A Telegram From Mexico

"Will you help me find my way to the Emergency Hospital?"

       Shesa hurried along by the path she thought she had taken to reach the cabin, but after walking ten minutes, found herself going in the wrong direction.

       "How dreadful!" she exclaimed, "when I am in such a hurry!"

       She looked about her. "It is nearing sunset," she whispered, looking at the sky. "Oh, I wish I knew the way!"

       Just at that moment a noise in the underbrush startled her. Although very brave, she was dreadfully afraid of snakes, even harmless ones, but she laughed when she saw a tiny prairie dog scamper out of the bushes, stand on his hind feet and look about him with blinking eyes.

       "How foolish I am!" she thought, but shuddered again as she heard someone stepping up behind her.

       "I beg pardon," said a gentlemanly voice and turning, you can imagine how relieved Shesa was to see a United States soldier standing with his hat in his hand.

"Oh, Doctor! Can't it be saved?"

       "Oh," she cried happily, "I'm so thankful to see you: Will you help me find my way to the emergency hospital?" Then she stopped and laughed. "I must apologize for speaking this way," she said, "but you will understand my excitement when I explain all that has happened to me this afternoon."

       The soldier quickly led the way as she talked.

       They soon arrived at the emergency hospital, and after Shesa's explanation, the doctors took her in a field ambulance up to the cabin, the soldier showing the way.

       Within two hours, Private Brave lay on a clean white cot, with clean dressings on his arm and comforting broth in his stomach.

       "I feel a hundred per cent better already," he said to Shesa as she kissed him good-night. "In the morning I'll be well."

       But in the morning the doctors shook their heads. " I'm afraid that arm will have to be amputated," said the chief surgeon.

       "Oh, Doctor!" exclaimed Shesa, "can't it be saved?"

       "If it is saved," said the doctor gruffly, not liking to show how sorry he was for the pretty nurse, "it will be saved for a dead man. A neglected infected wound, even small, may mean gangrene. This is a large, badly neglected infected wound!"

       Shesa bit her lips and held back the tears, saying, "Of course, if it's to save his life, Doctor " Then she went out to telegraph to her family.

The telegram read: Ima found, wounded, home soon as possible. Will bring Shesa.

       Oh, how I hope all comes out right," she thought.

Introduction: Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, A Telegram From Mexico,  16, 17, 18, 19