South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-12

Ready 10 have me tell how you
look 10 me now? p" said Harry Under
woods voice. softly. insidious in my
ear.
I started and moved a little away
from him, which brought me nearer
10 the fire. The next moment l was
wildly beating at little tongues OF
flame running up the fiimsy fabric
OF my dress.
HOW MADGE WAS CARED FOR
BY LILLIAN. AND WHAT
THE DOCTOR SAID.
Ny dress must have been OF un-
usually inhamable material, for
had but just seen the tiny tongues
Of flame running up my skirt and
had begun to beat at them when all
/ in a second my whole body seemed
surrounded by fire that scorched
and tortured me.
heard hoarse shouts, shrill
/ screams. felt rough hands seize me.
and wrap me in heavy sitting cloth,
which seemed TO press the flames
searingly down into my flesh. and
then for q little knew no more.
1t seemed only a moment that l
lost Inconsistencies. When 1 came
7 back to myself 1 was lying on the
couch with Lillian Underwoods deft.
tender fingers working over me.
From somewhere back of me
Dicky's voice sounded in a hoarse.
gasping way that terrified me.
For Gods sake. Lii is She
Lillian's voice, firm, reassuring.
answered:
NO, Dicky. no. she's pretty badly
burned I fear. but I am sure she
will De all right. Now, dear boy,
make her lie down. Mrs. Durkee
and l can take care OF Madge better
with you all out Of the way. Did
you get a doctor, Alfredo"
Coming. as soon as he can get
here" Alfred Durkee replied.
Good, Lillian returned. NOW
everybody except Mrs Durkee get
out OF here. Katie, bring a blanket,
some sheets, and one of Mrs. era
hams old nightdresses from her
room. shall have to cut the
gown"
Even through the terrible scorch-
ing heat which seemed TO envelop
my body. 1 realized that Lillian, as
always, Was dominating the situa-
ton I could hear the snip Of her
scissors as she cut away the pieces
Of burned cloth. and the low-toned
directions to Mrs Durkee, which
told me that Lillian had already Sc
cured our first aid kit and was Civ
ing me the treatment necessary to
alleviate my pain until the physician
should arrive.
am sorry TO confess it, but ! am
a coward where physical pain is
concerned. I am not one of those
women who can bear the torturing
pangs of any illness or accident
without an outcry. And, struggle as
1 might, 1 could not repress the
moan which rose to my lips.
Il know, child" Lillian's tender
hands held my writhing ones, her
plying eyes looked into mine; but
she turned from me the next mo-
ment in amazement. for Robert Cor
don. the mysterious man who had
loved my mother. appeared, as IL
from nowhere, at her side. twisting
his hands together and muttering
words which I could not believe to
be real, so strange and disjointed
were they. I felt that they must be
only fantasies of my confused
brain.
What MIR. Gordon Said.
"Mr Gordon. this will never do
Lillian said sternly Il thought I
had sent every one ont of the room
except Mrs Durkee."
"I know am going right away
again. But I had TO come this time.
Is she going TO die?"
Not if l can get a chance TO at
tend to her without everybody
bnthering me- I am sure she is not
seriously injured. Now, you must
go away"
Mr.. Gordon fed at once. And Lii
Ian and Mrs Durkee worked so
swiftly and skillfully that when the
physician, a kindly. elderly practi-
toner from Crest Haven arrived,
my pain had been assua ged.
He looked searchingly at me. criti-
cally. and then with professional adj
miration at the bandages and ques-
ttOneO Lillian AT some teHSNH ds W
the solutions she had used I'm treat
ing the burns and the extent or tho
wounds. When he had finished he
spoke with admiring emphasis.
''He Has Done IT."
you have left me but little 10
do Mrs. ~"
Underwood. supplied Lillian.
and I knew by her voice that she
was gratified at the physicians
praise
The first thing 10 do is 10 get
her upstairs into a bed. and ii is go
ing 10 be difficult to move her with
out causing her pain. She is not
very heavy" ne scanned me criti-
cally. rs there any unusual large.
strong man that you could get TO
carry her upstairs? I think one
man could carry her with less jolt
ing than if two attempted IT"
Lillian hesitated only a fraction
OF a second Then. STOPPING and
wrapping the blankets more closely
about me. she spoke 10 Katie.
Ask Mr. Underwood 20 come
here. please" she said. then go 10
Mrs. Grahams room at once and