The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1919-12-27

though in desperate effort to tear
itself away from the sentient seat of
pain.
as it as bad as that?" said Msungo.
Into his voice had already come the
calm Of a man accustomed to the face
of danger. I'm going to leave you
for moment" he continued. when
l come I'll take the pain away"
He stepped toward the barred door
and tried to open It. So intent was he
on getting to his room that he glanced
Mt the cord and saw only that 1t was
hndering him. He drew out his knife,
cut the bar free and hurried on. The
three minutes he was gone seemed an
eternity to Andrea. When he came
back he carried In one hand q medi-
cine case and In the other a hypO-
dermic syringe already filed. He set
the case down carefully, grasped and
barred Andrea's forearm. rubbed it with
alcohol and quickly gave her an in
lection. skip the next five minutes,
he said. "Fasten your mind to five
minutes from now" She only moaned
to show that she heard him.
But even before the five minutes
were up she could feel peace coming
to her body slowly and from far away.
as though 1t feared to pounce upon her
suddenly. When 1t settled upon her 1t
brought with II drowsy and ineffable
relief. Her eyes could move once more
In hat hn
white man as he made his rapid prep
aration for long siege. She heard
him call Bathtub and issue a string
of orders; then he brought chnil
close to the cot and sat down.
Andrea" he said quietly, were UP
against It. you and l. / can't say jus
what it u.s. 1t may be ptomaine, you
may have been sIckening for appen
dicitis, but I'm almost afraid 1t ISM
either of those. If It's fever. 1t Is per
nicious." Her eyes stared at him
hung upon his face.
He took one of her hands In his
"I'm breaking all the rules by fright
ening you" he went on, "and l do Il
purposely. l do 1t because I've learned
that you and l are brothers In one
thing. We're fighters. All the blood
In our veins flows one way--up hill to
battle. We don't know when to quit.
No d fever can show us where to
get Off It's going to be shoulder to
shoulder. and If you go back on me
I'll go back on God, for / trust you as
I've never trusted any living thing"
Her hands twisted In his and gripped
his fingers. you're great, White
Man." she said softly. you're like
that--a fighter-and it's sweet of you
to ring me In. No d fever can
show you--no D." She crumpled
up and cried.
"Good for you," said M'sungo
promptly, "cry now. II can't do you
bit Of harm and It will probably put
you to sleep. But when you wake, If
you want to cry then, please come up
crying mad and ready to set your teeth
In the throat of pain. For he'll have
you kiddie, he'll have you In a half
Nelson and I can't always stick him
with the needle"
1t was even as he said. All day and
all night the battle ragged, and there
were moments when Andrea forgot
that she was fighter. begged with
gasping, heartrending means for opium
and relief and. when he refused, her
tongue turned bitter. sharp as SER
pent's tooth. Each word she said was
chosen to wound. Herself the most
fair-minded Of women, she became
unjust, .ungenerous and cruel as dead
love.
He was giving her the treatment for
pernicious malaria. Together with
every other white man who has served
apprenticeship to Africa he had an
extraordinary store Of rough and ready
medical knowledge. To such men only
six drugs are essential, all others being
classed as furbelows of the pampered
sick room, and with these they work
rs with elementaIs. Kill or cure is
their motto. the saving idea being that
IL the patient can't stand punishment.
he would go under in any case.
On those rare occasions when An
,rea's spasms conquered his reluctance
TO use the needle he would watch her
until the opiate stilIed her and then
fall into his chair md to sleep. II am
here" he would say even as his lids
closed. 'Never forget. I'm here for
YOU. Touch me or speak to me and
I'll awake II was true. In spite of
his long vigil he kept deep slumber
ut a distance by an effort of the will
like a man who sets a clock in his
mind and trusts to his subconscious
self to call him at the hour marked.
The afternoon of the second day
found Andrea unusually subdued and
still, but he was not deceived. He
looked at her eyes and saw that their
pupils still appeared convex and CLASSY
like the eyes Of fish. They stared at
him with m Unreasonable gravity.
When her dry lips parted. he shrank
even before she spoke.
Il wish you would 90 away" she
said quietly. Il don't like to look at
you; don't wish you to look at me.
I will be glad II ! never see you again.
There Is no one in the world that l
wish ever to see Rgain. Please send me
that Niger Bathtub. If must have
some one I would rather have him."