Arizona republican., 1922-06-05
(To be continued.)

| brave attempt at a smile Il will
be all right in a few minutes he said
in a low tone as he dropped off to
sleep.
Lie still and don't think of getting
up" she answered, thinking, "Ah!
those few minutes will pass on too
quickly for him-but me? How long
will they be for me? Oh, if 1 only
could get help. might be able to
| save him.
While he was slipping at cup of
cold water, he asked. What is your
| name, gentle woman?"
Mr.. Martinez she answered
but everyone in the mountains calls
me Mother Ann
That was my mothers name May
l call you Mother Ann?'"
Yes indeed. but what is your
name?'
My name,' he said. lis Bertram
VanCourt."
From time to time, Bertram's mind
wandered off into complete oblivion.
AS the evening drew near, his fever
became worse. Several times Mother
| Ann took her field glass and went to
the attic. giving the mountain road
a reaching look; but no one was in
sight.
Why hasn't the postman called
| today" she wondered: mot even Jo-
| siah Green has called on his usual
visit to the settlement"
As night drew near, Mother Ann
went to Bertram's room. He gave
her look which made her recoil in
horror. "Bertram,' she called. don't,
don't. But Bertram was already in
the clutches of delirium.
For many days, Mother Ann"
watched faithfully by the bedside of
the sick man. Never. during that
time, did she go to her bed. She left
him only long enough to prepare food
for them. Always. did she take a
tray of delicious food for him, trying
to nourish him that he might escape
the clutches of death. If she fell
asleep, she was always awakened by
some words uttered in his delirium.
One day. when she was out in the
orchard by the spring, her eyes fell
on some little plants. Quickly. she
pulled them and took them to the
house. She made a beverage of them
and took it to Bertram. AS she
stepped inside the door, she heard
him talking wildly-'Joyful--I am
coming Mother wait for me-
Oh.Jack-if L could get you-Joy-
ful-my darling"
MOtner Ann waited no longer;
hurrying to her room. she sat down
and wrote letter to Joyful Marfell.
Could she, her niece. be the ore
whom Bertram was speaking of?
oh, if she only was." thought Moth
er Ann
'Oh. why doesn't the postman
come? Two weeks it has been since
he was here," Mother Ann" was
saying as she hurried back to Ber-
trans room.
When she entered, he was still
talking wildly In vain We're her ef-
forts to console him. She gave him
few drops of the herbs. She knelt
by his bedside and prayed that he
might be spared, prayed for the boy
whom she had grow to love as her
own son.
Late that night, Bertram fell into
profound sleep the first he had
had for many nights. Mother Ann"
waited silently for what she knew
was the crisis; all was as still as
Death; Mother Ann" dared not move
for fear of waking the sick boy.
The moon was shining so brightly.
Mother Ann could see everything
through the uncurtained window. AS
she looked, tiny light could be seen.
Some one was carrying a lantern. Out
of the stiffness. the long low wailing
| of a dog was heard.
"Oh some one is coming she
whispered to herself
The whisper disturbed the sleeping
man; he turned, gave her a sane
look. then asked: why Mother Ann
why are you crying
She went down on her knees by
his beside. "Bertran1. my boy, YOU
are better, you are better! oh. I'm
so glad,"
Just then a knock was heard at
the door, Mother Ann left the
room TO answer it. When she opened