The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1898-03-04
THE TIME IN PEKING


had worn an expression Of gravity
he bent over the bed of my sicl
friend but now, as l watched hin
closely, the strong face relaxed, and al
he raised his head l saw the light o
satisfaction in his kindly eyes.
His hat, stick and gloves lay on tn,
dressing case. and as he crossed thu
room to take them he marked m,
look Of eager inquiry, and, pausini
abruptly, laid his hand on my shoul
der.
Were doing splendidly, famously
my dear boy, famously. If llteratur,
fails you, come to me, and l will giv
you your credentials as nurse. Flor
ence Nightingale could not have dont
better.
THE worst is over, then?" l ask
ed.
"Yes. l believe we can put him
through-between u.s." He paused
and as he turned once more TOWARD
his patient his face grew grave again
Il think the crisis is passed." he
said, quietly. "All that any morta,
physician can do for him has beer
done. Nature alone must supply the
restorative he needs. He must sleep
l have just given him a sedative, anc
he ought soon to be under its influ
ence. Keep the light turned down
and do not allow him to talk. SleeI
Is imperative. He must have sleep"
He stepped lightly to the dressing
case, and as he raised his gloves 6
dust-covered heap of manuscripts
caught his eye. He chuckled softly
and shook his head.
"Odd people, you Americans" he
said, with a smile. rs our poor lit.
eratrre so impoverished that you must
needs instill Yankee blood into its
veins?"
l was looking at the pale face OF
poor Tom and did not reply.
"Ah, well" said the CHEEKY doctor az
he appropriated his hat and stick ant
advanced, with extended hand, "the
fairy voices of the Bow bells are far
reaching, and l hope that they will
one day ring as merry changes for
two Yankee lads rs they did for that
fortunate young beggar, Dick Whit
tington. Goodnight, my boy, good
night. I'll see you in the morning.
Now, now, remember
He put his finger to his lips and a
moment later he was gone.
l closed the door gently and re.
turned to the bedside of my friend,
His eyes were closed, and, believing
that the sedative had already begun
its work, tiptoed to the gas jet and
turned down the Light. Then, seating
myself before the crate, l revitalized
the dying embers and put on two OF
three more pieces OF coal.
For several minutes all was still
then l heard a mover ent among the
bedclothes, and a few moments later
the voice of my sick roommate:
Hal"
Yes, Tom"
HAS the doctor gomez
Eyes; he left Just now. You must
go 10 steep, ola "hap.
There was another movement on the
bed, then all was still again and ]
had just begun mentally to congratu.
late the doctor on the efficiency of his
prescription when l heard my name
pronounced.
What is it, Torl?" I asked a little
impatently,
What time is it?"
"Half-past A."
in the afternoon"
"ies."
What makes it so dark"
ITS the fog. Come now, old boy
you must be quiet. The doctor says
you must have sleep. The worst is
over, and five or six hours of rest will
make you your old self again.
He did not reply at once, but a!
the expiration of two or three minute!
he asked:
What time is it in New York now
Hall"
You must stop it, Tom" l com
manded, but Immediately relenting
continued, about 1890"
1T is Saturday" said Tom. "SatuE
day, isn't 1t? In six hours more thl
old crowd will be in the restaurant
In Malin's. l can see them all-oli
Gaynor, George Leslie, Barrett am
Bess." :
Now, Tom"
Come here. old chap"
/ rose, and, goirg to the bed, place.
my fingers on my friends lips. II
took them in his wasted hand an,
as he removed them his grasp tight
ened, and he smiled.
"All right, Hal. I'll be quiet now
Good night"
| returned to my chair, and for tel
minutes nothing save the ticking o
the clock broke the Stiffness of tn
room. Then there was once more a.
ominous movement on the bed.
Its funny, isn't it, this differenc
in time?" he mrrmured. I'm Chica
go it is an hour earlier STILL"
There was a pause
What time is it in San Francisco
Hal?"
"Oh, don't know, Tom. About tw
hours earlier, l guess. Why don't yo
go to sleep?"
That would make it about haI
past g."
He PARSED, but few moments late
! heard him muttering to himself.
"Confound 1t, old chap" | began.
II was just trying to- figure it out,
he went on. 1T takes twentylfou
hours for the world to make con
plete revolrtion Where do they bt
Gin TO reckon the tine any WaY2"