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

-dSh just heluW the drupiL- II hau
greed a rib, but seemingly had moi
broken It, With that encouraging. nc.
established, and the sting OF the
wound much allayed, the mind Of the
man began reaching forward 10 the
night; the all-inIportant uight-when
a certain spave individual in a fro5k
coat would come TO feed certain
horse. He said no word Of this 10 the
girl already binding the bandages
around the clean-washed wound. She
would have secuted the bare sugges-
tion of the things he was planning to
do the moment the dark was sufficient
" dense TO hide him.
She drew what was left Of his tat
tered shirt and blouse over the BAN
dage at last laid his wounded arm
across his breast and sluug it there by
strip of cloth passed mp around his
neck, and helped him to his feet.
Ii Sbamed him that he was ahso-
'utely compelled TO cling fast to her.
TO lean heavy upon her, or 90 back to
the rock. His face was far TOO white
10 show the modification ne felt. hut
she saw it in his eyes, Lifting his
well arm and laying il across her
shoulders, she caught her left arm
about his blouse waist and steadied
him.
The Wild Rose seemed 10 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 fun 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 il than
he could help leaning upon her She
laughed heortening 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-dowu 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 as his own.
How she managed to lead him, half
carry him. out Of the rocky and hr0k-
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 Il always remained a
matter Of wonder to him. Who does
know the source of power-that mys-
FERROUS augmentation OF strength-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.
'Dnddy?' she answered to the eyes,
He often spends hours away. There1l
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 a moment, carrying
a pan OF water fresh bandaees, and a
formidable-ookIng brown bottle-cam-
phor. The universal first aid IN the
Flatwoods. The blood-soaked ban
Iages were deruy removed ana the
wound re-washed. She picked up the
brown bottle
81 am sorry to hurt you" she said.
Put il viii keep the fever down
You're the doctor" was his slow
answer.
She uncorked the bottle aud applied
some Of its contents to the wound with
a bit of cotton Hurt! 1t hurt so that
he laughed
Anything to get ready for tonight"
he gllnued, under the bite Of the pow
erful antiseptic.
Tonight" she repeated bIankly.
"Why. you mustn't think-"
- must, though. Big things depend
on tonight" She saw a sternness
gather in his eyes. Hell think I've
left the Flatwoods,' he muttered on,
more to himself than TO her. Its
what he's been waiting for His game
-tonight!-aud-"
The girl saw the fingers Of his right
hand cicnch against his palm doubt
less quite uneOnsciously-"hile the
knottcd ridges OF his great forearm
bGnched aud swelled but the full
meaning Of the muJtered words hap
PLY missed her.
lTO BE Continued