New Britain herald., 1926-12-15
Broken {: x @Ihrea&1s !!!!;
HAS GONE BEFORE

To the home of Prof and Mollie Elwell in Camdenville. Ind. one night in October of 1893, comes Martha Dalton, a nurse, bearing with her a woman who had fainted on the train on which Martha had been travelling.
 Elwell is an artist. He has son, Jim, aged 5. Late that night twin girls are born to the woman. who dies without revealing her identity. Her attire had indicated she was a person of refinement and wealth.
 The story then moves forward to June, 1916, and the reader hs in troduced to Jim Elwell. now P. and his fathers partner. and to the twin girls, who have been adopted by the Elwells. They are now IT. and one of them has been named Margaret and nicknamed Rusty: the other. Elizabeth. is called Betty. To Jim the girls are just kid pals. although they are growing to beautiful womanhood. The three go out on hunting expedition in Rusty, venturing ahead of them, stirs up a rattlesnake. Jim hears | the ominous rattle and then the wild scream of the girl. NOW BEGIN THE STORY CHAPTER V {v, through the weeds and undergrowth, past Betty, who stood fright-strick- en. He reached the other girl just in time to catch the swaying form in his arms. Picking her up as if she were no heavier than a baby. he turned and rushed back to the i clearing near the first pond Betty was already there. Jim laid the limp figure on the ground, flat on | her back.
 Help me to get her shoes an stockings off quick" he cried. She's been bit on the leg. probly.' He tore off the low shoe from the l right foot. Then catching the stock ing above the knee he jerked it free from it's fastenings and pulled it off. second later had the other stocking i off
 Here it is," Jim said quietly as | his keen eyes caught sight of two 1 tiny punctures in the calf of Rusty s 1 right leg. Gimme that scarf on your head till I put tourniquet on. | We gotta stop that poison from goin' 1 up. You take my hat, Betty, an get some water out of the pond. Be i careful not 10 get any of that green | slime in it.'
 The girl was trembling like leaf but she did as she was told. She grabbed the hat from his head and started for the pond while Elwell, | doubling the scarf, slipped it under the leg just below the knee and tied it in q loose double knot. Then pick ing up short stick close at hand he thrust it through the knot and wound the tourniquet tight. At that moment Betty rushed back with the water-filled hat and Jim doused a handful or two in Rusty's face. A moment later she opened her eyes.
 Don't be scared, little pal" Jim told her, with a catch in his throat. ] You've been stung on the leg but ] we'll have you all hunky-dory in just few minutes"
 He told her to turn over on her stomach. Grit your teeth, old buclo, and show what a dead game sport you are.''
 The girl did as she was told with out word. Then Jim dug into his | pants pocket and drew out his knife. He opened the big blade, which was | sharp as razor. and wiped it clean on his handkerchief.
 He said to Betty. You better lmove over an get hold of her head" 1 His face was set in lines of grim purpose. She obeyed at once.
 There was no hesitation in Jim's movements. This young Hoosier knew Just what he had to do and he went about 1t without waste of time or lost motion.
 With hand that shook just lit tie he cut slit an inch long and half as deep across the two pune lures in the white flesh of the calf of Rusty's leg. The outraged flesh ouivered' q trifle and then was still.
 A quick flow of blood welled up from the cut. Jim squeezed the flesh around it and the blood ran faster. Then he drew his handkerchief, sopped it in the water and slapped its clean portion over the wound. After a minute he lifted It off. strengthened his body out on the ground and placed his mouth over the cut.
 For five minutes he sucked the blood and poison from the snake bitten leg, rinsing his mouth at in tervals with water from the hat. Satisfied at length that he had done all he could in that way, he reached into his coat pocket and drew out the pistol.
 Turn over on your right side
 now, Rusty" he directed, 'and swing your left leg over in front"
 The girl obeyed bringing the torn
 calf into position for Jim's purpose.
 He nodded to Betty, who read the
 unspoken command and took firm,
 hold of her sisters head. She wa:
 very pale.
 Jim spread the cut with finger ant
 thumb of his left hand. Then ht
 cooked the gun and placed the mug
 gle at the top of the wound so the
 bullet would blow through the GU
 and into the ground. His own face
 was pale but his hand was as stead,
 as a rock.
 He pulled the trigger. The burr
 of the powder cauterized the wound
 But he wasn't through yet. Pullins
 q pack of cigarets from a pocket, h.
 tore some open and packed the to baCco into the cut. Then he wet tn
 handkerchief again and tied
 around the calf to hold the tobacc