The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1897-07-30
WITHIN AN G
CHAPTER XIII-CoSr1suEn.

CHAPTER XIII-CoNr1SuED.
"Put up your s~pectacles. SIR" the
official requests.
Bakupin complies, and displays a
pair OF eyes inhamed and bloodshot
beyond recognition.
The Official makes a sign that he is
satisfied. and the shelteriug glasses
are replaced.
Then. without once looking at
either Of us. he proceeds to the ex-
animation of another passport. The
examination of luggage is in full
operation The scene is a wild one.
We pick our way among the effects,
sometimes stepping over wearing ap-
parel that is stfewn on tbs dirty stone
floor, winding our way in and out
amid the excited, gesticulating groups.
All this while Bakunin has never
opened his lips. l observe that every
vestige Of color has LETT his face; its
hue is now CHASTITY.
Having crossed the hall, l sit down
on a bench against the wall and near
the door. He drops to it beside me
with a sort of moan smothered in the
~utterance. l quake for him.
keep up, my brother!m l murmur,
encouragingly. Only a few minutes
more!" For the first bell is ringing.
tie mutters something hat l fail TO
catcl..
Good heavens! is my companion
going to collapse? What would be the
consequences of such a catastrophe? l
picture myself conveying his mani
mate body along the platform under a
hundred curious eyes; or, worse still.
n train moving away out of the
station, leaving me and my helpless
charge behind. In a fever of anxiety
! watch the laggard minute hand Of
the clock.
Fhe third bell at last! Now for it!
The door is open, and the passengers
are streaming forth.
l rise. Bakunin gets on his feet.
He moves his head strangely from
side to side, as if something con-
strained his throat. He staggers and
regains his equilibrium by a sudden
cOunter-movement
l hear some one near us observe:
Look how drunk that man is! And
he is with that tall priest too"
The remark draws or us the atten-
ton of all within earshot.
l glance f~iercely at the speaker and
put my arm under Bakunin's.
MY friend Is not drunk. sir" I say
sternly. He is taken ILL.,"
The man apologies. We get into
the current of the crowd, that half
carries us through the doorway. Then
setting my teeth [ walk steadily with
Bakunin in the direction of a car
riage. His tottering feet move in
unison with mine to the door and give
way under him there as if he had
been cut across the knees. The breath
leaves his breast in a long-drawn sigh
as l take him i, my arms and deposit
him. insensibie. on the seat.
Scarcely have I entered the train
after him when a man approaches and
looks in. He sees not Bakunin. but
only the vacant seats at the far end of
the carriage, and mounting to the
steps beckons to some one.
Here" he calls: plenty of room.
and in a smoking compartment"
AoeS your pdfuoL' SIT, 41nIerpOSe,
but it is my duty to inform you that
my friend here is taken Ill; and it
may be of some contagious disease"
The man pokes in his head and
stares at the senseless body bundled in
the seat. Then he lifts his hat and
moves away without a word. Pres
emily the door is banged. l wipe the
great beads OF perspiration from my
brow, and with my heart swelling
with thankfulness and u~nspeakable
relief. I Whisper-.tSaved~