Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-02-05

sash just heloW the afmpit. II had
greed a rib, but seemingly had not
broken it. With that encouraging one.
established and the sting OF The
wound much allayed, the mind of the
man began reaching forward to the
night; the all-inIportant night-when
certain Suave individual in a fro5k
coat would come TO feed a certain
I 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 sugges-
ton Of the things he was planning to
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 ban
dage M last, laid his wounded arm
across his breast and slung il there by
strip of cloth passed up around his
neck, and helped him to his feet.
1t shamed him that he was ahso-
lutely compelled 10 cling fast 20 her,
70 lean heavy upon her. or go back to
the rock. His face was far too white
to show the modification he felt hut
she saw II in his eyes. Lifting his
we'll arm and laying it across her
shoulders, she caught her left arm
about his blouse waist and steadled
him.
The Wild Rose seemed to have tak-
en- toll of every hi Of sunshine that
ever Struck~the Flatwoods. That was
the distinguishing feature Of her per
sOnality. That ard her good. sound
sense. Her face was heaming fun of
both right now--the sunshine and the
sense. She was smiling up al him. he
knew. He was staring away above her
head-hut he knew. The smile grad.
ually drew his eyes down out of the
trees. He could no more help ii than
he could help leaning upon her. She
laughed 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
needless precaution-her woodcraft
was as fine rs his own
How she managed to lead him. half
carry him, out Of the rocky and br0k-
en- gulches of Fox Den and dow. the
rough banks of Wolf Run to the cabin
ef the three gables she never knew
Neither did he II always remained
matter of wonder to him. Who does
know the source of power-that mys-
ferrous augmentation OF streugth--that
comes TO woman in crisis?
She led him into the house and to
the sofa in the main room; the queer
little leather-coyered 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 70 the eyes.
lie often spends hours away. There'H
be little pass in the woods today that
he won't see. though nobody will see
him. Poor Daddy :"
Wen send for that surgeon tomor-
row" he said
She was back in moment. carrying
n pan of water, fresh handages. and
formidabIe-lookng brown bottle-cam-
phor. the universal first aid in the
Flatwoods. The blood-soaked BAN
dages were deity removed and the
wound re-washed. She picked UP the
brown bottle.
Il am sorry to hurt YOU" She said.
But il will keep the fever down.
You're the DOCTOR" was his slow
answer.
She mcorked the bottle and applied
some of its contents t. the wound with
"A bit Of cotton. Hurt 1t hurt so that
he laughed
Anything to get ready for tonight"
he glinned, under the bite of the pow
erful antiseptic
Tonight" she repeated blankIy
"Why. YOU mustn't think--"
81 must, though, Big things depend
on tonight" She saw Sternness
gather in his eyes Hell think I've
left the FIatwoods." he muttered on.
more to himself than to her IT'S
what hes been waiting for. His game
tonight ,--and-r'
The girl saw the fingers Of his right
hand clench against his palm-doubt-
less quite y--while the
knottcd ridges OF his great forearm
punched and sweIed but the full
meaning Of the mutered words hap
PLY missed her
CIO BE Continued