The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-05-12
Israel Kafka would ever learn what
had actually been happening to him.


had actually been happening to him.
while he fancied that he had been
travelling swiftly from place to place.
He could still wonder, indeed, that he
should have yielded so easily to Key
ork's pressing invitation to accompany
the latter upon such an extraordinary
flight, but he remembered then his last
interview with Unorna, and it seemed
almost natural that in his despair he
should have chosen to go away. Not
that his passion for the woman was
dead. Intentionally, or by an over
sight, Unorna had not touched upon
the question OF his love for her. In the
course of her otherwise we'll considered
suggestions.
The carriage stood before the door
OF Kafka's dwelling. Keyork got out
with him and stood upon the pave
ment while the porter took the slender
luggage into the house..
And now." he said, taking Kafka's
hand. II would advise you to rest as
long as you can. l suppose that it
must have been a fatiguing trip for
you, though I myself am as fresh as a
May morning. There 10 nothing
wrong with you, but you are tired.
Repose. my dear boy. repose. and
plenty Of it. That Internal Sicilian
doctor! I shall never forgive him for
bleeding you as he did. There is
nothing SO weakening. Good-by-I
shall hardly see you again today, I
fancy"
II cannot TELL" answered the young
man, %absently. But let me thank
you," he added, with a sudden con-
seriousness Of obligation, .'for your
pleasant company, and for making me
go with you. l dare say it has done
me good, though I feel unaccountably
tired-I feel almost old"
His tired eyes and haggard face
showed that this, at least, was no il
fusion. The fancied journey had
added ten years to his age in thirty
days, and those who knew him best
would have found it hard to recog.
nize the brilliantly vital personality OF
Israel Kafka in the pale and exhausted
youth who painfully climbed the stairs
with unsteady steps. painting for
breath and %clutching at the handrail
for support.
He will not die this time" re-
marked Keyork Arabian to himself. IS
he sent the carriage away and began
to walk toward his own home. mot
this time. But it was a sharp strain.
and it would not be safe to try it
again"
In the duel with death, however,
the life of one man was of small o n
sequence, and Keyork would have sac
riiced thousands to his purpose with
equal Indifference to their intrinsic
value and with a proportionately
greater interest in the result to be
attained:
In Unorna he had found the instru-
ment he had sought throughout a life
time. With her he had tried the
great experiment and pushed it to the
very end; and when he conducted
Israel Kafka to his home, he already
knew that the experiment had sue
ceeded. His plan was a simple one.
He would wait a few months longer
" ! 1lhdI ICSu1Uf Lie WOulu SOlCCb
his victim, and with Unorna's help he
would grow young again.
Then he wrapped his furs around
him and vent out again. Scarce a
hundred PAGES from Unorna's door he
met the Wanderer. He looked up
into the cold, calm face, and put out
his hand, with a greeting.
"You look as though you were in q
very peaceful frame of mind" OBJ
served Keyork.
Exactly" answered the sage, with
a deep rolling laugh. By-the-by,
have you been with our friend Unor-
NAP"
Eyes, I have just left her. It is
like a breath OF a spring morning to
60 there in these days"
"Do you know Israel Kafka?" he
asked suddenly.
'.Israel Kafka?" repeated the Wan
derer, thoughtfully, as though search
ing in his memory.
''Then you do not, said Keyork.
"You could only have seen him since
you have been here. He is one of
Unorna's most interesting patients,
and mine as well. He is a little
odd"
Keyork tapped his ivory forehead
significantly with one finger.
Mad" suggested the Wanderer.
Mad, if you prefer the term. He
has fixed ideas. In the first place, he
imagines that he has just been travel
ing with me in Italy, and is always
talking of our experiences. Humor
him if you meet him. He is in
danger of being worse if contradicted.
..But you will see foryourselfbefor
long. Good-by. I will go in and see
what is the matter with Unorna."
They parted, the Wanderer CON
tinuing on his way along the street
with the same calm, cold, peaceful ex-
preston which had elected Keyork's
admiration, and Keyork himself going
forward to Unorna's door. Every.
thing was as he had left it, and he was
glad to be certified that Unorna had
not disturbed the aged sleeper in his
absence. She started slightly when
he entered, and her brow contracted.