Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-02-02

MS Shoulder. Its time for the train
now; we'd better get home and to bed
betimes, so as to be at the shop early"
sGo on-I1l follow you directly"
While he Leaned over the porch ratings
watching Joe's broad figure crossing the
sunny lawn, the blacksmith muttered
half aloud 10 himself:
"Wl@it cursed bee is in his bonnet
now? He said 'the fortune Of noble;
and then he gave a vexed. indulgent
laugh. His patience was boundless with
poor, visionary Len, but this tried it
hard. Joe was the younger Of the two,
but his brilliant brother (as he deemed
hirn) had been dead weight on his
broad shoulders all of his life, since the
DAYS he ran off from the little public
school to hang around old book stalls.
There he had picked up certain language
and scraps of theories which were Greek
to Joe. 1t had been the result of months
of plotting on his part to induce Hibbin
to include the Eighty fellow in the offer
of partnership with himself; he thought
he had him settled for life sAnd now"
he groaned, ''hes going to fly the track
before he's begun on it"
AS for Leonard, his heart ached look
ing after his brother. After today their
paths separated, God only knows for
how long. He gave himself a mental
hug, thinking how good brother he had
been-how self sacrificing. Had he not
made plans for Joe all his life which that
dull fellow never could have projected?
When they were boys it was Joe who
should command the pirate ship of which
he would be but bo'sen; it was Joe who
should be chief of the gallant band that,
following Burr's scheme, were to con-
guer some unknown territory In New
Mexico, and set up kingdom among
the prairie dogs and buffaloes and
gigantic red cactii. Joe was to wear the
plumed cap there, be Inca, caliph-what
not? Il always took the second place.
When l ran off to California it was to
dig for gold for him. 1t was no fault of
mine that failed and that he took his
wages to bring me back. I've been a
good brother to Joe Heath" He repeat
ed this again and again, walking up and
down, strengthening himself IN some
way by it. Its for his sake and for
Winny's sake that II break loose from
them today. I'll maze this venture, and
throw away every other chance. For
them. Not for myself, God knows!"
When the wind grew chilly and the
shadows Of the Lombardy poplars fell
heavily aslant the darkening porch, he
went inside.
1t was an old, unpicturesque room.
Unmeaning monotony even at its early
day of building had fallen on Philadel-
phia houses. The ceilings were high,
the many windows almost flush with the
fat walls. Paneling and doors, once a
raw, shiny white, were now yellow and
streaked with mold. The papering
tapped widowed from the wall.
Leonard dragged in log from the
lawn and seated himself on it in the mid
die of the bare floor.
Night was falling. when a hasty step
rung through the vacant rooms, and
man pushed open the door behind him.
A little man, in clothes of glossy brown,
that bagged about his lean limbs; a peer
ing skinny face, thatched over by cur
ly black wig; heavy gold seals dangling
below his waiStcoat.
incoming in the dark, Heath? No
fire? A little blaze and a hot drink
would have put a different face on mat
tiers. You Americans think Of nothing
but Observation-Disclosures"
az came here for business"
"WeL, then, to it at once" putting
down tin lantern on the floor and open
ing the bulls eye. A broad bar of light
fell across their faces into the dark room.
The sooner out of this damp the better.
And have no time to lose; l must be in
Liverpool by the 9Th. If you refuse my
offer l must look up another tenant for
the Fontaine house tomorrow. Tch-h!
1t is enough to freeze ones marrow"
sneezing and his teeth chattering.