The Raymer enterprise., 1919-06-12
YklNi snAPIER xxI-cen.lnu.d.


brought you back when you were all
but gone. saved you after the others
had gwen you up, and now you are
niue to do with as please. You be-
long to me and / sha'n't consult you."
She turned. for a figure had dark
ened the door; II was one Of her Eng
lish-speAking convalescents who was
acting as sort Of orderly. glf
Il l~Senortta." the man said. with a
. fash OF white teeth. I'VE have another
sick man, and you'd never guess who.
F, II Is that American, 81 Demonlo-"
"Is be sick or woundedr" Esteban
inquired.
.shot BY Spanish bullet he asked
at once FOR our senorita."
'Of course I'll come In an Instant"
When the messenger had gone Norine
bent and pressed her lips to Esteban'A
"Remember. you're mine to do with -
! please" shs said; then she fled down
TIA grassy street rrv ...,. 5t,
Branch was waiting at Norine's
quarters. Z soiled figure Of detection.
His left arm lAy ID 4 sing across his
breast. rHe'looked up 1t her approach,
fbut uhe rScarcsfy recognised him. 70
greatly changed vas N o a
"Hello, Norinsr hs cried swell.
they, got ms.. ,i,o 5g daIaItL
Nortns paused In establishment.
why, Lesliei I was % frightened I
But-you can't be badly hurt"
bad enough 30 that Lopez sent me
in. A fellow gets hyblown II he stays
In the neld. % I beat It"
10 HAS your arm been dressedr'
lea mo. I wouldn't let these rough and.
tumble doctors touch It They'd ampu-
tats At the shoulder for q hangnail. I
don't trust EN-"
'Then I'll look at It"
ct doesn't hurt, really" he declared.
IT'S only a scratch"
Then behave yourself" Norine
forced the patient Int a chair and
withdrew his arm from the sling.
Then. despite his weak resistance. she
deftly removed the bandage. From
his expression she felt sure that she
must be hurting him. but when the
injury was exposed she looked up In
wonderment.
"LeslieI" she exclaimed. "what In
the werld--"
Branch struggled with himself. he
swallowed hard. then said: "You can
see now why didn't 60 to a doctor;
did it-shot myself. You won't give
me awayr
Norine seated herself weakly; she
stared In bewilderment at the unhappy
speaker. "Afraidf You, Fl Demonioi
Why. you aren't afraid Of anythingI"
"Sayl You don't believe all that
stuff. do your I'm afraid Of my shadow
and always have been. I'm not brave
and never was. They told me was
going to die and It scared me 30 that
tried to end things quickly. I
couldn't bear to die slowly, to know
that ! was dying by inches. But. Lord |
It scared me even worse to 60 into
battle. I was blind with fright all the
time and never got over II. Why,
the sight Of a gun gives me chill. and
Jump every time one goes of. Lord |!
how I've suffered Invent crazy at our
nrst engagement-craxy with fear.
didn't know where was, or what hap
pened, or anything. Afterward, when
they hailed me as q hero. thought
they were kidding. that everybody
must know how frightened I was.
After a time saw that I'd fooled them.
and that shamed me. Then-I had to
keep It up or become ridiculous. But
II nearly killed me-"
II 20 happened that the president
and well-nigh the entire provisional
cabinet were In Cubitas. Leslie and
Norine went directly to the former. He
promptly sent for the minister of Jus
tice, who In turn gallantly put himself
ut Norine's disposal. In no time the
news had spread and there was sub.
dued excitement throughout the camp.
Norine was between tears and laughter
when she ran painting Into Estebans
cabin. leaving Branch to walt outside.
At sight Of her Esteban uttered a
low cry Of happiness. "Dearesti I've
been lying In stupor Of delight. The
world has become bright. l hear peo-
pie laughing. What changeI"
Tive arranged everything The pres
ident and his cabinet are coming to
witness the ceremony"
Esteban poised upon his elbow. his
face was study. "what have You ar
rangedT he managed to inquire.
"Sh-hr Norine laid a finger upon
his lips. ~The guest Of the republic is
10 be married today"
sNorinel Oh. my dear" quavered
the sick man. Il can't let you do this
mad thing. Thinki I'm ready for the
grave"
This win make you well. We're 90
Ing away when the very next expedl.
don arrfves.s
4 haven't the strength to refuse"
xstsban murmured. "And ~ how
can ] leave Cubai What right have
= accept happiness and leave Rosa"
This was Z subject which Norine
dreaded, . question TO which che knew
- answer. Shs was not In . mood to
discuss Il. and made no attempt to DO