Connecticut western news., 1919-09-25
'He's strong," she said. "But he's

jured man on the stretcher. "I guess you'll have to take the feet" he said. The words were for the girl although he did not look at her. "I could hustle him myself but it might hurt 'im."
 But the injured man interrupted. "I beg your pardon" he said, "that did not introduce my daughter. I am Doctor Hardy; this is my daughter Irene, Mr."
 'They don't call me mister" said the boy. "Misters is scarce in these woods. My name is Elden-Dave Elden."
 The girl came up with extended hand. He took it shyly, but it made him curiously bold.
 'Im glad to meet you, Mir. Elden," she said.
 "Pm glad to meet you, too," he an- swered. Misses is scarcer than mis- ters in this neck O the woods"
 Carefully they lifted the injured man into the wagon, and Dave drove to the ranch building with an un- wonted caution that must have caused strange misgivings in the hearts of his team.
 Tt ain't much of a place." he said, as they pulled up at the door. Il guess you can see that for yourself" he added, with a grin. You see there's just dad and me, and he's soused most of the time, and handle a lasso better'n a scrubbin' brush" He was already losing his shyness. 'Now you take the feet again. Steady Look out for that barrel hoop. This way now"
 He led into the old ranch house, kicking the door wider open with his heel as he passed. A partition from east to west divided the house, and another partition from north to south divided the northern half. In the northeast room they set the stretcher on the floor.
 "Now," said the boy, "Tm gOin' for the doctor. It's forty miles to town, and it'll likely be mornin' before I'm back, but I'll sure burn the trail. There's grub in the house, and you won't starve-that is if you can cook '" (This was evidently for Irene. There was a note in it that suggested the girl might have her limitations.) Dig into anythin' in sight. And I hope your fathers leg won't hurt very much"
 "Oh, I'll stand it," said Doctor Hardy with some cheerfulness. "We medical men become accustomed to suffering-in other people. You are very kind. My daughter may remain i.. this room, I suppose? There is no one else?"
 "No one but the old man. he an swered. "He's asleep in the next room, safe till mornin'. I'll be back by that time. That's my bed" indi. eating a corner. Make yourselves at home" He lounged through the door, and they heard his spurs clanking across the hard earth.
 The girls first thought was for her father. She removed his boot and stocking, and, under his direction, slit the leg of his trousers above the in- jury. It vas bleeding little, In the large room of the house she found a pail of water, and she bathed the wound, wiping it with her handker. chief and mingling tear or two with the warm blood that dripped from it.
 "You're good stuff," her father said, pressing the fingers of her unoccupied hand. "Now if you could find a clean cloth to bandage it."
 She looked about the place some what hopelessly. Her father read her perplexity.
 Tt seems as though you would be in charge here for while, Reenie," he said, "sO you will save time by getting acquainted at once with you equipment. Look the house over and see what you have to work with"
 "Well, I can commence here," she answered.. This is Dave's room. I suppose I should say MT. Elden's, but-what was it he said about mis- tering'? It would be splendid if it were cleaned up," she continued, with kindling enthusiasm. "These bare logs, bare floors. bare rafters-we've got back to essentials, anyway. And that's his bed" She surveyed a framework of spruce poles, on which lay an old straw mattress and some very gray blankets. q suppose he is very tired when he goes to bed" she said, drOlIy, as though that could be the only explanation of sleep amid such surroundings.
 In the south end of the larger room stood a fireplace, crudely made of slabs of native rock. The fires of ! many winters had crumbled the rock, so that it had fallen in in places and was no longer employed for its origi- nal purpose. A very rusty and greasy stove now occupied the space fmme- diately ill front of the fireplace, the stovepipe leading into the ample but totterins chimney. Near the stove was bench supporting a tin wash basin, wooden pail and certain frag-