The Ordway new era., 1921-04-08

broken Il. With that encouraging fac'
established, and the sting OF the
wound much allayed, the mind OF tne
man began reaching forward to the
night; the all-important night-wnen
a certain suave Individual In frocA
coat would come to feed certain
horse. he said no word of this TO the
girl already binding the bandages
around the clean-washed wound She
would have secuted the bare sugSes-
ton of the things he was planning 10
do the moment the dark was sufficient
ly dense to hide him.
She drew what was left OF his tat
tered shirt and blouse over the pan
dage at last. laid his wounded arm
across his breast and slung 1t there py
a strip of cloth passed up around MS
neck. and helped him to his feet.
1t shamed him that he was abso-
lutely compelled to cling fast to her'
TO lean heavy upon her, or go back 10
the rock. His face was far too white
to show the modification he felt. but
she saw 1t in his eyes. Lifting his
well arm and laying 1t across her
shoulders, she caught her ieft arm
about his blouse waist and steadied
him.
The wild Rose seemed to have tax
en- toll of every bit of sunshine that
ever struck the Flatwoods. That was
the distinguishing feature of her per-
sonality. That and her good. sound
sense. Her face was beaming full OF
both right now-the sunshine and the
sense. She was smiling up at him, he
knew. He was staring away above her
head-but he knew. The smile grad
ually drew his eyes down out of the
trees. He could no more help 1t than
he could help leaning upon her. She
laughed-a heartening little laugh
like the happy water curling against
the ledge. He laughed back. He
couldn't help it. The restraint was
broken; the smart gone.
He glanced down at the ledge before
leaving to see that no tell-tale blood
spots or bits of cloth were left. A
needless precautlon-her woodcraft
was as fine as his own.
How she managed to lead him, half
carry him, out of the rocky and brok-
en- gulches of Fox Den and down the
rough banks of Wolf Run to the cabin
of the three gables she never knew.
Neither did he. 1t always remained a
matter of wonder to him. Who does
know the source of power-that mys-
terious augmentation of strength-that
comes to a woman in crisis?
She led him into the house and to
the sofa in the main room; the queer
little leather-covered bed that had
stirred his curiosity the afternoon OF
his first visit two days before.
The old man was not in the room.
She must have caught his eyes search.
ing for him.
Daddy" she answered to the eyes.
HE often spends hours away. There'll
be little pass In the woods today that
he won't see. though nobody will see
him. Poor Daddy"
"WeIl send for that surgeon tomor
row." he said.
She was back in moment, carrying
a pan of water, fresh bandages. and 9
formidable-looking brown bottle-cam
phor, the universal first aid in the
F'latwoods. THE blood-soaked ban
dages were deity removed and the
wound re-washed. She picked up the
brown bottle.
II am sorry to hurt you" she said
But it will keep the fever down."
You're the DOCTOR" was his slow
answer.
She uncorked the bottle and applied
some of its contents to the wound will
a bit of cotton. Hurt 1t hurt so tina
he laughed.
Anything to get ready for tonight,
he grinned, under the bite of the pow
erful antiseptic.
Tonight" she repeated blankly
"Why, you mustn't think
81 must, though. Big things depen,
on tonight" She saw sternnes
| gather in his eyes. "He'll think w,
left the Flatwoods," he muttered on
more to himself than to her. 1T
what he's been waiting for. His game
tonight and"
The girl saw the fingers of his righ
hand clench against his palm-doubt
less quite unconsciously-while tn
knotted ridges of his great forearm
punched and swelled; but the full
meaning of the muttered words haI
| PLY missed her.
CTo BE CONTINUEDJ