The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-26
Stores Of an Inland State.

| the carpet was gone. The carpet belong
| ed to the owner of the building Burr woult
have been forced out of the use of thi
| had he not paid his rent a long time IL
advance. He slept, when he did sleep, OF
this carpet. When not asleep, he sat in thu
window-there were no chairs.
His overcoat had gone. turned by tn,
magic of money-loaning world int
sandwiches some days ago. So also hac
his boxing outfit.
The struggle had been between his hun
ger and his pride. Before, his pride hac
been so strong that the contest could no
be called a contest. Now he began Il
weaken. Hunger was storming a vulner
able point IN his pride's Notifications anG
had it taken almost. He began to see
things as they were not. In broad day.
light with his eyes open wide, his mind
palmed off on him the vanished facing:
of the door as something to eat. So strong
was the Illusion that he had even gone
over to it and touched it to re-affirm his
better judgment that It was after all only
wood. The white plaster of the wal
would, without warning. suddenly turn tc
sugar, and he would touch 1t with his
tongue to satisfy himself of his mistake.
Mrs. Tilford, the janitrfx. still came In
to brush blindly about the room. One day
she slipped an apple in the dark corner
of the bare room. He might think it was
an apple belonging formerly to himself
and would eat H.
The ruse was effective. In his aimless
wanderings about the room Burr struck
the apple with lis foot. He picked it UP
and rushed to the light. Almost uncon-
sciously he had taken the apple to his lips.
He bit into it-once-twice. Then slowly.
Then he placed It aside. He must reserve
ii.
Mrs. Tilford had opened the door as he
took the first bic. She closed it noiseless-
ly again and rushed for the grocer's. Pres
emily she came back and showed eighteen
Rig apples in a basket through the door
and disappeared.
Presently burr saw these. He ate the
rest of his first apple. He sat down on
the floor reside the basket and took each
apple Up IL turn and handled it, patting,
stroking, rubbing each fondly and placing
it back.
That evening Mrs. Tilford called. She
saw at a glance that all the apples were
still there. Rurr made her take them away.
She rolled one secretly over in the dark
corner. ne next lnOfulllS WneA sHc Sdll-
ed she noticed that II was still there.
Meanwhile the community had heard OF
Rurr's straits. He ought to be helped.
This was the consensus of opinion. Why
didn't the county commissioners do some
thing? One county commissioner insisted
that he would do something. The others
told him that it would do no good. Burr
would refuse his aid and there were plenty
yt Iax
ging begsars to take II.
But the one county commissioner said
Burr's mind was affected, and he ought to
be helped. That commissioner went to
Burrs room and was admitted.
II can't offer you a chair, SIR said
Burr, looking about the empty room.
Never mind the chair" said the COM
missioner, "you want something more than
a chair-something to eat. Come. All fool
ishness aside Let me send you up some
thing. No one will know anything about
tt
The frail figure stiffened, then relaxed.
His eyes appealed to the visitor and the
visitor dropped his head.
"I see," said the commissioner. "you
want me to go away and say no more"
Yes answered Burr in a hard piping
voice please
You will starve," said the commission
er. But with my respect. I will bother
you no more. Aid would hurt you more
than DEATH
Hardly had he gone when the door opened
softly and Burr saw woman before him.
Mrs. Tilford again, he supposed, with her
apples.
Mr.. Burr" the woman said.
Aan txv 90 foil ;po
repeatedly and catching himself until he
stood against the wall, the palms Of his
hand upon the plaster.
There was a movement OF his body as
though it would straighten and lacked the
strength. But his head came up:
He has been scolding you?" he asked.
who, Mr.. Burr?' asked Clara Drew,
the woman of his heart.
THE professor he said weakly, but
with spirit.
mo, Mr.. Burr; the professor and I are
quite good friends"
The ghostly figure scratched along the
wall to the window:
Have a seat" he said. ''in the window"
"Oh, Mr.. Burr" cried Clara, weeping,
this is awful
you like him?" he asked strongly.
I1C - Nciy SOOAs MI. DuAlp
Then I will kill him."
There was a screech and a rattle In his
voice and a hooking. dry laugh which
made the girl start.
"Oh, Mr.. Burr, let me do something"
she said. Let me help you. This Is ter
rible. Let me do something"
And you like him." he continued.
"why, Mr.. Burr"
10. thaf
do"
He laughed again and edged along the
wall until he reached the door.
mo. Miss Drew" he said. you will
kindly go. I am so busy. No words.
dear, goodbye"
He made a feeble attempt TO slam the
door and fell back. But he gathered him.
self up and put his hat upon his head and
stationed himself at the window.
He saw Professor Rego, the man who
had driven him out OF business, the man
who had taken his piano away from him.
who was starving him to death. who was
favored in the eyes OF the woman he loved
20 his ONCE.
Burr looked about him: stepped TO the
middle of the floor and stood quite erect.
Then he went out, closing the door after
him.
Down the steps he crawled feebly ard
across the street he staggered. One al a
line he took the steps leading 10 the Pro-
'essors Office. psusing on each step for
breath.
He opened the door softly and went in
rhe Professor was putting with the ex-
,rtion OF getting his overcest from his fat
body.
He turned and seeing the feeble figure
oraced against the wall before him. start
ID.
You here?" he asked.
Yes" answered Burr.