The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-06-21

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''Teli me, old boy. I wsnt TO knew,
"AAeut half past g." hazarded.
"That can't be right, you know.
There Is o screw loose somewhere. 1t
can't be that"
! concluded that arguing with the
poor fellow would be In vain. 30 !
returned to my chair.
HAL" y
did not respond.
What time is It In Picking"
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 a 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 I can't get the Internal
thing out of my head. II could fig
ure it out. would be all right, for I
do feel bit sleepy"
well, I'll see If the old lady knows"
I said, Indignantly. What am to
ask herr"
THE time in Peking." he said feeb-
ly.
"All right" replied. Then ran
downstairs to the Iandlady.
Mrs. Slammer, Tom wants to know
what time it is in Peking."
Lord bless me, Mr. Carson, 'ow
should"
Got a ACKNOWLEDGMENT, 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" said,
desperately. Nell, run over the way
and get geography. Here, take this
from door to door till you get what
1t calls for"
wrote brief note explaining thes
circumstances, and got the children,
off. Then I went upstairs. J
One glance at poor Tom gave me to
understand that the dreaded fever had
again asserted itself. His eyes were
supernatura1ly bright, and as enter
ed the room his features wore look
of unrestrained anxiety.
WELL" he asked irritably, didn't
you find out?"
"Not yet. but III have some books
here in minute"
In two or three minutes heard the
sound of rapid footsteps on the stairs,
and fastened to the door. met the
grocer's wife.
II hurried as fast as could" she
gasped. II saw Nell, and-and here
is the book. Poor boy! Shall I go
in?"
I seized the book and, perceiving
that 1t was ready reckoner. re-
turned it forthwith to its owner.
Other steps were now heard on the
stairs, and in few minutes the mar
row hallway and even the room itself
was thronged with sympathetic neigh
bors, who had placed themselves and
their meagre libraries at my service.
All, however, failed to contribute any
information which would meet the ex-
acting demands of the invalid. The
floor was strewn with all sorts Of lit
erature, varying from toy picture
books, containing pictures of China
men, to technical works on navigation
and household economy, but still the
feeble voice which emanated from the
bed inspired ME to clamor for more
cursed the inherent ignorance of the
Anglo-Saxon race. ! rallied, stormed,
perspired and trembled for the safety
of my friend. But all was no avail.
Finally heard murmur in the hall.
The doctor had come.
Leaping forward l seized him by the
lapel of his coat,
What is the time in Peking?" l
cried in his ear.
What is the time in Peking?" de-
manded Mrs. Slemmer, barring his
way to the bed.
How the devil should know" ex-
claimed the astonished doctor as he
made his way through the group that
surrounded his patient.
Here it is! Here it Isl" shouted a
voice in the hall, and an old white
haired gentleman, with book in his
hand, was pushed by dozen eager
hands into the room.
The volume was opened, and
the desired information was before my
eyes.
"At last" I exclaimed. Here, doc
tor, l have it. 1t is
"Hush!" said warning voice.
A moment later the hand of the
English physician was laid gently on
my shoulder.
He knows, my boy. He knows"