The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-12-25

Doctor Breeding shook with a
murderous rage; Dan was like a
scotched snake, to be crushed UNI
der a grinding heel. The Doctor
looked over his shoulder toward the
path along which Nancy and Mary
Ann had disappeared. There was no
one in sight. His eyes searched all
around; and then he knelt beside
Dan again, his countenance comfort
ed. If the man were not now dead,
yet he must die!
But Nancy called, from the path:
''I'm coming, DAN" So Doctor
Breeding stood up quickly, brushing
his hands together, withdrawing
from the stricken man.
Yet he took only grudging and
reluctant hand in what immediate
ly followed. Thomas and Terrell
and Nancy and her father worked
together. Thomas had brought one
of the shutters used 20 sea- the WIN
dows of the house in winter; and
they laid it on the ground, and man.
aged as gently as possible to lift
Dan upon it. His breath whistled
through dry lips, and his mouth
twisted, but he did not speak or
complain.
They lifted him, and with Nancy
and her father at one end, Terrell
and Thomas at the other, they car
ried the shutter and its burden
across the court and through the
gate, and along the path toward the
house. They came to the kitchen
door. Ruth, and Margaret, the cook,
had made all ready there. They
bore Dan into the kitchen, and laid
the shutter upon which he rested
on the table, and Doctor Breeding
eelt the hurt mans pulse.
Nancy turned quickly to the serv-
ants. Margaret" she directed,
"you keep the kettles boiling. Ruth,
bring blankets and sheets ana pill
lows. Lots of them. Clan ones.
Don't let them touch anything, the
wall or anything"
Old Margaret, white-faced but
steady, turned to the stove. Ruth,
pale as death, departed to do as
Nancy babe her. Terrell stood si-
lent by the kitchen door, waiting for
commands; and Thomas went stol-
idly out of doors, lunpish man not
easily dismayed. Doctor Breeding
looked around at them all-saw
Margaret, her back turned, busy at
the stove, and he said softly:
NANCY, and you, Ira, you'd bet
ter leave me with him." He might
even now find the opportunity to do
what he intended.
But Nancy answered stoutly:
''I'm never going to leave him
again. Never!"
Then Mary Ann, her hands full,
came through the pantry. II got
the hospital on the phone," she re-
ported. They're sending every
thing. Nancy, have some one meet
the car at the landing. And I've
been rummaging the house for
things we could use." She spoke to
Doctor Breeding. "You can begin
with what I have here. By the time
you're ready to close the wound,
the things from the hospital will
have come"
He said stubbornly: "Dan is
sinking, Mary Ann. This is valor-
GUS, but it is futile too"
She deposited her burden on the
draining-board beside the sink and
took Dams wrist in her hand; and
after a moment she said crisply:
ellis pulse is not bad!"
Then, almost sternly: "Doctor
Breeding, I have seen you do mir
acles. You didn't do them with in
struments, and equipment. You did
them with the gift of healing that is
in you. You can do one nowl"
The mans eyes flickered uncer-
tainly, in a sort of desperation; and
beads of perspiration appeared up
on his brow. He repeated after her,
like a lesson learned by rote: 81
can do one now" Then his color
famed, and he seemed about to
speak, to refuse. But in the end, as
though surrendering, he said de-
cisively: "Quick, then!"
Mary Ann nodded; turned back to
the sink. 81 found this can of ether,
in the bathroom closet upstairs"
she reported. "It's never been
opened. And here's iodine, and al
cohol, and gauze for sponges-"
Mary Ann went to the stove to in
spect the things boiling there; she
nodded, satisfied. And she turned
to Nancy, looked at her apprais-
ingly.
"Do you want to stay, to help?"
she asked.
EYES," said Nancy.
"You will stand up to it," Mary
Ann decided. "But first, send some
one to meet the car from the hos
pital, at the landing"
Terrell volunteered: "I'n CO."
He was grateful for even this
small chance to be of help, hurried
away, and Mary Ann turned back to
Doctor Breeding. The man was still
like one dreaming, bawildered,
stunned. Mary Ann. because she