Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-02-04
along the blued steel close to the vol

"'ohS tile Dlueu steel close 10 lhe Nut
canite butt.
When Ricardo glanced at Pachec0
after his scrutiny Of the pistol and
holster, the doctors dark eyes were
regarding him mirthfully.
II have been unnecessarily alarmed,
my general" said Pacheco. Cur
dear friend has been most fortunate
In his choice Of wounds"
Hes lucky Yankee; that's what
he Is my dear Pacheco. A lucky Yam.
keel" Ricardo leaned over and ex-
amined the bayonet-wound In Web
sters 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 10
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
they found n little clothed blood from
small split In the scalp; also they
found lump Of generous proportions.
Pacheco laughed briefly but con-
tentedly.
"Then he Is not even seriously in
jured?" Ricardo interrupted that
laugh
II would die Of fright II I had to
fight this fine fellow 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 unconsclous-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 lfe-seeing which Pacheco
decided to take prompt advantage Of
his unconsciousness and probe the
wounds In his arm and shoulder for
the fragments of clothing which the
bullets must have carried into them.
After ten minutes of probing Pachec0
announced that he was through and
ready TO bandage; whereupon John
Stuart Webster said family but very
distinctly, in English:
I'm awfully glad you are, Doc.
1t hurt like III! Did you manage
to get bite on that fishing trip"
"Jack Webster, you scoundrel"
Ricardo yelled joyously, and he chook
the patient with entire disregard Of
the latter's wounds "Oh, man, I'm
glad you're not dead"
"Your sentiments appeal to me
strongly, my friend. Tm-too-tired
to look-at you. Who the devil-are
you?"
Fell a silence. while Webster pre-
pared for another speech. where
am II"
"In the palace. We won pulled
up, and that forty-thousand dollar bet
Of yours is safe. I'll cash the ticket
for you tomorrow morning."
"D--n the forty thousand. Where's
my Croppy Boy?"
"Your what?"
"My wild Irish backthorn, Don
Juan Cafetero."
u hope old man, he has ere now
mat which all brave Irishmen and
true deserve-a harp with crown.
In life the Irish have the harp with
'ut the crown, you know"
How did he die" Webster whis-
)ered.
"He died hard, with the holes In
ront-and he died for you"
Two big tears trickled slowly
through Webster's closed lids and roll
ID across his pale cheek. Poor, lost,
onesome, misunderstood wreck he
presently, "he was an ex-
remist In all things. He used to sing
hose wonderfully poetic ballads of his
'eople-I remember one that began:
Green were the fields where my fore
athers dwelt.' ! think his heart was
n kerry-so We'll send him there
les my dead, Ricardo; care for his
'ody, because Fm-going to plant
Don Juan with the--shamrocks. They
idnt understand him here. He was
n exile--so I'm going to send him
ome."
ITO pE CoNTJNIrrnN