The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-11

rouse him you will do him more good than
all the doctors In the world can"
Brydell walked rapidly through the
fast-closing evening to the little tavern
in back street. The proprietor, in his
shirt-sleeves. answered his inquiries civilly
enough.
"We're doin' all we can for poor Grubb,"
he said, "but never see man so hope
less"
Brydell stumbled up the narrow stairs
to the little back room. where. in response
to his knock. Grnbb's voice weakly
answered, ''come in" Brydell entered.
On the narrow bed Grubb's gaunt figure,
only a little while ago so tr m and soldierly.
was stretched out. His skin had lost It's
rudy glow and was quite grayisb. and his
eyes had sunk back into his head until
they seemed cavernous. Brydell advanced
to the bed and took his hand. He was not
prepared for the change in poor Grub,
and his boyish face wore a startled look.
81 knowed you would come as soon as
you could" the marine began. Il asked
for you right after-rigiit after-lt hap
pened. They told me you was sick. l
mighty comfor. to me to know there's
one honest boy in the world"
Brydpll could not saw a word. He sat
down in a chair by the bed, and in spite of
every effort to control himself tears started
fIom his eyes and fell on Grubb's thin
hands.
"Now. Mr.. Brydell, what are you
a-cryin' for? You don't want me to live in
this here world where things is so hard.
And you see I'm to blame some about thai
boy. I give him all / had. and didn't
require nothin' of him in return. When
he first began to be ashamed Of me, instead
of maxim him to see as how l was to be
treated with respect. because was his
father and a respectable man to boot, let
il go and sneaked out or his way. But l
think he must "a been born a liar. cause
your father the leftenant INDUCED you
just as much as 1 did my boy, but You alters
was IN and down truthful boy"
"Hsye you heard anything of-of
Esdaile?"
''No, sir. AMI l don't count on hearin'
neither. He's got some mcney. and as
long as that holds out it's all he cares for.
And besides l amt got no pay now. You
see | felt II like flash the minute | heard
20 we this here uniform, unless l could
walk down the main street lookin' folks
square in the eye. | had worn that uni
form twenty-four years and there wasn't
no commissioned officers as KEEP himself
straighter nor cleaner nor prouder than
Grub, the marire."
That's true, Grubb."
swell, Mr.. Brydell, / couldn't look any
body in the face after that, so | asked for
nv discharge papers instead o. re-snlistin'
and then | dropped down in the street and
it give me sort o. relief TO know that l
couldn't git over it. because them doctors
they're mighty kind and attentive, and
they sets where you're settin' and tries to
skeer me into gettln' well-and / know |
can't git well and don't want to git WE'LL"
Brydell could not say a word. There
was something imposing in the fierce. SIM
Die honor of tine man who preferred dying
TO living because he couldn't look any
hO6V in the face again Orasantiv fIruhh
smoke again, feebly. II hope you'll give
my resi- ectful compliments TO the leftenant
and Admiral Beaumont. and tell 'em as
how / hope I've did my duty to their salts
faction"
II WILL" said Brydell
He sat there and talked long time with
Grubb, talked with him until he had barely
time TO catch the ships boat. and had to
run every step of the way to the dock.
TO BE CONTINUED.
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