The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-06-08
Retribution
BY JOHN SCOTT DOUGLAS
g Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

Seven years of marriage had done
nothing to GUST Rachel from her
unique position as nurse for Prairie
vile, for there was not another to
replace her.
"Tn hurry doctor!" she cried,
correctly interpreting his express
sion. Overnight case?"
He shook his fine head. It'll be
over, one way or the other, within
an hour. Mile Frink's taken pois-
on"
Rachel flew. In less than three
minutes the Doctors f1ivver was
rafting along the country road with
its two occupants.
Don't seem as if Mile had the
nerve" said the nurse.
Old Doctor Jim gave her a star
tied glance. George Frink called
me. She told him she'd taken ar
senic."
George seem much excited?"
mo; but he's not the excitable
kind"
RacheTs generous mouth hard
ened. THAT doesn't mean he isn't
terribly cut up about it. I know
I'd be, if I'd done what he's done
for Mile. Eight years he's put up
with that womani"
Kind of fond of him yourself,
weren't you, Rachel?"
She laughed, coloring. mot more
than twenty other girls. There's a
wistful small boy quality about
George, for all his bigness. 1t makes
a woman feel like mothering him.
Everyone loves George"
Like big, good-natured bear"
chuckled the doctor. Awkward,
mathematician appealing"
''That's what I mean! Isn't it
shame someone like George should
pick Mile? A little snip of thing
with sharp tongue and vinegary
disposition! Spoiled, Mile is. And
George is too easy-going to handle
her"
George met them at the door. His
/ bigness wasn't merely the bigness
of stature. 1t went deeper; down to
man. His eyes were a vivid blue,
contrasting with the bronze of his
face. And now that face was troub-
led.
Doctor Jim squeezed his hard
arm. Sorry, George"
George showed them into a bed
room. Here was the feeling of space
and freshness and sunlight. There
was, however, one shadow in the
brightness-the woman groaning on
the bed -..
! go out, George" she moaned.
He went out, hurt look in his
blue eyes. The woman had a frail
prettiness which was fading. She
listened to his retreating footsteps,
and then raised her hennaed head,
her green eyes contemptuous.
HE believes I've taken poison"
she said petulantly.
The doctor stood very still. "Hav-
emit your" he asked finally.
'No!" she snorted. 81 told him
that if he didn't sell out and take me
to the city, I'd poison myself. He
didn't believe me so I had to prove
i'll"
Doctor Jim quietly opened his
bag and withdrew the stomach
pump.
Mile Frink stiffened, her green
eyes suspicious. "What are you go
ing to do?" she demanded sharply.
Pump out your stomach" he
said grimly. "People intent on sui
eide often declare they haven't TAX
en- poison but I can't take
chances!"
1t was subdued and Inundated
Mile who finally said in a weak
whisper, "Poison would have been
easier than thatI" She turned a
white face on the pillow. 'Send
George in to me-"
George came numbering in, his
face expressive of his anxiety.
George" Mile faltered, "I-I
didn't take poison. I'm just a
cheap" her eyes brimmed, and
her voice became husky: George,
when these two heathens were tor
turing me, l thought was really
going to die. And I thought, If I
ever come out of it, I'll try to be
IA good sport, mean it, Georgel"
He nodded his tawny head. The
doctor took his arm and led him out
out of the room, leaving Rachel to
clean up.
give seen too much of life tc
believe much in such sharp right
J about faces" Doctor Jim said.
But, somehow l believe Mile
means it."
George appeared not to hear. He
stared at the floor.
"That stomach-pump is enough
punishment to drive horse sense
into anyone's head" grunted the
doctor.
Still George stared at the floor.
Doctor Jim gripped his arm.
Don't you understand, George7
Mile didn't take poisonl"
George glanced at the doctor, and
the corners of his mouth puckered
with just the suggestion of smile.
NO." he said; 81 knew she
| hadn't when | called Vol. Doc