The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-10
The Wrong Face
By ISABEL osTRANDER

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too steady "The rest have gone OF
and we must follow"
WHO the hell took my rifle;
Say, my head feels queer!"
Never mind your rifle! we1l FIND
plenty out there. Come! We're go.
ing over the top!"
There began a strange process
sion, led by a man whose feet un
erringly sought the path through
years Of habit, but whose lips bah
bled of strange things, and follow
ed by the wrecked body which
dragged itself indomitably alone
and strove by command and entroatJ
to keep that half.cra2ed brain Of
the leader from distintegratIng into
chaos once more.
To Fay. waiting quietly on The
edge Of the clearing, tho minutet
seemed like hours. She dared moi
think or speculate on what the com
Ing of the two men would mean tc
her.
AT length she heard STUMBLING
footsteps and tho stump Of crutch
es, and held her breath as they
drew nearer and nearer. She heard
her brothers. voice raised sharp
ly:
"warrle, there's house or some
thing ahead. Cad, where's tho res:
OF the outfit, and why haven't We
our rifles?"
With her heart beating as though
1t would burst in her throat Fay ad
vanced and tucked her arm beneath
her brothers..
He had stood motionless sincg
she first touched him, but his whole
body trembled like n race horse, a
low harsh cry brolc from him.
Fay! | thought ! was in France!
Fay-Fay, you're real. aren't you?
Where's Warrie? l was with him
just now. What does It oil mean?'
you've had a dream, Wilbur,
that's ALL" She laughed. but there
was a catch in her voice.
why is the house so dark
Where is Laurel?"
Her heart contracted at the men
tion OF that name. but she forced O
note Of impatieuce In her tone.
Captain Warren is in the library
talking to Aunt Clara, and L.
Laurel Is resting. For goodness
sake don't stop out here on this sop
ping wet lawn and talk all night
She led him to the side door and
into the library,
Captain Warren was seated ut the
desk, apparently writing, with his
Crutches carefully concealed, and
Mrs. Tudor held a book which shook
in her hands, but she glanced VI
casually as they entered and re
marked:
BE sure you get out of those wei
things al once. Wilbur"
Her eyes fell again to her book
and Fay guided her brother up tc
his room.
Out upon. tho porch, whittier he
had followed them since, all unno
ticed, he had witnessed the scene al
the cave, Sergeant Barry caught the
captains eye and beckoned. When
the latter Joined them-lle said: -
go up to him. Explain that you
arrived this evening during his
walk. and act as II he knew all
about your having been wounded
Talk SO that he has no time &c
think, and get him to bed as quick
ly as you can. You've sent for the
doctor, OF course?"
"How the devil do you know all
this. sergeant" Captain Warner
gazed at tho detective In genuine
establishment.
"Oh, was there all the time ir
case you needed a hand. saw the
look upon your faco when you heard
Franks description Of the half
burned top Of a paJama coat which
could only have come from an army
officers hospital. and. although
don't think you guessed the truth,
meant to circle back and keep you
in sight. But will you go up nov
and ask Miss Tudor to come down
to mo as soon as she has made her