Omaha daily bee., 1921-11-14
My Marriage
Problems
Alsis Csrrtsss's Nsv PAsss Of
Revelations Of q Wife"
How Madgs Summoned Help AZ
Last.

do not think | ever have faced
a quanday so puzzling as the one
which confronted me when I had
finished washing the blood from the
face of the wounded young state
trooper.
Even my limited knowledge told
me that a surgeons aid was inpera.
tive. had done all that any ono
save a professional could do. and
could do no good by remaining at
his side. .t
Yet | hated TO leave him alone.
and apparently dying in that lonely
place. Suppose he reGafned con-
seiousness, wished to send some mes
sage. or suppose some prowling
beast-harmics enough II he were
not helpless on the ground-my
brain ran the gamut OF the horrible
possibilities my absence might make
realities. 80.
Resides-I never have counted
myself more OF a coward than most
women-but | confess that l was
afraid. deathly so. 10 make tho
journey which ! realized I must take
TO the spot in the road where ! had
left the car-luckily ] had key TO it
in my pockct--and from thence to
some house where could get hold
OF a telephone and summon sur.
geon.
reflected anXiously that we had
come by so devious a way had no
idea which way to drive the car when
should reach il, and the hour wa,
nearly midnight. There would be
but little chance Of meeting another
motor car, even il safely accom-
plished the trip through the woods
path which | must take before reach
ing the place where we had left our
machine. III
Quick Thinking.
A glance at the white face Of the
unconscious boy on the ground
steeled my courage with the thought
OF the possible horrors which might
come to my own lad when he should
have outgrown my care and protec-
ton.
Yet so great was my terror of the
lurking menace between me and the
state road that for a minute hesi-
tated, waited, straining my cars to
hear If there were one sound to ir-
dicate the proximity OF the rest OF
the fishing party. Dicky, Bess Dean,
Pa Cosgrove and the twins-they
might have been translated to some
other sphere for any indication /
had Of their nearness.
If l only had revolver! II would
not only be protection against the
possible return of the desperate
who had so lately crawled away into
the woods, but a shot would also be
a signal to Pa Cosgrove and the rest.
! had not dared to scream for fear
the man who had threatened me
might return. But pistol shot
was different. 1t would alarm him
as much as it would my friends.
But | had no revolver, and with
clinching of my teeth started to
crawl up the path that led to the
shelter of the woods, where would
dare to stand upright. And then
sudden thought sent me back again
to the wounded troopers side. ! re-
moved gently but rapidly the blanket
and coat I had wrapped around him,
scanned his belt for the heavy SER
vice revolver with which ! knew
officers like him were equipped. 1t
was not there, but even as a sob OF
tore. from my throat,
| noticed a protuberance in his
blouse, and, tearing it open, took out
the gun, wrapped in a heavy cloth,
Right Here"
No time to wonder now how it
had come there. or why it had been
overlooked by the man who struck
him down. l siezed it. broke it, saw
that it was fully loaded, and, with
a little wave Of tl,ankfu1ness for the
few lessons in the use OF firearms
had been given, l pointed the heavy
gun into the air and fired twice.
Then trembling with nervous fear,
| couchcd by the wounded trooper,
my face toward the direction in
which his assalant had crawlkd
away, my nerves quvering for the
first sound which should indicate
that my shots had been heard.
For a second or two there was but
the echo of shots, crashing away
into the mountains, and then ]
heard faint: "Hc-ll-o9'
1t was repeated at intervals Of half
4 minute. and soon heard the snap
ping Of sticks. then the sound Of run
ring footsteps, and the excited voices
Of Pa Cosgrove and Fred.
MRS. Graham! Ted! Mrs. Gra-
nam! .Tedr' they were calling tensely,
,xcitedly, and I realized that they
Ted to be with me, and
guessed that they would never have
so far away If they had
not counted upon his protecting care
Of me. =
"Here I am Oh, please come
1uicklyw At the nearness OF help
he fictitious bravery and strength
lad felt began to ooze out OF my
Fright herer' The running foot
teps rounded the bend in the shore,
md Pa Cosgrove and Fred rushed
ID to me, stopped in amazement at
he sight of the wounded trooper,
Good God! Mrs. Graham! the
lder man gaspcd. What is it?
IRE you ilurt?"
mo. Pm all right" l said, family.
ighting to keep my coniposure and
ny strength "But if you'll just
axe this gun
| held the thing out gingerfy, for Z
ate the sight or touch Of a. revolver.
ven though l can use one in an
Pa Cosgrove took it., and then
melt down by the wounded trooper
'hile I told him as quickly as possi-
lie what had happened As talked
{ examined with practiced fingers
=. I T., -,.x