The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1920-03-18
DOUBLE HERO
o1
BY GENEVIEVE ULMAR

]
With a Shrin. scream Mrs. Alice
Drew ran to the open doorway of her
little home. The echoing cry brought
the widows unmarried sister, Della
Marvin. speedily to her side with the
alarmed query:
"What is it?"
TINA" gasped Mrs. Drew. "She
is dying-dead"
"She is neither" spoke a reasSuring
voice and then, peering past her sis
ter, Della noted young man, drip
ping and haggard, a dark crimson
stain across his forehead, one arm ap-
parentIy helpless. He bore in the
other the idol of the household, Tina,
with dark hair and closed eyes. She
seemed lifeless.
"Quick! Attend to her! She fell
from the bridge. / jumped In and
struck the abutment. but managed to
| get her ashore. Is she yours? IS this
her home? Revive her, before 1t is
| too latew
As the mother snatched the child
/ from his arms, the stranger stumbled
across the threshold, wavered towards
couch and fell across II. There he
/ lay, prone and apparently senseless.
The little one revived inside a few
minutes and its mother sObbing, with
fright and then JOY, carried her about
the room. Della Sllded over to the
reScuer and stood palpitatingly gazing
down at him.
He was handsome, vigorous young
man and intelligence and refinement
showed in his colOrleSS face. Della
was divided between pity and graft
tude.
"Give me the little one" she spoke
10 her sister. You have been a nurse
and must attend to her brave rescuer.
Oh, Alice! he looks like one dead.
Had we not better send for the doctor
at OnCe?" But TO this Alice disSented.
She had known skilled service in
hospital and her experiences enabled
her to correctly diagnose the case.
"YOu must help me get the young
man into the spare bedroom, Della"
she said. 81 do not think he is. seri-
ously injured, but the cut on his head
needs immediate attention"
Della put down Tina and with her
sisters aid removed the soggy coat
and vest Of their patient. There was
cOnspicuOusness about them and
the cap that did not accord with his
general appearance. Garment and
headgear were of loud plaid pat
tern, suggesting the Overdressed man
of style, sportily inclined. Mrs. Drew
bathed the wound of the stranger
1--WE must have our neighbOr, Mr..
Morse, get the young man to bed"
said Mrs. Drew. ASK him to step
over, will you, Della?" And that good
old man was summoned, and Mrs
Drew expressed a sigh Of satisfaction
when at last the patient was resting
comfortably, although he had not yet
opened his eyes and ever and anon
gave utterance to incOherent wander
ings like a person in the delirium Of
fever.
That evening a young man Of the
village, Varney Driscoll, called at the
Drew home. OF late he had called
regularly once week and had been
Della's escort to number of town
social functions. Della felt his COM
partnership uncongenial, but accepted
his attentions, not wishing to offend
him. On this particular occasion she
excused herself through her sister,
who briefly alluded to the adventure
Of little Tina and the fact that they
wished to keep the house quiet for
her brave rescuer. The medicine chest
came into helpful play that night and
by morning the patient seemed to have
passed the crisis.
He gave his name as Wallace
Barnes, but told little else. The next
day he was weak and lethargic, and
Mrs. Drew told him he had better re-
main quiet for day or two, to which
instructions the presence Of Della
seemed to make him heed. 1t was the
following day that Della went to the
door to be confronted by Driscoll and
the village marshal.
"YOu have q guest here we have
come after" said the latter.
"Yes, the owner Of those clothes /
saw hanging on the line" supplement-
ed Driscoll. "They gave me my cue.
According to a circular Offering a re-
ward of one hundred dollars they be-
long to man the police are looking
for, wanted for embezzlement."
"Let us pass" ordered the marshal,
as Della shrank back in bewilderment,
and he forced his way past her. Ron
aid Purcell, arrest you in the name
Of the lawi"
"But l don't happen to be Ronald
Purcell" calmly announced the young
man.
"Your clothes answer the descrip-
ton sent out by the police" contend
ed the official.
Every likely. as wore them pur-
posely to throw the police off the trail
of my dearest friend, Purcell, who is
by this time safe in hiding until we
can disprove the false charges against
him. My name is Wallace Barnes, as
you can readily ascertain IL you wish
to take the trouble"