The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1923-11-30
CHAPTER xI-cootinusd.


--25-
Pierre kept beside him and stood
the motor, hat still in his hand, Will
the doctor talked irritably: mo. 70
certainly can't see her. for some tint
shall not allow anyone to see he
except the nurse. 1t will be a matte
Of weeks. She'll be lucky If she get
back her sanity at all. She was er
tirely out of her head there at tn
theater. She's worn out, nerve
frayed to FRAGILE Horribly III
healthy life and unnatural. To tax
a country girl, an ignorant, unframed
healthy animal. bring her to the city
and force her under terrific pressur
into life so foreign to her-well 1
was just a piece of id brutality.
Then his acute eye suddenly fixet
itself on the man standing on the curl
listening.
You're from the West yourselfT
Eyes, SIR"
KNEW her In the old days--eh?
yes, SIR" Pierre's voice was fainl
anu iC put q iidhQ uSdltict Nit AiViOi
well. why don't you take her back
with you to that life? You're not
feeling any too fit yourself, are youi
Look here. Get in and III drop you
where you belong"
Pierre obeyed rather blind!y and
leaned back with closed eyes. The
doctor got out a flask and poured him
a dose of brandy.
whats the trouble? Toe much New
York;?
Pierre shook his head and smiled.
mo, sir I've been bothered and
didn't get around to eating and Sleep
ing lately"
'Then I'll take you to restaurant
and wen have supper. | need some
thing myself And, look here, I'll
make you promise. Just as soon as
consider her fit for an interview
with anyone, I'll let you see Miss West.
That helps you whole lot, doesn't
it?"
But there were other powers, be-
sides this friendly one, watching over
Joan, and they were bent upon keep
ing Pierre away. Day after sickening
day Pierre came and stood beside the
desk, and the girl, each time little
more careless of him, little more in
solent toward him-f0r the cowboy
would not notice her blouse and her
and the invitation of
her eyes-gave him negligent and dis
information.
Miss West was better, but very
weak. No. She wouldn't see anyone.
Yes, Mr.. Moreno could see her, but not
Mr.. Lands, certainly not Mr.. Pierre
Lands of Wyoming"
And the doctor, being questioned by
the half-frantic Westerner, admitted
that Mr.. Moreno had limited at reasons
why it might be dangerous for the
patient to see her old friend from the
West. Pierre stood to receive this
sentence, and after it his eye fell. The
ioctor had seen the quick, desperate
moisture In them.
~ tell you what, Landis," he said,
putting a hand on Pierres shoulder. |
I'm willing TO take a risk. I'm sure
II one thing. Miss West hasn't even
leard Of your inquiries"
you mean Morena's making 1t up
bout her not being willing to see meT
~ do mean that. And no doubt |
Ie's doing 1t with the best intentions. |
,ut I'm willing to take a risk. See
hose stairs? You run up them to the
fth floor. The nurse is out. Gael
! In attendance; that is, he's In the
She doesn't know of his
resence, hasn't been allowed to see
im Miss Vests door-the outside
ne-is ajar. Go up Get past Gael
you can. Behave yourself quietly,
nd If you see the least sign of weak
ess on the part of Miss West, or If
he shows the slightest Discrimination
,r your company, come down-Im
.usting you--as quickly as you can
nd tell me. III wait Have / your
yes, SIR" gasped Pierre.
The doctor smiled at the swift. leap
* grace Of his western friends
scent He was anxious concerning
lie result Of his experiment, but there
as a memory upon him Of haunted
ok in Joan's eyes that seemed the
llow to took of Pierre's. He rather
,lieved II intuitions, especially his
w.