Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-06-12

"You might "a waited Susie. YOU
knew I'd a. come If I could:S
Then be whimpered q little and NUT
tered incoherently. Snoring Chauncey
woke himself with a fiercer snort, turned
over, and then all was still again. Gar
mans low voice spoke again presently
with something like awe in It now
"Are you goin' to croak, Lark p''
II guess so; Dan," shivering.. and a
little fretfullyr Its rough, Dan. Dan,'
after q minute, "do you know anything
you could say?'
Dan knew nothing appropriate to such
occasions except 'When little Samuel
woke, and heard his breakfast cookin =
He asked Lark if he thought it would dc
any good to say that.
mo, I'm afraid not, Larcom answered
Never mind, Dan ~
well, Pm sorry, Lark. / amt no
good, and don't know nothin'. And
amt got nobody to learn me. Lark" he
added after pause, 'what was goin' to
say to you, don't you 60 to have your wo-
man and her young one a-layin' on your
mind. If you give me leaf and tell me
where. / been blacksmithin' twenty year
now, and q money maxim business, and
amt afraid o. no man, give me hammer
and rasp,-and what say to you Lark is,
I'll see to 'em, such as it is"
Larcom lifted himself on his arm and
tried to look over the Swallowed, crouch
ing fellows face.
There's matches in Traps coat. Get
them," he said.
Garman CROPPED abont the bunk and got
them.
Light it," Larcome said. "Get up"
Garman rose on his knees. scratched a
match. Larcom saw the covering, half
naked figure Of the man, and stared hard
ugly face. Half-revealed faces rose and
looked at them out of the gloom.
DAN Carman," he said, his white lips
trembling, "lookin' in dyin' mans face
and sayin' rs you have, do you mean true
on the square ?"
And Garman prayed for eternla retribu-
ton on his soul If he did not.
$50 help you, Dan ?"
80 help me God !"
The match was out, and Larcom fell
back in the bunk. ''Thank y, Dan. l
believe yon", he said out Of the dark cor
ner. Il don't mind so much now"
He told him the place where they lived.
Garman felt for his hand and his fingers
recoiled when they found it, it was so
feshless, clammy, and cold. He fumbled
with it awkwardly minute. and then
slowed away under the clothes.
Don't mind me, go to bed now" Lar
com said. "Good night, DAM
'Good night, Lark. "I'll be right here
if you want me. INLAY by you till morn
in.'"
He cuddled himself down in a
ball on the floor, for cold; and after a
while he forgot cold and after while he
forgot all, and lay gently snoring. When
he rose in the dawn and dressed himself,
stiff and sore, Larcom was fast asleep,
and he did not wake him, but watched his
chance, put on the enemy's coat and cap,
and marched out boldly and got safely
away.
1t was pretty late when Dexter came
over and looked into Larcom's face, turn
ed partly away and he said to Chauncey
near by
"He's sleeping sweet and smiling to
himself. You bet he's dreaming Of the lit
tie chap"
He would not have walked him for the
world but he could not help leaning
over and laying his finger on his cheek
He stood up then, and turned to those
near him with an altered face.
''Lark's got the start Of us. boys" he
said. Lark's got home FLAMES I. Nc
Can.