Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-09-04

he was assailed by a new apprehension.
Suppose that Ricketts,. the marble cut
ter, should fail to inscribe the date Of
his death In the space left vacant for lit
There was almost no likelihood Of snch
an omission, but there was at least a
possibility Of il.
He glanced across the cemetery to-
ward Jerry uurley's unmarked mound
and shuddered
Then he thought laboriously
When he left the cemetery ia such
time as 70 avoid a delay of bis evening
meal and a consequent outhurst Of anger
on the part of his old h~ouaekeeper, he
bad taken a resolution.
Three score years and ten. says the
Bible" he muttered 30 himself as he
walked homeward The scriptural life
time u DO for me.
A week thereafter Old Tommy gazed
proudly upon the finished inscription
Died Nov. n. 1890. was the newest
bit of biography there engraved
"But IT'S two years aud more til Nov
II, 1880, said a voice at his side
Tommy merely cast an indifferent lock
upon the speaker and walked of without
q word.
The whole village now thought that
Tommy had become a m%ononiauiac upon
the subject Of his tombstone Perhaps
he had.
No one has been able to learn from his
friend, Billy Ssidmore, what thoughts
he may have communicated to the latter
upon the matter.
Tommy now lived for no other ap-
parent purpose than to visit his tomb.
stone daily He no longer confined his
walks thither to the pleasant days. He
went in weather the most p~er.lous to SO
old and frail q man
One Of his prospective heirs took sufii.
cient interest in him TO advise more care
Of his health.
"a can easily keep alive till the time
comes returned the antique There's
only a year left"
Rapidly his held upon life relaxed. a
week before Nov. II 1870. he went to
bed and staid thsra People began to
speculate as TO whether his unique pre-.
diction-or, | should shy, his decree
would be fulfilled TO the very day.
Upon the fifth dag Of his illness Death
threatened TO come before the time that
had been set for receiving him
isn't this the lOthf' the old man
mumbled.
mo" said his house5oercr, who. with
n of his nieces. the doctor, and Billy
S%kidhnore, attended the i'll man. Its
only the 9Th"
Then | must fight for two days more.
The tombstone must not lie"
Aud he rallied so well that it seemed
as if the tombstone wonld lie. neverthe-
less, for old Tommy was still alive at
1880 Oh the night of Nov. II. More.
over, he had been in his senses when last
awake, and there WIS every likelihood
that he would look at the clock when
ever his eyes should nest open.
"Tle cant live till morning. that's
sure, " said the doctor.
"But, good Lord! sou don't mean to
say he'll hold ont til after u o'clock
said Billy SSidmore, whose anxiety only
had sustained him in his grief At the APP
preaching dissolution of his friend.
Quite prubably." replied sbe doctor.
Good heavensl Tcuuy won't rest
easy in his grave if be doesn't die on the
llth The monument would be wrong.
ooh, hat won't matter" said the
niece.
Billy locked at her in aInazenent
Was his old friends sacred wish to mis-
carry thus?
Eyes, twill matter,' be said in a loud
whisper. And if time won't wait for
Tommy Of its ~ accord, we'll make it.
When did lie last see the ciock?'
"Half past o. said the housekeeper.
"Then well turn it back to TO- said
Skidmore, acting rs he spoke.
But he may hear the town clock
strike"
Billy said never a word, bat plunged
into his ~overcoat. threw on his hat and
hurried ont into the cold night.
''Ten minutes to midnight he said
as he looked up at the town clock upon
the church steeple. "Can ! skin up them
ladders in timer"
Tommy awoke once before the last
slumber Billy was by his bedside, as
were the doctor, the housekeeper and the
niece Ths old mans eyes sought the
clock.
Eleven" he murmured. Then be
was client. for the town clock had begun
to clang lie counted the<strolles-
eleven Then he smiled and tiled to
speak again.
"Aluost-live out--Dirthday-
/ sevcnty-tomhat0ne--al right.
He closed his eyes and. |inasnruch as
the town clock furnishes the official time
for Rearward, the published report OF
Tommy McGunys going records that be
passed at twenty I'VE minutes after II p
w., Noy. n. 1880.
Very few people know that time turned
back one houI aud a half in order tina.
the reputation OF Tommy Mctiufy's
tombstone tor veracity might be sporles-
IN the eyes Of future generations
Billy Slidmure, the sexton arranged
to have ReaIward time ready tor the sun
when 1t rose upon the following morn
ing.-R. n Stephens in Philadelphia
Press.
Injurious Eating.
There are many people who prefer
'gamy" or high meats, OF. in other
HsAaN. Al