The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-08-31

temper was as quick as mine. His
sharp answer drew a sharper one from
me, which reused him to fury. You
won't see me again, SO you need not
trouble your head about it. can work
for myself and he was gone. Even
then. sister, IL had gone after him. !
might have stopped him, but l was
mad with him. and was glad that he
was gone. AS glad then to hear that
he was gone as I should be now to
hear that once again, on this earth,
l might hope to see Ills face. live for
that, and one day II may come"
And you nevec heard Of him againY
mo sound from chat day to this. He
went without money, and he could
draw none except through me-"
Perhaps I suggested, utterly at a
loss what to say, "he found some work
Or"
Work! Jack never did days
work in his life; ne was not made to
work"
"Do you think that some of his
friends" l began. rather hopelessly.
NO." he replied, with a deep tone
of sadness In mis- voice; "no; not one
of HIS friends ever heard Of him
that's four-no, five years ago. Five
years-and night and day think of
those words, 'You will look after Jack,
Tom"
There was a silence did not know
how TO break.
Il think, sister" ne added. looking
up with eyes which long sorrow had
filled with wonderful depth Of express
sion II think should have put an
end to my life before now; but knew
fathers first question would be, Have
you looked after him, TomT"
The door opened to admit tho
stretcher with new case from the
surgery, and DR., Preston was In a mo-
ment the professional man, abs ,ped
in investigating the extent of the new
arrivals injuries.
Before leaving the ward he turned
to the bedside of the patient whose
frlendless condition had led to our
conversation. He took down the head
card TO fill up the details.
Name, sisterT'
George Thomas"
'Age?"
"I do not know; ne looks about
forty; but he Is very weather-beaten.
The doctor glanced at the tanned,
SCARED face, nearly hidden by band
ages, and stood hesitating, pen in hand.
"Occupation-do you know
"Sailor"
mo other particulars, sister?"
He laid the card on the table and
wiped his pen carefully-a methodcal
and orderly man in every detail Of his
work.
81 only found a few coppers and
these old papers in his pocket" said.
showing the contents of pocket-book
much the worse for wear. One crun-
Dled piece Of paper had the words,
"15 Back Wells Court, Hull" written
upon 1t; probably the address of his
last lodging. I proceeded to unfold
another piece and found an Old plain
gold locket, worn thin and bright; one
side was smooth, on the other was a
monogram still family leglble. "JF."
| felt 1t suddenly snatched from my
hands.
Dr. Preston had seized It, and, carry
Ing 1t quickly across the ward, turned
the gas on full, and gazed on the
locket with eyes that seemed to pierce
ii through.
Look, sister!" he said. and his
strong hand shook as he held it to-
wards me, there can be no mistake. |
! remember this locket so well. Jack |
gave 1t to my father with his photo
graph inside before he went to school, |
ana after father died Jack kept it. 1t |
was an old joke of theks TO take each |
others things, because they were |
marked with the same initials could |
swear to this anywhere and see quite |
clearly how it came here. Jack met |
this man at Hull, perhaps he came off |
the same boat, and II he was hard up !
but he must have been hard up be- |
fore he would part with this, and then |
It's not much use to any one else No |
one would give shilling for an old
thing like this, but here 1t is, and
here's the address of where the man
stayed. It's the first clue ! have ever
had, sister," and his face was bright
with hope Jack may be still there;
l must go without losing a minute.
may catch him before he goes on fur
ther. Is there anything else you want
me for to-night?"
He was already near the door. "No,
not tonight; the others are all very
comfortable; but do you not think il
would be worth while to ask this man
where he got the lOcket? II may not
have been in Hull at all, and you
would have the Journey for nothing.
Give me the locket and / will ask
him"
He handed 1t to me without appear
ing to follow what had said.
The idea of his brother being within
reach had taken such a hold of his
mind that he could hardly endure
minutes delay before going off to seek
him.
beat over No. rs bed.
II found this among your things"
said. SIS 1t your own, or did some one
sell it to youY
He looked up quickly and suspicious
ly.
"What do you want to know for?,
he muttered.
81 only want to know whether the
man who owned this first was with
you at this address In Hull"
He looked at me sharply, and did