The Coolidge examiner., 1934-12-21
CHAPTER XII

Il new lines Ia Columblne Nelson's
face. for only q few hours after her
second telegram 10 Massachusetts,
Jack took an unexpected turn for
the worse.
shall / send FOR his peopleT' she
questioned. when after time that
seemed endless a grave-eyed doctor
emerged from the boys room.
Il should wait" be answered. "If
Jack were my own son. Miss Mel
son. and 80 far away. ! should
say the same. You see. II the end
comes. II viii BE- soon: and since
his parents could not reach here
ln time TO see him. Isn't II kinder.
and wiser too. not 10 harrow them
with the knowledge OF how dark
the prospect looks just now7 II he
lives through the night the boy win
probably recover. ! don't say that
bis condition isn't desperate: hu,
somehow I've the conviction that
bell make the grade"
Miss columblne did not leave the
hospital that night: nor did she
close her eyes ;ill early morning
when a nurse appeared 20 say tha;
Jack seemed 10 have turned the
corner and his physician felt the
worst was over. Not until then did
the old lady cry n little. and the
doctor ordered powder that
brought sleep. II was almost noon
when she heard a rap upon her
door. and Matthew Adam entered
the room.
did I wake you. Miss Colum-
bIneT"
"No; I was only snoozlng. How's
everything now. Maity'
The young man sat down on the
bed and grlnned at her.
Jacks sleepIng-naturally. Nan
cy Isn't suffering this morning: and
Il looks as II the kids were coming
through without a single amputa-
ton. That osrood boys been telling
me what happened. | tell yon. Miss
Columbine. | take OF my hat to
Jack and Nancy-and 20 some o<
those brave youngsters. too"
II guess the papers didn't exag-
gerate this time" she observed.
You're right But Just the same.
| miss my guess II It's not some
shock 10 those young relatives OF
yours when they read the story
How do you suppose II feels. Miss
Columblne. TO have the country re-
gard you as heroic7-
We'll. II won't hurt either OF
en-" responded the old lady.
They've got the Nelson common
sense. It's | who's likely TO be
puffed up. Matthew. Think OF the
courage IL must have taken for
boy 10 start out I'm the teeth OF
such storm. especially when the
driver had disappeared. And Nancy
A girl brought up as she's been
everything soft and easy so far-to
do what she did Well. all can
say Is that my pioneer mother would
have been proud OF herr
Matt noted with pleasure that
Miss ColumbIne spoke with her ac-
customed hriskness
You must 70 home today. Mat
thew" she said later. Its been
comfort knowing you were here /:
but your father needs you, and I'll
not be babled any longer"
The young man smiled.
i've had orders per telephone
TO stay on duty a day longer. Marks
on his way in from Prairie ranch
right now. Mothers coming down
In the truck To take him home and.
incidentally. pick out a new car
That's one good thing came out OF
this blizzard. Miss Columbine. we're
practically forced TO buy a decent
automobile The old ones done for /;
and even Dad can't rake up an ex-
cuse 10 put us Off. The Adam clan
Is thrilled at the prospect"
Miss Columbine laughed and said :
Your mother deserves a modern
car II anybody does. Is Mark all
right again?"
He'd come whether he was or
not. All that kept Mark from join
Ing that rescue party. Miss Colum-
blne. was the fact that Aunt EN-
hid his clothes and locked the closet
where Uncle Tom keeps his. must
run now and get q bite before ]
meet the family"