FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   >>  
sharply and, without a word, strode back into the tent. Norah turned with a sudden movement to her father, clinging to the rough serge of his coat. Something like a tear fell on her upturned face as the strong arms enfolded her. "Why--Daddy--dear old Dad!" she whispered. It was nearly twilight when Dr. Anderson and black Billy rode into the clearing, to the joy of the anxious watchers. The doctor did not waste any words. He slipped off his horse and entered the tent. Presently Dick Stephenson came out and sat down beside Norah to await the verdict. "I can't do any good there," he said, "and there's no room." Norah nodded. Just then there seemed nothing to say to this son whose father, so lately given back from the grave, seemed to be slipping away again without a word. She slid her hand into his and felt his fingers close warmly upon it. "I can stand it," he said brokenly, after a little, "if he can only know we--the world--knows he was never guilty--if I can only tell him that. I can't bear him to die not knowing that." "He'd know it anyhow." The little voice was very low, but the lad heard it. "I--I guess he will," he said, "and that's better. But I would like to make it up to him a bit--while he's here." Then they were silent. The shadows deepened across the clearing. Long since the sun had disappeared behind the rim of encircling trees. The tent flaps parted and the doctor and Mr. Linton came out. Dick rose and faced them. He could not utter the question that trembled on his lips. The doctor nodded cheerily. "Well, Norah?" he said. "Yes; I think we'll pull the patient through this time, Mr. Stephenson. It'll be a fight, for he's old and weakened by exposure and lack of proper food, but I think we'll do it." He talked on hopefully, appearing not to see the question the son could not altogether hide. "Take him home? Yes, we'll get him home to-morrow, I think. We can't nurse him out here. The express-wagon's following with all sorts of comforting things. Trust your old Mrs. Brown for that, Norah. Most capable woman! Mattresses, air pillows, nourishment--she'd thought of everything, and the wagon was all ready to start when I got to Billabong. By the way, Billy was to go back to show Wright the way. Where are you, Billy? Why haven't you gone?" "Plenty!" said Billy hastily, as he disappeared. "Queer chap, that," said Dr. Anderson, lighting a cigarette. "That's about the only remark he
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   >>  



Top keywords:
doctor
 

disappeared

 

Stephenson

 

nodded

 

question

 
father
 
Anderson
 

clearing

 
hastily
 

Plenty


cheerily

 

patient

 
deepened
 

remark

 
trembled
 

Linton

 
encircling
 
parted
 

cigarette

 

lighting


proper

 

comforting

 

things

 

shadows

 

Billabong

 

thought

 

capable

 

pillows

 

nourishment

 

express


talked

 
appearing
 

Mattresses

 

weakened

 

exposure

 
altogether
 

morrow

 
Wright
 

slipped

 
anxious

watchers
 

entered

 
Presently
 
verdict
 

twilight

 

Something

 
clinging
 

movement

 
sharply
 

strode