Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-12-24

"Hang it, Tom, said, rising I'M
patiently.
"Tell me, old boy Iwant to know. F"
"About half past g." | hazarded.
THAT cant be right, you know.
There is II screw loose somewhere. 1t
can't be that
/ concluded that arguing with the
poor fellow would be in vain, so re-
turned to my chair.
"Hal.
did not respond.
"What time is it in Peking?"
jumped up quickly and went to the
bed.
"Now, see here, Tom, this sort Of
thing is utterly absurd. Your life is
hanging by the merest thread. All you
need is Sleep We have all done what
we could, and now you will have to
take hand yourself. What the deuce
have you to do with time Or Picking
now? Come, 60 to sleep. There's good
fellow"
II know I'm acting like an ass, old
boy, but 1 can't get the internal thing
out of my head. If could figure it out,
would be all right, for l do feel bit
sleepy"
"Well, I'll see if the old lady knows, :"
said indulgently. "What am to ask
her?''
''The time in Pekin," he said feebly.
"All right" I replied. Then ran
down stairs to the landlady.
Mrs. Slemmer, Tom wants to know
what time it is in Pekin.'
Lord bless me, Mr.. Carson, low
should"-
"Got a ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS? AL
most any old book will tell"
"Why, amt got no books Mebbe
the children
just then two of her youngsters came
tumbling into the room.
Freddie, go for the DOCTOR" I said
desperately. "Nell, run over the way
and get geography. Here. take this
from door to door until you get what it
calls for. !"
wrote a brief note explaining the
circumstances and got the children off.
Then I went up stairs.
One glance at poor Tom gave me to
understand that the dreaded fever had
again asserted itself. His eyes were SUI
pernaturally bright, and as / entered
the room his features wore look of
unrestrained anxiety.
"Well," he asked irritably, "didn I
you find out?"
"Not yet, but I'll have some books
here in minute"
In two or three minutes l heard the
sound of rapid footsteps Oh the stairs
and hastened to the door. I met the
grocer's wife.
~ hurried as fast as I could" she
gasped. IL saw Nell and-and here
is the book. Poor boy! Shall I go in?'
I seized the book and, perceiving that
it was ready reckoner, I returned ii
forthwith to it's owner.
Other steps were now heard OH the
stairs, and in few minutes the narrow
hallway and even the room itself was
thronged with sympathetic neighbors,
who had placed themselves and their
meager libraries at my service. All,
however, failed to contribute any in
formation which would meet the exact
ing demands Of the invalid. The floor
was strewn with all sorts OF literature,
varying from toy picture books, con-
tanning pictures of Cinnamon, to tech
nical works on navigation and house,
hold economy, but still the feeble voice
which emanated from the bed inspired
me to clamor for more. I cursed the
inherent ignorance of the Anglo-Saxon
race. I rallied, stormed, perspired and
trembled for the safety OF my friend
But all was of no avail. Finally heard
a murmur in the hall.
The doctor had come.
Leaping forward I seized him by the
lapel Of his coat.
"What is the time in Peking?" cried
in his ear.
"What is the time in Peking?" de-
manded Mrs. Slemmer. barring his way
to the bed.
"How the devil should 1 know" ex-
claimed the astonished doctor, as he
made his way through the group that
surrounded his patient.
Here it isl Here it isl" shouted a
voice in the hall. and all old, white
haired gentleman with a book in his
hand was pushed by dozen eager
hands into the room.
The volume was opened, and the de-
sired information was before my eyes.
eat lastP' l exclaimed Here, doc
tor, I have it. It isl
"Hush!" said warning voice.
A moment later the hand Of the Eng
lish physician was laid gently on my
shoulder.
He knows, my boy. He knows. -
Exchange.