Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-07-29

Anoo Cno SaIIet, ne FOUND EndletOn
sitting by the side of the mattress
witt his face in his hands. A pale
moon sent shaft of light on the
sleeping boys face, and it looked
white and drawn and cold, as if already
the shadow of death lay upon it.
Jem stopped in drunken surprise.
A stupid grin crossed his face. He
stared and waved his hand wildly in
the air. He tried to speak, but his
voice was hoarse with brandy, and
the figures of the boy and his father
danced before his eyes by the dozen.
He muttered some words-indis-
tinguishable and meaningless; and,
collapsing suddenly, he tumbled down
on his mattress and huddled himself
together in a drunken sleep.
When he awoke a gray dawn was
peeping slowly in through the small
square of glass in the roof, and every
thing in the dingy garnet appeared un-
real and lifeless. The boy on the bed
seemed scarcely to breathe.
Jem raised himself on his elbow and
looked round, and some remembrance
of the last nights scene began to pass
through his mind He looked, and it
seemed to him John Endleton had
never moved. The moonlight had gone
from the boys face, and the dawn had
come instead; but John Endieton was
still sitting there, huddled up on the
floor with his face buried in his hands.
Jem Lifted himself slowly from his
mattress, and stretched himself with a
big yawn. Then he looked again at
the two in the corner, and after a
minute got up and went toward them
Amt the little 'un we'll 2" he
'un ?"
John Endleton stirred impatiently.
The sound of the ex-convict's voice
| seemed to rouse all his hatred and
disgust. He looked round with re-
pulsion upon his face, and Jem, seeing
it, shrugged his shoulders and sneered.
oh, well, if ye're so mighty indie
pendent and 'aughty, why don't yer
tax lodgin's in tn Grand A
course if yer don't want no 'elp don't"
care. Only I thought, he added brut-
ally, "as tn chaps a-dyin' like, as yer
might want somethin' for i'm"
John Endleton started and looked
down at the boy, with his wan face,
his thin hands and faltering breath.
For moment it seemed to his excited
imagination that the boy had ceased to
breathe, and he leant forward hur-
riedly and with trembling fingers pull
led back the sheet.
| t'He's all right. He's not dying"
he exclaimed, eagerly. But, at the
that unless he had nourishing things
to eat, and those quickly, there would
be no hope of ever pulling him round
again, and the though stabbed his
heart with sudden bitterness.
He turned to the burglar. It was
possible that Jem could help him.
Jem might know where to get help or
work, or even charity; but Endleton's
pride still stood up in arms, and with
determination to have nothing to do
with him, he turned away.
Jem, with fierce sheer on his lips
and q burning hatred in his heart
against Endleton, turned away, too.
Not finger would he lift-not an
inch would he stir-not if the boy was
dying fifty times over!
AS he turned, he caught sight of
Jackie's pallid face lying on the dirty
pillow. ;.
ooh, lor! wot little bloke it is, .
he thought; and then he went out,
mumbling down the stairs, swearing
to himself-a man apparently without
the faintest hope of better life,
without knowledge of anything except
things evil, and yet with one clean
spot in his black heart.
Detective Hartly, prowling through
/ the East End in search of such thieves
and transgressors as he might with
dignity escort to the lookup, was
turning a corner, when he suddenly
became aware that on the opposite
side of the street familiar and not
exactly pleasing figure was ambling
along at rapid rate with something
peculiar in the bulgy appearance OF
his coat. :,
s'There's that Crooked Jem again.
said the detective to himself. He cast
a suspicious eye at Jem's pockets,
pulled at his eyebrow (which was
way he had-and then beckoned to
policeman to follow him.
WheA he was within an inch or two
of the said pockets he suddenly
clapped the unsuspecting Jem on the
shoulder-so suddenly that Jen1,s jaw
fell, and he made an abrupt, half un-
decided movement as if to flee from
the wrath of the law.
.sNow, then, said Hartly, severely
ssnone Of that. On with the hand
cuffs. And Snaith, You come mere
and take his arm.
Jem looked from one to the other