for that.
This is my lucky day. He isn't going to come."

When he reached the back door he opened it and stepped inside. Of all
the barren places of crude, disheartening ugliness the Harvester ever
had seen, that was the worst.

"I want a glass and a spoon," he said.

The Girl brought them.

"Where is she?"

"In the next room."

At the sound of their voices a small girl came to the kitchen door.

"How do you do?" inquired the Harvester. "Is Mrs. Jameson asleep?"

"I don't know," answered the child. "She just lies there."

The Harvester gave her the glass. "Please fill that with water," he
said. Then he picked up the bucket and went into the front room. When
the child came with the water he took a bottle from his pocket, filled
the spoon, and handed it to her.

"Hold that steadily," he said.

Then he slid his strong hands under the light frame and turned the face
of the faded little creature toward him.

"I am a Medicine Man, Mrs. Jameson," he said casually. "I heard you were
sick and I came to see if a little of this stuff wouldn't brace you up.
Open your lips."

He held out the spoon and the amazed woman swallowed the contents before
she realized what she was doing. Then the Harvester ran a hand under
her shoulders and lifting her gently he tossed her pillow with the other
hand.

"You are a light little body, just like my mother," he commented. "Now I
have something else sick people sometimes enjoy."

He held the fruit juice to her lips as he slightly raised her on the
pillow. Her trembling fingers lifted and closed around the sparkling
glass.

"Oh it's cool!" she gasped.

"It is," said the Harvester, "and sour! I think you can taste it. Try!"

She drank so greedily he drew away the glass and urged caution, but the
shaking fingers clung to him and the wavering voice begged for more.

"In a minute," said the Harvester gently. But the fevered woman would
not wait. She drank the cooling liquid until she could take no more.
Then she watched him fill a small pitcher and pack it in a part of the
ice and lay some fruit around it.

"Who, Ruth?" she panted.

"A Medicine Man who heard about you."

"What will Henry say?"

"He won't know," explained the Girl, smoothing the hot forehead. "I'll
put it in the cupboard, and slip it to you while he is out of the room.
It will make you strong and well."

"I don't want to be strong and well and suffer it all over again. I want
to rest. Give me more of th