Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1934-10-12
FINAL INSTALMENT

Martha.
Don't worry. I've nured sicl
folks before. You go see what yo,
can do for that man. He's hur'
bad"
His jaw frightened, but he went.
The outer room was quiet. Ken
nedy's eyes were closed, but h
opened them as Barry entered.
Anything more than the leg?'
he asked CURLY.
"A rib or two, maybe. Landed
on a rock. Horse stumbled ane
threw me-
'I've sent for a doctor, but 20,
may have to wait several hours"
'I'll stick it. Might have been
still on the rock-if it hadn't beer
for Nancy. I could do will
a cigarette
Barry gave him one, and held tn
match.
Thanks. That'll help"
Anything else?"
mo. The old girl fixed me vi
pretty well.' He grinned again il
hat tight fashion made an in
voluntary movement and WINGED
IF you want to hear what happen
ed, I'll talk"
Barry nodded. Gage came owe
and sat down.
go on"
I'll begin at your place" TIL
black eyes were fixed on Barry
I'D seen Nancy first here, but sh'
beat me getting there. I guess you
know the rest on the story by thi
time-if you got the truth"
His glance fickered cynically
from Barry to Gage. "He knows
"All right. I was afoot, because
my lights had gone wrong and II
pitched over a bank. But l arrived
in time to hear all the commotion
Then Nancy came back running
for that calico horse. She sort Of
staggered when she got to hin
saying things to herself, not very
loud, but it scared me. I'd asked
her before | left here if she wa
sick, and she said no, she was al
right. But she wasn't.
II tried to stop her, but she sail
ed right on past, and l grabbed {
horse, and followed her. When
caught up she didn't know me a,
first. I tried to make her turr
back, but she was bent on running
away from something. And ther
my horse stumbled and threw me
and she came back and sat dowr
alongside of me for a while. Sh'
seemed to get the idea hat I wa
sick and she had to take me hom'
poor kid. l don't know why, ane
I don't know how we ever go
here. 1t was a pretty stiff trip
He scowled at the end of his Gig
arctic. 81 guess w5've all giver
Nancy a rotten deal. It's abou
time she had a break"
Martha hurried out, and pauses
on her way tt the kitchen.
Barry, you might bring in som
wood. I want good fires and plent,
of hot water. She's all choked up.
Barry made for the door. Gag
was left alone with the man VIII
had meant to blackmail his wife
Kennedy broke a stiff silence.
"Listen!' he said abruptly. II
he laid up for a long time. / DON
like you and you hate me, but
like to pay my debts, and this on
won't wait. Pull up closer-I'v
got to talk fast"
The young doctor from tn
county seat said it was pneumonia
He spoke briskly of health an
youth and vitality, but on tn
second day he asked some od'
questions, and added a guarded re
mark about reduced resistance an,
evidence of a long emotional strain
He agreed, after a brief hesitation
to stay with them for the frs
twenty-four hours, provided some
one would return to his office wit
a message.
Petry almost lived in the gra,
car. News trickled in to Marston
carefully edited.
Late in that first day the ricl
visitor had come in with Petry
visibly tired and brief of speech
and kilograms had smoked alon,
the wires in some kind of code