Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-12-24
"THE TINE In PEKIN.'

EOI bWO udyS lHe uuGtOI IcatuIoS
had worn an expression Of gravity as
he bent over the bed of my sick friend,
but now, as watched him closely, the
strong face relaxed, and as he raised
his head saw the light Of satisfaction
in his kindly eyes
His hat, stick and gloves lay on the
dressing case, and as he crossed the
room to take them he marked my look
Of eager inquiry, and, pausing abrupt
ly, laid his hand on my shoulder.
"We're doing splendidly, famously,
my dear boy, famously. If literature
fails you, come to me, and will give
you your credentials as nurse. Flor
ence Nightingale could not have done
better. ="
''The worst is over them" / asked.
eyes. l believe we can pull him
through-between U.S. - He paused, and
as he turned once more toward his pa
tient his face grew grave again.
II think the crisis is passed., /" he said
quietly. ''All that any mortal physician
can do for him has been DONE Nature
alone must supply the only restorative
he needs. He must sleep. have just
given him a sedative, and he ought soon
to be under it's influence. Keep the light
turned down, and do not allow him to
talk. Sleep is imperative. He must
have sleep.
He stepped lightly to the dressing
case, and as he raised his gloves dust
covered heap Of manuscripts caught his
eye He chuckled softly and shook his
head.
"Odd people, you Americans" he
said, with smile. "Is our poor litera-
ture SO impoverished that you must
needs instill Yankee blood into it's
veinsl"
Twas looking at the pale face Of poor
Tom and did not reply.
"Ah, WE'LL" said the CHEEKY doctor
as he appropriated his hat and stick and
advanced, with extended hand, the
fairy voices Of the Bow bells are far
reaching, and hope that they will one
day ring as merry changes for two Yam
kee lads as they did for that fortunate
young beggar, Dick Wilmington. Good
night, my boy, good night. I'll see you
in the morning. And now, remember
He put his finger to his lips, and a
moment later he was gone.
closed the door gently and returned
to the bedside of my friend. His eyes
were closed, and, believing that the sed-
alive had already begun it's work, tip
toed to the gas jet and turned down the
light. Then, seating myself before the
CRATE, l revitalized the dying embers
and put in two or three more pieces of
coal.
For several minutes all was still,
then I heard movement among the
bedclothes and few moments later the
voice of my sick roommate:
"Hal."
eyes, Tom. .
elias the doctor gomez"
eyes, he left just now. You must 60
to sleep, old chap.
There was another movement on the
bed, then all was still again, and had
just begun mentally to congratulate the
doctor on the efficacy of his prescription
when heard my name pronounced.
''What is it, TOMB" I asked, little
impatiently.
"What time is it,"
Half past A..
"In the afternoon"
eyes"
"What makes it SO dark"
cts the fog. Come now, old boy,
you must be quiet. The doctor says you
must have sleep. The worst is over, and
five or six hours Of rest will make you
your old self again..
He did not reply at once, but at the
expiration Of two or three minutes he
asked:
what time is it in New York now,
HALF"
"You must stop it, Tom," COM
manded, bat Immediately relenting I
continued, about half past H."
A deep sigh broke the stiffness that
ensued.
cit is Saturday. said Tom. "Satur.
day, isn't it? In six hours more the old
crowd will be in the restaurant--in Ma.
Inns. / can see them all--old Gaynor,
George Leslie, Barrett and Bess''
''Now, Tom
Come here, old chap"
rose, and, going to the bed, placed
my fingers on my friends lips. He took
them in his wasted hand, and as be re-
moved them his grasp frightened, and he
smiled.
eAIl right. Hal. I'll be quiet now.
Good night. /"
! returned to my chair. and for ten
minutes nothing save the ticking Of the
clock broke the stiffness Of the room.
Then there was once more an ominous
movement on the bed.
'sIt's funny, isn't it, this difference
in timer he murmured I'm Chicago
it il an hour earlier still.
There was pause.
what time is it in San Francisco,
Hal2'
''Oh, I don't know, Tom. About two
hours earlier, I guess. Why won't you
60 to sleeps
"That would make it about half
past 9.
He paused, but few moments later
! heard him muttering to himself.
sConfound It, old chap, began.
II was just trying to figure IL out, :"