Evening star., 1928-08-04

between his t6etn, at every
~ motion resisting a desire to
bite the thing in two. He
felt like biting something in two, as
II he didn't have grief enough with
out Harry going on like this. The
business needed him in st. Louis, he
was needed half a dozen places, ana
here he was tearing across the coun-
try TO Portland because that son OF
his could not keep out of mischief. II
was a fight this time Last time 1t was
q car wreck. Why the deuce couldn't
the boy behave himself? He had every
thing. His father had never denied
him a thing Harry had not the slight
est ground for complaint, and yet he
never seemed satisfied.
Wen, Reese had decided he would
show him this time. He wasn't going
20 stand for any more of it. He'd give
the young cub a dressing down he'd
never forget What we're these young
fellows coming to anyway? Now, in his
day ne didn't have cars and motor
boats and money TO spend. He had TO
hustle for everything he got. He hadn't
wanted his son to go through that. He
had seen 10 it that the boy didn't have
70 And what sort OF reward was ne
getting? The thing hurt Reese lot
more than he would admit, even to
himself He had hoped lot and
dreamed a lot and--oh, we'll
He shrugged his shoulders and
glanced through his open window. He
could make out nothing in the flying
darkness, but he knew that the train
was passing through desert country
now. Just as well that there wasn't
any light 10 see the bare hills and deep
gullies and cactus-covered fats. Reese
did not understand what the desert
had been made for OF all the earth 1t
was the most worthless. Without the
railroad it was less than nothing Be-
fore the railroad 1t had robbed men Of
strength and hope and often life, and it
gave nothing in return. He never saw
stretch Of barren land without feel
ing Of strong distaste and desire to
get away as quickly as possible.
Reese had his arms up TO lower his
window when the crash came. It was
o very thorough spill. There were no
deaths, but there we're enough serious
casualties 10 make railroad officials rub
their chins thoughtfully for q good
many weeks. span Of the old wooden
bridge over the Drosky Hollow gave
way. II was the irony of fate that all
material was al hand TO begin the erec-
ton Of a new concrete bridge the fol-
loving week.
Reese was hurled through the win
dow as his car left the rails. He Ill on
extremely lumpy ground and rolled
down steep slope in the company OF
sticks and pitch-smeared pinon cones,
bouldefg of various sizes and the half
Of an anthilI
He brought up on hard-beaten
ground in the circle Of light from a
fire. paving at pitch and ants. He tried
TO get to MS feet and fell back with a
Rrunt Of pain. One foot seemed 10 be
useless A voice spoke close 10 him and
be turned his head dazedly.
Where you hurt, n1ister?"
Reese looked into the kindly eyes Of
Q gray-headed man who was STOPPING
over him.
ITS my ankle, I think"
He could hear cries and groans and
screams from the wreck and concluded
that his portion had been light Still
the pain was increasing al such rate
that soon ne was giving 1t all his at
tention.
The old man deftly removed his shoe
and SOCK and gently felt of the rapidly
swelling joint. Not busted" Was his
diagnosis, but a pretty bad sprain
cest set stiU and Ill FIX you up In q
airy"
He stirred the fire. laid on more wooc
and set over It a three-gailon pail halt
full Of water To this he added salt
end vinegar ana some dried leaves
sDO@e pungent odor Reese did not rec.
ogfl5ze. He was not in condition u
recognize much Of anything He las
back III the blanket the old man hac
spread for him and wondered just how
E1uch pain a man could stand without
.eIpjnR
At last the water was heated 10 tht
Old mans satisfaction he provided a
worn camp stool for Reese TO SIT on
enc t0ld him to lower his foot gradually
1ngo the water But Reese 1eFked uI
bis leg at the first touch Of the hot
liquid.
Il cant stand thati Can't We rub il
wfth sonoe salYe or Something2"
"Tn1B'g the best way " treat .
fDrain," was the reply TITS the oni5
way / know that's any good. go
souae dandy ointment, made out d
baleam Juice ano herbs, but this come
first First bile Out the n1fannegs, theI
1ay on the salge That's Jest sense 4"
It took Reese 10 minutes ~ get M
9oot into that pail and then the olf
Ynan began adding hotter water unit
nothing bat A sense of shame prevented
she patient from crying out In protest
! 93ut the pain had almost entirely ceased
End the swelling was already goinl
down
IT works like charm" he admitted
/ drawing up his pink extremity for IN
L rpection i've seen men laid up f0l
& weeks with thing Ike this"