Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-27

,Peter-I'm here"
He-he was with me-"
He's asking for Shad," she re-
peated to Briefly, unaware that her
cousin, like his biblical namesake, had
come scatheless through the fiery fur
mace. But some one heard the aues-
tion and replied:
'Shad's here, miss. He's all right
,o,,S,h, oh" sesped Peter. "And there's
No, no-we must go. Your
But he insisted. Tim albright.
Something else-Beth-some one must
get - paper - blue envelope - Hawk
his words ended in a gasp and he
sank back in her arms.
Beth was frightened at the sudden
collapse and the look in his face, but
she knew that his injunction was i'm
portant: And. keeping her courage.
she called Shad Wells to the side Of
the car and gave quick direction. There
S was note OF appeal in her voice and
der In the direction she indicated.
IF he amt burned to a crisp by
now
Go, Shad please And IL you can
get to him bring the papers in his pocket
He met her gaze and smiled.
! reckon I'll get to him If anybody
oh, thanks-Shad-tha she
muttered,, as the lumberman turned,
tollowed by one OF the others, and ST.
lehtly moved toward the flames.
AND IN a moment the car was on
its way to Black Rock, Briefly driving
carefully over the rough road. That
was n terrible ride for Beth. She sup-
ported the wounded man against her
shoulder her gaze on his pallid face.
Brierly drove TO Black Rock House
lnstinctiyely. Here were beds. serv-
ants and the telephone. He sounded
MS horn as they came up the driveway
and an excited group came out upon
the porch. But Beth saw only Nc
"Mr. Nichols has been shot Mr.. Nc.
iulre-he's dangerously hurt" she
appealed; Hes got to have a doctor
",,Who-,who shot him."
Hawk Kennedy"
And he-Hawk-?"
Hes dead, I think"
She heard McGuire's sudden gasp and
saw Aunt 1illio come running.
He's got to be put to bed-Aunt
Tillie," she pleaded
of course" said Mcclure, finding
his voice suddenly. "of course-at once
The blue room. Mrs. Bergen. Well
carry him up. Send Stryker."
And Aunt Tillie ran indoors.
Peter was still quite unconscious. Int
! between them they managed to get him
! upstairs.
McGuirc seemed now galvanized into
activity, and while the others cut
i'eter coat away and found the wound
ne got Hammonton and n doctor on the
phone. 1t was twelve miles away. but
he promised to be at Black Rock House
inside half an hour.
Twenty minutes and you won't re-
gret it. Drive like hell. It's a matter
of life or DEATH"
Meanwhile, Aunt Tillic. with anxious
Glances at Beth. had brought absorbent
cotton, clean linen. a basin of water
and sponge, and Stryker and Briefly
washed the wound. while Mcclure
lushed for his hottie and managed to
force some whisky and water between
ieter's teeth. The bullet they found
had gone through the body and had
come out at the back. shattering the
shoulderblade. But the hemorrhaye
lad almost ceased and the wounded
mans heart was still beating fnintly.
ITS the blood he's lost" muttered
Briefly sagcly
He'll come around all right You
can't kill man as game as that"
Beth clung TO the arms of the chair
IN which they had placed her. "You
think-hp-he'll livc?"
"Sure he will. I've seen 'em wors n
She sank back into her chair. cx-
hnustcd. She had never tainted in her
life and she wasn't going to begin. But
Tow that all that they could do had
been done for Peter. they turned their
attention to Beth. She had not known
how much she needed It. Her hair was
singed. her wrists were raw and bleed.
ing, and her arms. half naked were red
and blistered. Her dress. soaked with
mud and water, was partly torn or
burned away.
"She must be put to bed here. Mrs.
Bergen said Mcclure. "She'l need
the doctor too"
Beth protested and would not leave
the room until tine doctor came. But
Mcclure. who secondhand somewhat
JUSllN--lO HUNt compete IHlIn III rnc
efficacy Of his own remedy. gave her
some Of the whisky ard water to drink, |
while Aunt TilIic washed her face and
rubbed vaSelinc upon her arms, grooming
over Icr all the while in the comfort
ing way Of women Of her KIND to the |
end that Beth felt the pain of her body |
lessen.
1t was not until tne doctor arrived |
with n businesslile air and made his |
pronouncing Peters con-
ditiOn serious, but not necessarily fatal, |
that the tension At Beth's heart re-
laXcd.
"He-hc'n get well, doctor?" she
asked timidly.
II think So" he said with smile.
"but we've got to have absolute quiet |
now. I'd like some one here to help
me-
"If you'd only let mc---'
But she read refusal in his eyes as h.
looked at her critically, and saw him
choose Stryker.
"You're 10 be put to bed at once"
be said dryly. "Nou'll need attention.
too. I'm thinking.
And so beth, with McGuire's arm
and Aunt TITLES arm around |
I cr, was led to the room adjoining
the pink room of Miss Peggy Mcclure.
McGuire closed the door and questioned |
her eagerly.