Evening star., 1923-09-24

A little later Pete answered the
voice that had counseled sweet sleep
only few hours before. But now
there was no disturbing command
that racked his very brain and tor
mented him to further effort. In
stead, he slept, long and soundly,
turning his weary, aching body un-
consciously as though it wished to
' make certain that it was indeed once
more resting on a soft, warm mat
tress
His eyes for weeks past had been
accustomed, on awakening, to look
out upon early morning in all it's ra-
diant glory, and always the grandeur
OF it had thrilled him. Now, as he
opened his eyes after long hours of
sleep, his gaze rested upon the mas
terpiece itself of the handiwork of
God-full upon the face of beauti-
full woman, bending tenderly over
him, administering the while warm,
fragrant oil to the crusted skin be-
meath his shaggy beard.
During his sleep his lips had re-
turned to something resembling their
normal shape. and he found he could
mutter words, as he exclaimed:
''Tam-you, too-here! Thank God!
Both OF you-Hawkins and Tam"
YeS-Mr. Alden" Tam replied, wv g
are both here-and your patient is
much better than his doctor-aren'
you, Mr.. Hawkins?"
Hawkins was there, sitting on the
edge of the bed, and could speak for
himself. But before he could utter a
word Pete replied:
No wonder-with such a nurse"
Then he stopped short as he noticed
the slight frown and troubled look
that came over the face of the girl as
she gathered her bottles and linen
from the bed. For a moment she
seemed undecided whether to carry
them from the room or to remain.
She hesitated only a moment, how
ever, and then called a French name
which Pete could not understand.
The object of the call soon ap-
peared in the low doorway that sep
arated the "lean-to," or bullion bed
room, from the rest of the cabin.
Here, Marie. please take these out
and see what you can do for jacques
Eliot. He seems to be suffering very
much" Tam directed as the woman
approached.
Now, Pete" Hawkins began, when
you are ready, tell me how you feel
what you have done-how 1t has all
happened. My God. If you coud see
yourself Tam. for heavens sake
bring old Bannie's mirror" He mn
ished with an amused twinkle in his
eye.
the room as she went for the rAc ror.
He thought there was a twlnkle IN
her eyes also as she held 1t before
him, and he looked intently as though
to make certain.
The mirror. man-look in the
mirror" Hawkins broke in, his good
natured old face wreathed in smiles.
Caught in the pardonable act OF
staring at the first girl he had seen
in months, Pete grasped the mirror
in confusion. and then gazed at what
he saw much like a frightened child
watching the antics of suspended
spider.
The image in the mirror brought
him to a Citing posture with jerk
a jerk that only aCcentuated the dis
torted vision he beheld in the glass.
Hair. great masses of 1t. made ms
head and face seem three times the
size he remembered il to be. Little
red gimlets where his eyes should be
looked out of shaggy holes in the
woody mass; wherever he could see
skin 1t seemed red and crusted, or
black from its recent frost bite. For
a moment he was held Speechless by
the spectacle. Then pushing the glass
violently from him, he said to
Hawkins:
For a long while I've been think
ing the most important thing in the
world was to save you, the Dead
Horse Mine, and''-he seemed about
to include Tam, when an expression
on her battling face stopped him
"and so-on," he continued, but now,
j know the most lIllile III
the world is to get to barber shop
and a bath tub. Great Moses. There
isn't a barber shop in the world that
would let me through the door! Do
you suppose that fellow al the store
in Moapa has saved my togs?"
Tam smiled family, perhaps little
wistfully, while Hawkins in spite
of his worried face, laughed at Pete's
CONSERVATION.
WELL" Hawkins finally found
breath enough to remark, you're a
mighty lucky young man that you
aren't in the fix of your travelling
mate, Eliot. in there. How in the
world that breed up and gets cought
in blizzard, and you don't. beats
me-
And I don't?' Pete stormed, "and
] don't?-Im half frozen-right now
We were together all the time
"Ah, yes, so you were. But you
kept moving. Two days here and your
frost bites will be gone. The breed
in there will be on his back for a
month. But come, tell me-Im dying
Dinner first. Mr.. Hawkins" Tam
admonished. '1et the poor man eat.
He must be starved; aren't you, Mr..
Alden?"
quite" agreed Pete. "And any