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Show 26 THE MORMON LION " That's all there is left of us to be chilled-bones," I said. Lucy permitted me to lead her to the seat. But as Waller flung down an armful of brush at our feet and stooped to light it, she faced Chilcott with the insistence of a martyr. " Brother," she said, " pray do not tempt us. It would be wicked for us to eat more than our share.'' "You can't do that," he rejoined. "It would founder you to eat a tithe of what's your due." He went to the wagon and returned with a coffeepot and a pannikin half full of fresh beef. Waller ran to the creek for water, and the vessels were soon heating on the fire. The water in the pannikin was first to boil. Chilcott poured the thin broth into three tin cups, with a terse comment: " Weak and hot- good to start you on." The doctor sat m a half stupor, mumbling and sucking the piece of pork. Chilcott drew it from his mouth and, tilting back his head, slowly upturned one of the cups of broth to his lips. '.' Oh, pray, give him more! " implored Lucy, as Chtlcott set down the empty CUP,. "Not if you want him to ltve,' he replied. "Here's yours." " But I cannot-I cannot! " " Want me to throw it away? " "No, no! But I cannot. It would be selfish." '.' Well, I'm not going to waste it, girl,'' growled Chtlcott. "You've got to take it, either willingly or unwillingly. No use for you to scream. Jake, hold Dave if he tnes to interfere. If I can get a dose down a mule's throat, guess I can do as much with a girl." "Oh!" murmured Lucy. "lf you would compel me--" She reluctantly took the cup and began to sip, th<!ugh her eyes brimmed over with tears of protest. Chilcott turned to me with a grim determinatiOn that THE MORMON LION forestalled any futile resistance that I might otherwise have attempted. After Waller had replenished the water in the pannikin, Chilcott poured us each a cupful of very weak coffee. While we were sipping it he and Waller arranged a soft nest of blankets for us in the front of the wagon. They first lifted in Lucy and the doctor. . When Chilcott returned for me, I forced myself to tnc,1mre the truth. ' The girl will live- with proper care " answered Chilcott. ' " And her father? " . " Tc;>r;> far gone: It's not my first experience in this hne. I hat look m hts face-- You say he lost his wife?" " He does not wish to live. But for the sake of his daughter--" "No use, Dave. If he has given up, nothing can pull htm through. Maybe he'll last a week ; maybe an hour." "He asked me to draw his will," I murmured. "It is ready for signing. I'll ask you and Waller to witness tt before we start." " His will? Have you taken counsel on that ? " "Why should we? He leaves everything to his daughter." " Nothing to the Church? H'm! I'm not so sure." Chilcott looked at me, his big forehead creased in a meditative frown. " Has he much property? " "I believe not. Open-handed doctor, you know." " Well, in that case I 'll not counsel against it. Jake and I will sign as witnesses,'' he assented. Glancing away, he added in a casual tone: "It's hard to tell when they're starved like this. She has fine hair, and her eyes-- Must be rather good looking when she's fed up." " Good looking! " I replied. " She's a lovely girl, and as good as she is beautiful." " She'll be alone,'' he observed. |
