Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-12-06

anu W tiluh tudt one single piece OF
work had made all the diiferencel All
that had been done might in moment
be undone, If an enemy Of Bobs-sup.
posing him to have an enemy could
get into the studio and maliciously
shatter the Hero" with a few blows
of the mallet.
Next morning, when the faint
wintry sunlight looked in at Bannis-
ter's little curtained window, it found
him lying awake in bed yawning
drowsily. He glanced at the clock on
his mantelpiece, and saw that it was
nearly ten, and closed his eyes again
with comfortable sigh, But just as
he did so he heard Il loud knock at the
street door below, followed moment
later by the murmur of hurried voices,
then sound of quick footsteps on the
stairs and somebody rapping sharply
on the door.
''Yes?" he shouted.
"Bobl Bobl'
"That you, ALI? Come in"
The door was pushed open, and
Maiden came hurrying in, with
white, scared face and Mortified look
in his eyes.
"Oh, Bob!" he exclaimed, breathless-
ly. II have news for you. Bad news.
Terrible news"
"Eh9 What is itP" demanded Bob,
sitting up in bed.
"Why-why," stammered Maiden,
when reached the studio this morn
ing, the very first thing | saw as
went in was your Hero"
"YesP"
Snashed-smashed into atomsl"
Bob gave long, low whistle.
"Well," he said speaking slowly and
thoughtfully, perhaps, after all, it's
the very best thing that could have
happened to it,"
"What" shouted Maiden, ARE you
dreaming? Are you mad?"
mo. dare say I've been dream
ing" said Bob, quietly. "What mean
is this-this accident puts us on our
old footing again The breaking of
the Hero, as it were, restores what
was broken, or beginning to break, of
our old friendship. I'd rather the
Hero broke than orr friendship, Ali. !"
Maiden looked at him earnestly for
moment
Look here, Bob" he said, hoarsely,
81 know what is in your thoughts.
You think did it, and you are making
excuses for me-"
mo, no, Alf-"
"But you are. You know how jeal
GUS and mean | was last night-what
brute was-a selfish, unmanly
brute. And you think did it. 1t is
only natural that you should. But, on
my word OF honor, did not do it-I
did not do it!'' cried Maiden, eagerly,
and with tears in his eyes
Il know you didn't do it," said Bob,
positively.
"IIow can you know? Who should
you suspect but me, after all | said last
night2 I-who should have been the
very first to have congratulated you,
to be glad with you and proud of you
to meet you with nothing but miscr-
able envy and unfriendly, selfish re-
grets. Oh, Bob, lay awake last night
thinking about it; couldn't sleep, |
was so ashamed of myself. Believe
me, old fellow, all my envy was only a
passing feeling, springing out of my
bad luck. didn't really in my heart
feel what | said 1t was only that
your good luck, by contrast, made me
more fully aware of my own bad
! luck"
81 knew It'll felt sure of It'll" cried
Bob.
"And | got up this morning, only
anxious to apologize for my miserable
conduct, and assure you how truly
glad was that you had made lucky
hit at last; and here-when | get tc
the studio-the first thing see is the
Hero shattered to fragments" said
Maiden. "And yet you don't seem tc
feel it half so much as do"
"Well," said Bob, 'it is relief tc
me to think that there is no longer
anything to separate us, to make me
too proud 20 be your friend or to hu
initiate you"
"Ahl you haven't forgotten my
wordsl" cried Maiden. you think
broke it; but | didn't. And shall
never rest until have found ont the
villain who did it, so that | may re
move from your mind every shadow o
suspicion against me
my dear fellow, know you did no
do it. And think know the villaiI
who did," said Bob, shrewdly.
"You do? Who did it? | shall neve
feel comfortable till find outl"
Don't say any more about it.
know perfectly who did it."
GLOW do you know? Who was it
You won't tell mc2 No; because yo'
think | am the man, though you won
own itr
Nothing of the sort. / tell you
know who did it." cried Bob. 9TH
fact is, as ! walked home last night
felt the injustice of what you had beef
saving, and what brute was to talk
pride in what so humiliated you
After all these years our old friend
ship was breaking up, and all through
me, as you may say. Hadn't you an
been happy together oil our lives
Should ever be SO happy in any Gil
cumstances without your friendship
With the knowledge, too, that ! ha
humiliated you and estranged yo
from mel Well, that's how ! though
it all over as | came home, an
couldn't stand it. was pair
ing you and myself, too. Success
| wasn't worth such price. felt it S
strongly that suddenly made up m
| mind toto show you that WASH
} such selfish, cold hearted, ambition
wretch as | seemed. ] turned an
| went straight back TO the studio
and
{ what! You don't mean to say"
"Yes. / do" said Bob, cheerfully.
, fell upon the Hero with couple {
. hammers and smotc him hip and thigl
and smas bad him un myself."- 'Farg