Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1921-07-29


lie was puul sight that huddled
heap that Was queer mixture of man
and boy man. old in appearance,
young in years The eighteen months
in the service OF his country had
wrecked his health. robbed him of his
strength, and left him bitter suilen
discouraged The two girls coming up
the stairs paused at his door aud
glanced IN,
Not now. Peggy dear, "a little later.
He isn't very cheerful, and in fact he's
very rude TO strangers. Don't bother
now, come to my ROOM
Help yourself Peggy darling and
tell me about everything, It's 50 long
since we left college it seems there
must be loads to tell"
But. Olive dear, l want to know
about that poor brother of yours first.
Tell me--he isn't crippled for life, is
her
mo one knows lie was gassed,
you know, and that shrapnel wound in
his back Is the cause of his paralysis;
i
they shake their learned heads and
charge outrageous fees and suggest
numerous costly operations which
may help "A little It's very discour-
aging.
Peggy stared out Of the window, I'M
seeingly. 1t had disturbed her strange
ly. II wonder" she unused, IF l could
not help him little.
Her friend nodded absently. Go
to it. I'm quite resigned to anything"
She pulled up a hassock and sat by
the side of the sick man.
Ralph Lynch, you don't know me,
but I'm Peggy Stuart and you're GO
ing to see a lot of me. | want you to
like me-"
In spite of himself, an interested
CLEAN came into the eyes Of the in
valid 81 don't like sunshine Please
pun the curtain down again"
No, sir, sunshines good for you,
and besides l want to look at you"
Ralph pulled at his pipe in con-
fusion.
what a handsome pipe Did you
color 1t yourself? How long did it
take you? Dad would give his right
hand for a pipe like that"
please 90, I'm very tired, and l do
uot feel like talking"
Instantly she was all contrition.
You poor dear boy, you shan't talk if
YOU don't want to. I'll play YOU to
sleep She placed fresh pillow be-
hind his back and tucked the robe
more comfortably about his emacated
/ figure
Peggy then seated herself at the
/ piano, and played--softly, dreamily,
beautifully, and in a few moments
! Ralph Lynch was asleep, for the first
/ time in many days, sleeping dreamless-
/ ly, without the aid of drugs The girl
continued to play while she planned a
sort of campaign for Ralph Lynch. He
slept three hours and half and
aWoke refreshed and feeling better than
/ he had for weeks. Peggy was there,
/ sitting by the fire, the rosy light play
ing on her bewtchingly. For a full
! minute the man watched her before
/ she discovered he was awake.
"Well, it's about time You old
/ sleepyhead, you Supper is over long
! ago and yours is cold as ice!"
Il don't believe care for 1t, any
/ way :" he began, but she had
/ gone, to return in a few moments
/ wheeling a tea table daintily set. Be-
! fore he realized it he was eating. All
the while the girl nibbled at eating,
/ chattering like a maybe.
Joe Spencer and Tom Hartford are
coming at eight, and you must be fixed
up bit before they come"
"Who asked them to come? l don't
/ want to see them"
Yes, | know. They were your
chums before you went to France.
asked them
/ Presently she removed the tea liable
and made no comment ON the splendid
supper he had eaten, but took it as
a matter of course. Ten minutes la
ter he was eagerly waiting for his
chums and when they came his eyes
sparkled and he held out his bony
+ hand In cordial welcome The two
young fellows were astonished for
only last week he had refused to see
them, had bitterly aulked in his chair
Don't betray the fact you are sur
prlsed. Just act as if nothing had
ever happened" warned Peggy, and
she left them At quarter to nine she
came in and announced it was time for
all decent visitors to go home, or if
they didn't care to go home they would
find Olive in the library
IT'S time for bed, now Bud, old
top she whispered, and called the
butler. Good night. I'll see you in
the morning."
Ralph slept better that night. The
next day Peggy kept him busy
and occupied A new doctor was sum-
moned, and he pronounced In solemn
/ tones that an operation would be nee
i essary before the boy could walk, but