No. III. A DELICATE OPERATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9534, 5 May 1909, Page 4

No. 111. A DELICATE OPERATION.

There's a lot I could write about Rosie Rhyne: but one chapter of her will be sufficient: —

A nice girl was Rosie Rhyne. A tall, well-shaped girl, too ; and a fine singer, and only eighteen. Everyone round our district liked Rosie— everyone except Charlie Brown and Dave. They didn't dislike her, though. They loved her — loved her heart and soul. They were mad about her, in fact; and mad about __ch other. . Charlie , Brown saw^ more of Rosie, though, than Dave- -did — so everyone said. . Charlie was built -. different to Dave. There was more go In him. Whenever he went to Rosie s place he would always remain for dinHen whether he was asked to, or not, ; and all that sort of thing. Besides, ftosie's brother was after Charlie's •ister, and that gave Charlie a pull over Dave. By helping Rosie's brother he was able to make, chances for himself that could never enter into Dave's life. But Dave was a patient young man — a long-suffering sort of lover, and a rreat Deliever ,m the hoary old lie that "everything comes, to the chap who waits." Dave waited.

Dave's opportunity came, however — came the day Rosie was bitten on, the lip by a red spider, and he, haying voluntered his services, was sent, full gallop, for the doctor. It never occurred to Dave to hurry Charlie off for the medico, and remain behind, himself, to soothe Rosie, and cheer her up by sitting beside her on the sofa and Rtrokiug her yellow hair, and murmuring nice things in her ear. -!h, no, Pave never thought of anything like that till it was too late. In that reipect Dave was an Englishman. • Tlie doctor was absent on an " urgent ease" when Dave, all dust and perspiration, reached the place, and wouldn't return for twelve hours. The nurse was very sorry about it — so she said; but that didn't give Dave any comfort or help him at all. "Won't be back for twelve hoursP" h-e said, frowning heavily, after the curse had repeated the painful communication to him at least six times.

"Fully that" — she answered, varying it a little, And looking away absentmindedly. " Oh, dammit !" Dave said, feelingly. ''The nurse became attentive again. She stared at him, and then broke into a half smile.

"Twelve hours!" Dave said again, looking up and down the verandah. " Twel-ve— hours." With a broad smile from the nurse.

"Blast 'imi" Dave said. • The. nurse laughed right out, then composed herself and asked : "Is it a very urgent case?" "Me girl's bit be a red spider" — Dave answered in a broken voice. "Oh!" — prompt. v from the nurse — lt in cases of that kind the only thing to' do is to make an incision in the wound and euck the poison out. Then you could drive her in, and the doctor would be here, perhaps." " Make a what?" Dave said, puzzled-

looking. "An incision — that is, cut the wound with a clean razor." , "Oh, yairs/' Dave said, beginning to .understand — ".I know." / Then after a pause: , ' ' The wound did ' you say ? " '"Yes, cut., the wound. to Open, it and make it bleed." . " But she, wasn't shot with anysiuiig"—Dave explained^--" she was bit be a spider I"" TW nurse was a lady. She didn't laugh at Dare. She pretended she bad misunderstood him, and said: "Well, it doesn't matter; just lance the part that was bitten." "Yairs, yairs; now I understand/' Dave replied eagerly, and waited to hear no more. The next moment he was gone again.

Rhjne's humble dining-room was filled, with anxious sympathisers when Dave alighted from his horse and rushed in. Disappointment •''filled their laces, however, when they saw the doctor had not come.

"He's away, and won't be back till to-morrow," Dave jerked out. 1 "Till to-morrow I" came sadly from them all.

" But they told me all what I'm to do," Dave added, assuming an air of wisdom and superiority. " Get me a razor. A slit has ter be made in th' bite."

" Oi told yez that," Regan explained with a triumphant glare at the others. "Oi told yez."

A razor was procured, and while Regan and Charlie Brown held Rosie lightly and tenderly, Dave took the razor and operated on her lip. Rosie never flinched. Turning to Charlie, Dave said, handing him the razor, "Hold that." Charlie held it tight, and watched closely for the next move. " Now then," Dave said, extending his two long arms like a plain turkey taking wing, and brushing everyone away from Rosie. Then he closed 'them about her, and, put.ing his head down, fastened his lips on to hers and begau to suck the poison out. Dave worked bard and made a noise like a pump. "H'n-n-yum," he murmured at intervals.

Ah, it was an affectionate-looking operation, and Rosie didn't seem to mind it at all. The others all regarded it the right way too, and they looked on with faces as solemn as a church — all except Charlie Brown. He kept shifting restlessly about, and changed colour, and when " H'n-nyum " owme from Dave again. Charlie poked htm with the handle of the razor and growled: '

"That ought to do, oughtn't it?"

Without disengaging his arms from Rosie, Dave let go with a " flouk," and turning bis eyes to Charlie, s_>at on the floor and said: "Some o' th' pizen." Then, like an infant interrupted at the breast, he turned longingly to the wound, again, and murmured as he fastened himself to it : " H?n-n-yum." Ah, it was a beautiful time Dave was having. It was really a feast foi- the gods. ' At last, however, Rosie became restless, and confessed with an effort to "feeling a lot better." . Then Dave ■lowly released his hold and sat back •taring at Rosie with a glow on his face.

"It'll have to be done again in the -nomin'," he said — "that was the instructions."

Dave lied; hut the lie was justifiable. Rosie improved wonderfully, and became herself again within a few hours. And next morning, when Dave turned up to attend to the wound again, he

found Charlie Brown with the .patient in his arms. Dave stared, then coughed and mumbled "MorninV Charlie swayed about and murmured "H'n-n---yum." Then he -looked round and spat, and said, " Pizen." '