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Show "Yes, doctor. Bill Is goiuj; to stop liore on the way in, isn't lie?" I'anhilue nodded. "Ouyht to show up after while." Jane ran to the kitchen. She roused Qiioiijj to heat the water. '"No," continued I'ardaloe, deep in a saucer of hot coffee, "I didn't see it. I was over on the west side of the creek it's bad crossin' there. I don't know how Bill came up. They never could-a got him across down there. We cut over the reservation res-ervation and plugged for Gunlock " He pricked up his ears and Interrupted In-terrupted himself. ".Shucks! That sounds like somebody now!" Jane listened eagerly. "I can't hear anyone," she said. "You will In a minute. There they are again." Jane ran for the door. "Ilold on a minute. Missy," exclaimed Parda-loe. Parda-loe. "Let's make sure who It la." He opened the door himself, stepped quickly outside, and shut It behind him. Within a very few minutes, ages to Jane, she heard the stamping of horses. I'ardaloe flung the door open and called for Carpy. Jane hurried out with him. Drooping low, Denlson, Iron-wllled, Iron-wllled, had stuck to the end of the gruelling ride. Scott told him they had followed up the east bank of GUNLOCK By FRANK II. SPEARMAN ! Cupyritfhr Frank H. Spearman '. WNUHorvlct i CHAPTER XIV Continued 17 "I know, Dave; I know. What's her address?" "In my trunk, Rill," murmured McCrossen thickly. "I'romLse?" "I promise." "(Jive me your hand." I'unlaloe was the first to reuch ; 01 unlock on the way home shortly Ibefore daylight. He rode in on his jway to town to got hold of Dr. 'Carpy for Denlson, whose condition iwoiried him. ; Fortunately the surgeon was al-I al-I ready at Gunlock, whither he had been summoned to care for Sawdy. With Sawdy's flesh wound already al-ready bandaged, Carpy sat in the living room, drinking a pot of coffee cof-fee supplied by Jane. He was enjoying In leisurely fashion fash-ion lils third or fourth cup of steaming stimulant when the sound of hoofs was heard. In a moment a resounding rap came at the door. Juno started. In terrified appeal, she looked at the doctor. Carpy responded re-sponded by calmly wiping his lips Jane had Introduced napkins at (Junlock and motioning Jane to her bedroom. "Who's there?" he demanded curtly. "Kill Pardaloe!" came the booming boom-ing response. Carpy flung the door open. Jane ran out of the bedroom. '"Oh, Mr. Pardaloe !" she cried. "Whore Is Bill? Where is he?" "lie's on his way back to the hospital." hos-pital." "Is he hurt? Is he wounded? Tell me I" cried the frantic girl. "Why, no, yes that Is, he was almln" to get back to the hospital before Doc found out he was gone," parried the veteran awkwardly. Carpy Intervened sternly: "Where is he now? Talk, Bill I" "Ain't I talkln'? He's on the way here with Bob Scott." i "Then he's not hurt?" cried Jane. "Why, no, yes a little, maybe." ' "Where you from?" demanded Carpy, still stern. "Deep Creek." "Was there a fight?" ' "There was a little brush, Doc." "Was Denlson wounded?" ' "Wty I guess he was pinked, Doc." "Where was he hit?" "In the forearm. Doc. We got a tourniquet on that he got another In the stomach." "We'll bring him out, if that's nil. Who was In the fight? Talk fast !" "Dave McCrossen and Barney with Bill." "Where are McCrossen and Reb-stock?" Reb-stock?" "Right where they were when John Fryin' Pan left me. He was on his way to the Reservation to hunt up a couple of bucks to bury 'em and bring in the cattle." "Sit down here, Bill. Jane," directed di-rected the doctor, "get the boy a pot of coffee." "And boil plenty of clean water on the stove." "1 Know, Dave; I Know. What's Her Address?" the creek he himself on Rebstock's horse; how by great good fortune they had found a flask of whisky in Rebstock's saddle-bag, and that this had helped revive the wounded man when they halted to "epeir him; and how they had crossed Deep Creek at a reservation ford not far below Gunlock ranch. Carpy and Pardaloe lifted Denlson Denl-son down from the horse, Jane supported sup-ported his head and stooped to caress ca-ress him and murmur low words. They, laid him on her bed. While Carpy tore open Denlson'a clothing and made a hasty examination, exami-nation, buckets of hot water were brought In. The surgeon, with wearied back, presently straightened up. "Jane," he said solemnly, "you're a lucky girl. The bullet that meant death for your boy struck his belt buckle and tore around his side. Look here. This was all I was afraid of, this stomach wound. I didn't think so much about Bill, here. But, Jane, I didn't want you fixing for a funeral fun-eral when you ought to be fixing for a wedding! We'll get him back to the hospital In a few days." "Oh, no, Doctor," exclaimed Jane unsteadily, but with cold decision. "Why, what do you mean, girl?" "I mean he's at Gunlock to stay. He's never going to leave It !" (THE END) |
