The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-06-04
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Copyright by The Bobbs- Merrill Co.
CHAPTER Xxx
Search of the Languid Eyes.

All through the long and terrible
day following that tragic night, the an
gels Of life and death waged their grin
struggle in the parlor bedroom, where
the hapless sufferer writhed in the de
lirium that followed the shock of her
wound.
Toward evening Aunt Eliza, believ.
Ing with the others that the end was
near, beckoned the woodsman to the
bedside.
1t fairly staggered him to see the
frightful change the hours had
wrought. Under an impulse of pity
that he could not resist he bent over
the bed, caught up her hands and spoke
her name. She instantly grew more
voice.
The doctor was quick to notice this,
and at his direction Jack dropped on
his knees by the bedside and began
talking to her, softly stroking her
hands and wrists and face the while !;
and as he talked she grew calmer.
Hour after hour the man knelt and
crooned the story Of their playmate
days, while the doctor piled his utmost
art and the women lavished their care
Late that night she seemed to quiet
away into light sleep. A smile strug
gled out upon the doctors grim feat
ures and he went out into the yard for
a moment Of relaxation. The woods
man laid the girls hands down upon
the covers, rose to his feet, stumbled
out to the kitchen and dropped down
on chair by The cook stove.
Barely a minute after, Aunt Liza,
sleepless and faithful, tapped him on
the shoulder.
"She's frettin agin."
He sprang up and hurried to the
sick-room. But before he reached the
bedside her tossing had ceased and she
lay back against the pillow still and
white. He caught up her hands; they
were so cold 1t startled him.
At that moment the doctor came
back in. The instant he entered the
room the unusual stillness-or the in
stinct Of his PROFESSIONALISM have
warned him that something was amiss,
for he hurried to the bedside and bent
keen look upon the patient.
"Her hans are like ice" the woods
man faltered.
l"She's sinking fast" was the doctors
answer, as he made ready powerful
stimulant Rub her hands and wrists
and temples-rub toward the heart
and try to call her back with some
more Of that Black rock and Whisper
ing spring talk. And be quick with
those hot cloths, you women. If we
can only keep breath In her for the
next hour"
The woodsman, toiling with gray and
craven face, was the first to notice the
leaving her hands and a
faint tinge of color beginning to drive
the chill out Of her fingers. The doc
tor bent low over her, noted the respi- |
ration, took her pulse again.
"She's got chance" he muttered. |
keep on with that talk, Warhope, |
and rub her wrists and temples-and |
come on with more hot cloths, the rest
Of you"
Nearly an hour had gone when the
girls lids f1uttered apart and the bril-
liant eyes strayed open-weak, bag
gard, but no longer wild and vacant
with delirium
Slowly the eyes travelled over the
room, a languid questioning in them;
searched the faces about her. dwelt
at last upon the face Of the woods
man.
"Jack"-it was only a whisper, flut-
.ering out upon the labored breath,
,ut it was the sweetest sound his ears
lad ever heard-"he didn't kill y'u-'
He dropped on one knee by the bed
Tide, but dared not trust his voice with
| word.
k-what-what-?
you've ben sick-bad-and we're
III tryin T. coax y'u back well. When
u git strong, Wen have a long talk
ou and me-but now, won't y'u jist
ry t. go t. sleep? Won't y'u?" 4!
eyes," she whispered, like trust
ng child-"Im so-tired-" {
One hand stole across the covers
nd hunted his; the long lashes
rooped over the languid eyes and she
Tipped away to sleep. The others tip 1
bed from the room.
what she needs above everything" s
uttered the doctor, softly closing the t
oor-"sleep-it will do her more good g
ght now than all the medicine In the
orld."
And there Jack crouched-himself 5
ruised and worn-afraid to move O
it'll her hands in his. lest she start
wake and so lose one moment of Yhe d
st just then precious beyond calcAla- Ii
on. Only a man Of his superb rEhy- :
cal powers could have held 4 the
-amped, uncomfortable pose 80 ling. a
Several times one of the wbmen, h
I'd once the doctor softly opened the Il
,or and peeped In, out they aa often
osed 1t again and left the man lto his h
lent vigil