The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-05-05

me TO keep everybody out until the
doctors have finished looking him
over. If ! was you, I'd wait in that
room across the hall; thea you can
get the first news when the doctors
come out"
Mother jerks accepted his advice
and stcered her charge into the room
ihdicated. As they waited, Ricardo
Ruey stood a~nXiously beside the table
on which John Stuart Webster's big,
limp body reposed, while Doctor Pach-
eco, assisted by n Sobrantean CON
frcre, went deity over him with sur
rical scissors and cut the bl~oOd-soaked
clothing from his body.
"He breathes very gently" the rebel
leader said, presently. as there any
hopeT"
The little doctor shrugged. 81 fear
not. That bayOnet-thrust in the left
side missed his heart but not his
lung"
But apparently he hasn't bled much
from that wound"
"The h~emOrrhage Is probably In
ternal. Even If that congestion Of
blood In the lungs does not prove fatal
very shortly, he cannot, In his weak
ened state, survive the traumatic
fever from all these wounds. 1t Is
bound-hello, how our poor friend still
lives with the bayOnet broken off In
his body-for here Is steel-hah! Not
q bayonet, but a pistol"
He unbuttoned the wounded mans
coat and found a strap running dag
onally up across his breast and over
the right shoulder, connecting with
a holster under the left arm. The
doctor unbuckled this strap and re-
moved the holster, which contained
Webster's spare gun; Ricardo, glanc-
ing disinterestedly at the sheathed
weapon, noted q small, new, triangu-
lar hole In the leather holster. He
picked 1t up, withdrew the pistol, and
found a deep scratch, recently made,
along the blued steel close to the vul-
canite butt.
When Ricardo glanced at Pacheco
after his scrutiny Of the pistol and
holster, the doctors dark eyes were
regarding him mirthfully.
81 have been unnecessarily alarmed,
my general" said Pacheco. "Our
dear friend has been most fortunate
in his choice of Wounds
"He's a lucky Yankee; that's what
he IS, my dear Pacheco. A lucky Yam
keel" Ricardo leaned ove and ex-
amined the bayonet-wound in Web
ster's left side. "He took the point
Of the steel on his pistol he happened
to be wearing under his left ARM
he went on to explain. THAT turned
the bayonet and 1t slid along his ribs,
making a superficial flesh-wound."
Pacheco nodded. "And this bullet
merely burned the top of his right
shoulder, while another passed
through his biceps without touching
the bone. His most severe wound Is
this jab in the hip"
They stripped every stitch OF cloth
Ing from Webster and went over him
carefully. At the back Of his head
IItN 1bUllu Il ilttlt Nlotltu o'oNN "
a small split In the scalp; also they
found a lump Of generous proportions
Pacheco laughed briefly but con-
tentedly.
"Then he is not eve seriously in
jured?' Ricardo interrupted that
laugh.
81 would die Of fright II I had to
fight this fine fellow a month from
today" the little doctor chirped. "The
man is in superb physical condition ;
1t Is the bump on the head that rem
ders him unconscious-not loss OF
blood"
AS II to confirm this expert testi-
mOny Webster at that moment breath
ed long and deeply, screwed up his
face and shook his head very slightly.
Thereafter for several minutes he
gave no further evidence Of an active
interest In life-seeing which PachecO
decided to take prompt advantage OF
his Inconsistencies and probe the
wounds in his arm and shoulder fol-
the fragments of clothing which the
bullets must have carried into them
After ten minutes Of probing PachecC
announced that he was through and
ready to bandage; whereupon John
Stuart Webster said family but very
distinctly, In English:
SIN awfully glad you are, Doc
1t hurt like h! Did you manage
to get n bite on that fishing trip?"
slack Webster, you s%coundrell 7
Ricardo yelled joyously, and he shooi
the patient with entire disregard o.
the latter's wounds. "Oh. man, Tn
glad you're not dead"
"Your sentiments appeal to mt
strongly, my friend. Tm-too-tiret
to look-at you. Who the devil-ar'
your"
Fell a silence, while Webster pre-
pared for another speech. "Wher'
am IY
"In the palace. We won pulled
up. and that forty-thousand dollar be
Of yours is safe. I'll cash the tickle
for you tomorrow morning"
Oh the forty thousand. Where
my Croppy Boyf"
"Your whatf"