his lips and saw how
greedily he drank, little sob broke
unexpectedly from her lips. She
gritted her teeth after 1t and forced
laugh.
you're sure hard drinker," she
bantered 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
broken leg for about six weeks. And
when got gay and thought / could
handle myself again, put myself out
of business for a while, and caught
this cold before came to and crawled
back into bed. Pm-sure glad you
showed up, old girl. / was-getting up
against it for fair" He coughed.
Looks like It," Billy Louise held
herself rlgidly back from any emo
tional expression. She could not af-
ford to "go to pieces" now. She tried
to think just what a trained nurse
would do, in such case Her hospl-
tai experience would be OF some use
here, she told herself. She remem-
bered reading somewhere that no ex-
pcrience is valueless, If 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 it kills
you"
Ward grinned approximately. Sick
as he was. he realized the gameness
of Billy Louise; what he failed to real
ize was the gameness Of himself. I'm
a pretty worthless specimen right
nOw," he said apologetically. "But I'm
yours to command, Bill-the-Conk.
You're the doctor"
"Nope, I'm the cook, right now. I've
got hunch. How would you like
cup of tea, patient?"
I'D rather have coffee-Doctor Will
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
it very strong and put in lots of
cream Wen take a chance, bucka-
roo!"
"How much sugar, patientY Billy
Louise turned toward him 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 n patient. Patients always want
what they mustn't have"
"Sure-get 1t, too Ward spoke be-
tween long, satisfying gulps. 'How's
your other patient, Wilhelmina? How's
"Oh, Ward She's dead-mommie's
deadw 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 mutterings
warned her that she must pull herself
together.
"You be s-still," she commanded |
brokenly, fighting for her former safe
I'm all right. Pity
If you've got to pity some
body. I-can stand-my trouble. 1 !
haven't got any broken leg and
hookin cough" She managed a laugh |
then and took Wards hand from her
hair and laid it down on the blankets. |
'NoW we won't talk about things any
more. You've got to have something |
done for that cold on your lungs" She
rose and stood looking down at him
with puckered eyebrows.
"Mommie would say you ought to
have a good sweat" she decided. Got
my ginger?
81 dunno. l 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
corner of the cabin within easy reach.
She went first down to the stable and
ed Blue inside and unsaddled him.
Ward was lying quiet when she went
n, except that he was waving her
to and fro by the cor
1g. It is there as of yore, better un-
erStood and no less strengthening
r palatable.
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