The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1892-09-08
sWhcn did l get hcrer he asked,

come
6" .Goodv he snid, in answer to my
first sentence. Il was afraid that
had been sick on your hands-hat l
had lost time
".No, you have only been hero
about twelve hours, l replied. Bet
ter 60 to sleep. You look as if you
needed it. You have had worse time
than we have
"sNo, l am not going to sleep
again. he said, in a tone of decision
{" You'd better,' l said. 'We will
have a sick man on our hands. You
need sleep before you can eat-what
we can give YOU
"I've got to get away from here
tomorrow he said, smiling, conf
IDENTIFY.
".You can't do it," l said. 1T is
no use to try. You'll he a dead man
if you do, before tomorrow night
".Oh, am going he answered,
quietly. -
i" Try to get little more sleep
them urged coaxingly, pretending to
humor him.
"I can't he answered, frctfully.
81 begged him to try, and he turned
over in his blankets. He tossed for
awhile. Then he attempted to be
still, feigning sleep. Al last he drew
himself up with jerk.
"I can't do it, he said feverishly.
'Why don't you sleep YOURSELF he
asked, trying to be cheerful. Have l
got your blankets?'
"sYes's l said, 'but don't want
them. l can sleep in the daytime.
II about all we have to do
"'Well,' he said, propping himself
up and looking at me with his dark
eyes, I'm glad l tumbled into your
camp. was about gone.' A faint
smile passed across his lips.
"tWe will pull you around in good
shape said encouragingly, but
did not believe what l said. There
was something strangely unreal about
his brightness and clearness of mind.
"I am all right now, he said cheer
|, 10 Of
what l have had. Pll get a good
start in the morning.
"'We'll talk about that later,' /
said quietly.
"'But am going,' he replied
quickly, with a little ring in his voice.
"I did not answer him.
"I have been at it six days. he
said, looking at me.
"fWhatp l cried, incredulously.
"'Six days. he repeated calmly.
Il started with my pack-grub. l
think I've been walking evor since, he
added dreamily. Il can't rememb er
much about it,
"'We talked till morning. He told
me what he was trying to do. He
and his brother had been raising cat
tie. They got caught in very bal
condition. His brother had fallen
sick when they began TO suffer from
the terrible weather. He had been
stark staring mad most of the time
for the last six weeks. In his fever
he had moancd and cried about get
ting Il letter sent East. In his lucid
intervals he had begged his brother
piteously to write one for him and
get it TO tho railroad. 1t WAS the
same old story-a woman.
"And am carrying the letter to
the railroad now,' he said with little
SMILE of satisfaction. 'He is tortured
with the thought that she will be wor-
ried about him. So have lied in the
letter and said that his right arm is
broken so that he cannot write and he
has dictated it to me- He smiled
happily.
"' It's selfish enough of him. l
said savagely, looking at the boys
wasted form and white face, 'to sac
ritice you, no matter how much he
loves her..
"'Oh, he doesn't know he an
swered quickly, and his eye flashed
warningly at me. Gle doesn't know
how bad it is. He's been in his bunk
ever since he began. He doesn'
know he added, his chin sinking on
his chest and his eyes closing TO hide
the pain, that we have lost every
hoof and that we are beggars.'