Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-11-14
By Philip Ransom

But the pale woman by his side may
not have heard that question.
Twill he liye?" In her voice there
WAS something which hesitated, as II
she had not meant to ask quite that
very question. -.
He glanced at her, startled. "Of
course, of course! Whatever made you
think that? III bring a nurse out with
me tomorrow. He'll want nursing"
yes" she said, stonily. Il can't nurse
him-and he can't be moved" She
weighed this statement profoundly as
she made it.
He shrugged his shoulders depre-
c%atingly. "You can see for your
self"
"Oh, yes" she interrupted, YEARLY,
Il can see" She gazed down at the
banal blue tattooing on the brown
forearm. The doctors voice pene-
trated her thoughts.
Il must go now" he ald It's Mrs.
Barlock. of course, at the farm. I was
on my way there, you know. I'll look
in again, though, In an hour or So
on my way back"
She did not seem to hear him. will
he come round, do you think? To-
night, l mean?'
UNLIKELY. Look at him."
He followed her downstairs, leaving
the lamp on Alan'S dressing table. AT
the front door he stopped.
you're a brave woman, Mrs. Eel
pitt he said, impulsively. I'm CRATE
full you know.
DR.. Farley, returning four hours lat
err, found Mrs. Felpitt sitting before q
fire which she had lit in the room
where the man lay. She stood up as
the door opened. !.
II thought you were never coming"
she said. He hasn't spoken"
He's all right" he muttered, step
ping over to the light. What's all
thiS?"
His belongings. There vas q small
wallet thing on the carrier OF nus pi-
cycle. I've put them all out for you
to see."
The doctor ran his eye over the
motley collection. Don't tell you
much" he remarked. "Hullo! A bar
of medal ribbons-what a string OF
them! Splendid fellow!'
Yes" she answered quietly. There's
a naval decoration there-you were
right. And there are ten five pound
notes in that leather case, and some
loose silver in his pockets. That's all
OF any interest"
Who is hep"
There's nothing to show. I've been
through everything while you've been
out.
You've been through too much" he
thought, gazing retlectively at her tired
face, which those last twelve years OF
struggle to make ends meet lad aged
beyond knowing. From the night he
had ushered Alan into the world he
reviewed the twelve years OF her pitt
less, incessant struggle TO pit her wits
and slender income against the thou
sand necessities of her life and Alan's,
to provide, moreover, for his schooling
in the future.
He pictured her as he remembered
her when she had first come TO that
tiny house. Young she was then, and
round and fresh. Nothing but q girl,
really, in spite OF her widows weeds
and hopeless, bat1ed eyes.
The boys an obSesslOn with her"
he thought. PITY she hadn't married
again."
I've peer thinking" she said. HE
must stay here, and there's a for
the nurse. He'll be gone before the
holidays, of course?" There vas ten
sion in that casual seeming question.
The doctor nodded, smiling. Long
before, l hope"
I've been thinking, then. Perhaps
when he comes round it would be best
not to mention Alan to him, at all.
l mean, he might worry that he was
keeping HIM out of his room or some
thing"
Possibly" the doctor admitted.
Quite nKely. III tell the nurse if you
like. You seem to think OF every
thing"
I've cleared all Alan's things out of
the room,' she continued. Il can think
Of nothing more at present. Except
that one of those bandageS Over his
nose came loose and l tied it again.
Why have you bandaged his eyes, doc
tOr?"
Il haven't. It's to keep that pad on
the back of his head. l was in a
hurry"
Il see. His eyes aren't damaged?
His sight-they are covered, you
know?"
mo, no-that will all come off by
and by"
Il see" She seemed to sway with
WEAKNESS.
You'd better lie down." he ordered,
She went out softly, and in her room
lit the candles on the dressing table
and gazed long at her reflection in
the glass. Then she lay down upon
the bed, wide eyed.
III.
1t was not until a week had dragged
by that she spoke to the man. The