Vernon Parish Democrat., 1921-06-02

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.
II have been unnecessarily alarmed
my general" said Paeheco. "0ur
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
KEEP Ricardo leaned over 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 it 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 everys stitch Of cloth
ing from Webster and went over him
carefully. At the back of his head
they found a little clotted blood from
a small split in the scalp; also they
found a 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 If / had to
fight this fine fellow a month from
today" the little doctor chirped. "The
man is in superb physical condition
it is the bump on the head that rem
ders him unconscious-not loss Of
blood"
AS If 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 llfe-seeing which PachecO
decided to take prompt advantage of
his Inconsistencies 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 Pacheco
announced that he was through and
ready to bandage; whereupon John
Stuart Webster said family but very
distinctly, in English:
"Im awfully glad you are, Doc
1t hurt like HI! Did you manage
to get bite on that fishing trip?"
"Jack Webster, you scoundrel r.
Ricardo yelled joyously, and he shooH
the patient with entire disregard Of
the latters wounds. "Oh, man, I'm
glad you're not dead"
"Your sentiments appeal to me
strongly, my friend. Tm-too-tireC
to look-at you. Who the devil-ar,
you?"
Fell a silence, while Webster pre-
pared for another speech. "Wher,
am II"
SIN the palace. We won pulled
up, and that forty-thousand dollar be
of yours is safe. I'll cash the ticke
for you tomorrow morning"
Oh the forty thousand. Where'
my Croppy Boy?"
"Your what"
"My wild Irish bIackthorn, Dol
Juan Cafetero."
Il hope, old man, he has ere nov
that which all brave Irishmen anC
true deserve-a harp with a crown
In life the Irish have the harp with
out the crown, you know"
"HOw did he die?" Webster whis
pered.
'He died hard, with the holes il
front-and he died for you"
Two big tears trickled slowl!
through Webster's closed lids and roll
ed across his pale cheek. Poor, lost
lonesome, misunderstood wreck" b
murmured presently, che. was an ex
tremist in all things. He used to sim
those wonderfully poetic ballads of hi
people, remember one that began
Green were the fields where my fore
fathers dwelt.' l think his heart wa
In Kerry-so Wen send him there
He's my dead, Ricardo; care for hi
body, because rm-going to plan
Don Juan with the-shamrOcks. The
didn't understand him here. He wa
an exile-sO I'm going to send him
home"