The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-09-02

waves and the, silence OF the sands, and
Tom Dudley sank with moan upon
the beach.
The forced expression Of cheerful
ness went out of Harry's face as his
brother left the hut, and he fell back
exhausted upon the bed
Poor Tom, poor Toni" be muir
INJURED. ITO ole like a rat in trap!
Oh, Godl will the Martha never come?
Oh, If l could but do something!" lie
half rose from the couch and gazed
around the little hut.
Two days, only two days more"
he groaned, "and then-and then--oh,
will aid never GOMEZ" He closed his
eyes and sank back upon his bed.
Water enough for both for two
days. Tom said" he repeated to him
self; "ouly two days for both, but
were there but one TO drink, four or
maybe FIVE days with care. The Mar
tha or some other vessel will surely
be here in that time. But in two days
the owners viii hardly have had time
TO learn of her loss and send out an
other schooner.
"rom, dcartold Tom"-and his blue
eyes flied with tears-"you shall be
saved. anyway"
His eyes wandered around the hut
again, as II in search Of something.
and fixed upon a cupboard on the wall.
They say il is an easy death" he
murmured-"thats stuff we took from
Malay Tom"
BY superhunan effort he arose,
staggered 20 the cupboard. and tool;
small tin can from oue of the shelves. II
was filed with sticky green sub.
stance.
Ten grains should do H." he decided.
Though Malay Tom used 10 take as
much a. that 10 make him drunk"
He put some q the stuff on the blade
of his knife. looked at il eagerly for
moment. and then swallowed il.
Then he staggered back again 10 the
bed. and fell Imp across the mattress
For moment he lay there without
moving; then sharp report reused
him and ht raised his head.
Il was then that Toms pistol broke
the silence. Harry started, raised hi
head, and tried to get up. Bat the
drug was acting, ana ne could not rise.
81 wonder what Tom is shooting at.
he said ha.f aloud; GEAR old Tom, he'll
be sorry at first, but then. he'll be
saved-to 80 hOne-aud take care OF
mother"
He fer happy, strangely happy and
he began 20 laugh.
He thought he could see the old home
again. He could hear the birds sing
ing in the apple tree before hls BED
room WINDOW; there seemed 10 be 80
mauy-more than ever before. lie wan
dered down 10y the Little brook that
ran through the meadow.
How sweet the water sounded as il
rippled over the pebbles; and She long
grass, how tempting; il wHs so cool
and shady, That he !onged 10 j. in Il
forever.
But be couid not. be must not. Tom
was calling from down in The orchard
calling 10 him-was waiting for him.
Yves. Tom, yes; I'm coming-coIn-
ing he calleu.
He spraug from The bed and CON.
menced 10 rau. lie was speeding
through The meadow: ;hen he climbed
the niFh fence thaf separated il from
the orchard. lie was running as fast
as he could, but Tom kept calling. and
his mother, too. Their voices were
growing fainter, fainter. as though
they we're ruuuing away from him.
Even ;hep the Martha had sighted
the litTle guano island and was making
for the cove Of anchorage.
They found the bodies Of the two
brothers SIDE by side on the sand and
in the hat water enough for both Tor