The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-08-26
UnweIcome Visitors.

not even vince. The sting or IL had
become TO him a necessity. the CRATE
full means to an end that must be ac-
complished. Without tonight there
could be no tomorrow. She saturated
more of the cotton, laid 1T on the cash
and bandaged it there, drew the
blouse back into place, smoothed the
pillow under his head and went to the
kitchen.
He heard the rattle of the stove, and
knew that she was preparing him
something TO eat. It moved him, for
he knew how pitiful little that kitchen
held. ana yet she was going to share
| it with him-the best of it-share it
with a smile. and the grace of prin-
cess. He swore to himself that there
should be food in that kitchen tomor-
row.
She was back In a surprisingly short
| time.1 bearing a tray Of such food as
she Mad been able to prepare hastily
some broth, crisp toast, poached egg,
! and black coffee.
He was sound asleep.
She tiptoed back to the kitchen, set
the tray on the stove hearth where it
would keep warm, re-entered the
room, drew chair up beside the sofa
and kept the buzzing flies away from
his face while he slept
Noon came and passed. Several
times she went to the kitchen to mend
the fire and keep the tray warm;
Many time she slipped from window
to window, and listened at the doors
for sound of the hunters that some
where combed the woods. The shadows
turned eatward and still the man slept.
The day had worn away to mid after
noon when he tossed restly and flung
his right arm above his head. The
movement seemed to provoke the hurt.
He came awake,-with the quick in
tuition Of the woodsman knew he had
slept long. His eyes found the grill.
and turned away, half shamed.
Il didn't mean to go to sleep" he
apologized.
The very thing you needed" was
her answer. I'm glad you did,"
He started to rise. She sprang up
and laid her hand on his shoulder.
But | mustn't impose on you like
this, he4protested.
Didn't you say little bit ago that
I was the .doctor?
That dry smile that always started
in his eyes first, crawled out across
his face
Then command you to stay right
where you are" she answered to the
slow smile, as she hurried out to the
kitchen and carried in the tray.
The submission of the PearIhunter
was absolute. ! 1t would have been
amusing had he not taken it so seri-
ously. But, from his viewpoint, he
had reason to be serious. He stood
10 t0 ha Foo e.
very awkward proposition-three of
them, in fact: first, to eat off a tray;
second, to eat on his back; third, to
eat before a girl. He had tackled
many tough proposition in his time.
but never one like these. 1t would
be hard to say which one of the three
stumped him worst. but it's a safe bet
that, could he have seen his way
through the third he could have man
aged to get By with the other two.
But the girl-it is quite beyond un-
Outstanding how nature contrives to
make them so wonderful-met all
three propositions as if they didn't
really exist. They didn't, after the
first minute or two. She set the tray
down beside her work basket and the
vase of roses on the small table over
by the window and carried table, tray
and all to the side of the couch. That
disposed of the first proposition. Then
she put her arms under his head and
eased his shoulder while he raised and
swung his feet around off the couch
That finished the second proposition.
The third and most serious was en-
tirely lost sight of, for just at that
point the patient rose in open rebel
lion against the doctor-he absolutely
refused to eat unless the doctor ate
with him. 1t was most surprising for
such meek patient as he had been to
take such a stand. 1t quite aston .sned
the patient himself. But to his great
relief, the doctor did not seem Offend
ed in the least. She simply made
some more toast, poached another egg,
poured another cup of black coffee:
and the lunch was ready for Two in
stead of one.
She sat down beside him on the
couch, fixed his arm easy in the sling
put sugar in the black coffee, and, even
buttered his toast The Pearlhunter
had never lived in such luxury II
was dream-like some of the stories
of fairies and enchanted palaces his
mother used to tell years ago in the
long winter evenings on the house
| boat. He half feared that he might
not really be awake; that. after all, it
might turn out to be some trick, like
that of the gorge that closed.
The girl wondered why he turned
and looked at her. She misread the
look, thinking it was his side that set
him suddenly so serious.
Does it hurt so awfut?'
She laid her fingers lightly upon the
bandages. He reached his right arm
across and laid his hand on hers,
1T is you. amt it2 And 1 am here2s
She was half alarmed She thought
the fever was upon him. And yet his
eyes were calm and steady; his face
not flushed.