The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-21

ship, partnership, in the "onr" and the
familiarity OF Don't torment me- so,'
turned him little giddy; so, promising
catergorlcelly to be faithful to his charge,
he hurried away.
Kilbraith had been newsbaner ronortoy
too long to fail in obtaining ehtrancv 10 anv
house, however tightly 1t might be scaled
1t was dark on Saturday evening, and the
policeman was settling the national policy
at the corner grocery, so Kilbraith recon.
noitered. There was no CLINT OF light any.
where, but standing with his ear rlucd
against the basement door he could hesr n
slight muflled sound recurring at irregular
intervals. After while he could dislin.
guish it clearly as q cough undoubtedly
the cough OF that old woman. After cogi-
tating a good while Kilbaith walked of
and brought up before little drug shop on
the nearest corner. lie entered and adj.
dressing brisk young man in attend
ance, asked for good cigar
The brisk young man took several sam.
pies from the case and flung them down
before his customer. Kibraith selected
Havanas, and lighting Que himself handed
the other to the young man.
"Do YOU smoker" ne said.
"Thank you. Don't care il do" an
swered tho clerk, accepting the prollercd
cigar.
The way being paved for a familiar chat,
! kilbrailh, after discovering that the brisk
young clerks name was Joe, entered skill.
fully upon his investigations concerning
the neighborhood, and tho mysterious
house in particular. But when iudicious
questioning had shown that Joe knew
nothing OF the house and nnocenlly be-
licved it empty, the visitor ungrntcfully
regarded that young man with unspeak-
able disgust, aud ielt greatly at odds with
himself for having chosen this stalking
ground. But Just before midnight he be-
gan TO respect his own Judgment i'm
mensely, for there came straight into that
shop q slouching old man, aud he rccor.
nlzed the greasy coat aud tabby face OF
Chubbuck
II want some MORE" said Chubbuck,
putting bottle on the counter.
AN right" answered Joe; "hut, by
the;,way, who's this Tor? You've had u
lot."
ITS for my sister," grumbled Club
buck.
well, | say" remarked Joe, with em-
| phasis, you'd better look sharp, for il she
dies without doctor you'll have a coro-
ner Inquest aud no end OF fuss. Come.
you'll have TO get certificate. don't
want to be hauled up about giving medi-
cines without prescription round 10 tene.
mcnl-housc people,"
"CorJner's hlnquest?" mumbled Club
buck, wi,ha vulgar English accent. "Well.
p'raps rs I'd better get somebody. What
DO they askY Tn poor, but L II pay a lit
tle-not much"
SAY, Joe, " Kilbraith called out, ",here's
DIR. Funk, on the avenue; he's cheap"
Old ChnDbuck turned the buignt ewes
upon kil5ralth, who held his breath
until he had made suo there wa, no
recognition IN them. Then he informed
Chubbuck I'm friend Of Joe'a. | have
to walk up the avenue toward home. IN
go with you"
Tell the DOCTOR" begged Chubbuck.
with conf lcnlial anxiety, and vet pyin,
kilbraith sideways with uneasincss and
suapiclol-'tcll MIN you know me; that
Iin poor man. Tie must come cheap.
III pay little; not much-not much"
II was easy enough, rs Kilbraith met
tn doctor, 10 speak a wotd IN his ear easv
enough TO write dis patch 10 be delivered
10 Miss Bryce in the morning, aud easy
enough TO bring two inen from police
station TO watch on side tho house. IL was
easy too, this time, 10 got in, Or the doctor
opened the door and led him to tho mack
basement kitchen. whore, on a bed in the
corner, lay the poor old creature he was
commissioned 10 serve. A wrctchrd FIRE
burned low IN tho grea, dirty cooking.
stove, a few Chairs stood about, and over
everything lay tho CRIME OF years. The
front room also had n bed in IL, and here,
bclows,Uirs, evidently the two had lived,
while the rest OF the house was given over
10 the rats that were squcling aud tumb.
ling IN all the walls
Chubbuck, who had followed at the
doctors heels, inquired, rs kilbaith came
In. what does he want hcrcY
81 told him 10 come" said the doctor
sternly. "N0w there's gonyto DO a death,
and We must know everything Is night or
thcrell be trouble. Is This woman your
sister,
well, no, answered Chubbuck, "she
hain.t Shes just an old cieiur ns I've
goi the earc Ct, and heycylhing's right.
You can hask 'er II you want 10, but I
suppose she couldn't speak word II she
tried, eh7'
"No; she'll dio very soon." said the
on the weird face la the bed, on the roll
Ing, hali-closed eyes, the sunkcn month.
and few white elf-lockA The cough
sounded muilled now aud dull, as II the
grave were already closing her In.
Chubbuck, being at best ghoulish, was
not pleasant TO see as he said There
ha!n't no 'Ope, Is thcrc2 Dear dearl She
can't speak nor move, can she2 Dear
dcarl" And bending over tho bed lac
touched her.
She gave q siranglcd scream, and the
doctor commindci, STORMY, LET her
aloncl"
"Oi c.: se,' answered Chubbuck; "but
hevofythny'S right Shelikes me. You'll
see rs heycfything's right" Whcrcupon
the doctor gave him AN order 10 bring her
some medicine 10 ease her nj the last, aud
took care II should be found only In dist
ant part OF the city.
kiibriith anl the doctor sat long In
silence, listening 10 the mlllng breath,
until unexpectedly there came q respite.
sho opened her eyes. put out a skinny
hand toward some liquid food that WIS on
the sloyo; kilb-aith brought IL 20 her,
aud she drained the cup almost greedly.
She looked nj tbs doctor with those eyes,
keen even now, then she looked NJ Xii.
braiih, who was holding the lighted
candle, long AMI steadily, aud having
looked, she pronounced distinctly the
name. Kenneth"
kilbraiih. In nsionishmcnt, nearly
dropped both cup and candle, anl siam.
mcrod: "Why, size spoke my name. Is
her mind wandoring2 and by some chance
las she known 40 ncbody OF that name"