The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-07

and a few moments later the voice Of my
sick roommate:
HAL"
Yes, Tom."
HAS the doctor gomez"
Yes; he left just now. You must go to
sleep, old chap"
There was another movement on the bed,
then all was still again and I had just begun
mentally to congratulate the doctor the
efficiency Of his prescription when I heard
my name pronounced.
What is it, Tom?" I asked a little impa-
dently.
What time is it?"
"Half-past H."
"In the afternoon"
Eyes"
What makes it so dark"
It's 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 at the expira-
ton Of two or three minutes he asked.
What time is it in New York now, Hal?'
You must stop it, Tom" I commanded,
but Immediately relenting l continued,
About 1890"
1T is Saturday, said Tom Saturday,
isn't it? In six hours more the old crowd
will be in the restaurant-in Mains. 1 can
them all-old Gaynor, George Leslie, Bar
rett and Bess."
Now, Tom
Come here, old chap
TOSe ANU SOluS TO the DeO, pldCSu LILY
fingers on my friends lips. He took them in
his wasted hand, and as he removed them
his grasp frightened and he smiled.
"All right, Hal. I'll be quiet now. Good
night
returned to my chair, and for ten minutes
nothing save the ticking of the clock broke
the stiffness of the room. Then there was
once more ominous movement on the bed
ITS funny, isn't it, this difference in
timer" he murmured. In Chicago it is an
hour earlier still"
There pause.
What time is it in San Francisco, Hal?"
"Oh, L don't know, Tom. About two hours
earlier, guess. Why don't you go to sleep?"
That would make it about half-past 81
He paused, but a few moments later I
heard him 1nuttering to himself.
"Confound it, old chap" began.
II just trying to figure it out" he
went on. ''It takes twenty-four hours for the
world to make complete revolution. Where
do they begin to reckon the time any way?"
ooh, I don't know. Let's see. Greenwich,
believe-yes, Greenwich, I sure Now
for heavens sake, 60
"Well, if it's half past at Greenwich what
time is it on the other side of the world-in
China? What time is it in Picking, Hal?''
Hang it, Tom" 1 said, rising impatiently.
Tell me, old boy. want to know"
About half-past g. I hazarded.
''That can't be right, you know. There is
q screw loose somewhere. 1t can't be that"
I concluded that arguing with the poor
fellow would be in vain, SO I returned to my
chair.
HAL
1 did not respond.
what time is it in Peking?''
I 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 you
will have to take hand yourself. What the
deuce have you to do with time or Picking
new? Come, go to sleep. There's a good
fellow
Il know I'm acting like ass, old boy,
but I can't get the Internal thing out of my
head If 1 could figure it out, 1 would be all
right, for do feel d bit sleepy"
well, I'll see if the old lady knows" I
said Indignantly. What am 1 to ask her ?''
THE time in Peking," he said feebly.
"All right I replied Then 1 ran down.
stairs to the landady
Mrs. Slammer Tom wants to know what
time it is in Peking'
Lord bless me, Mr.. Carson, 'ow Should
old book will tell?"
why, I amt got no books. Mebbe the
children"
Just then two of her youngsters came
tumbling into the room.N
Freddie, go for the DOCTOR I said, des-
perately. Nell, run over the way and get
geography Here, take this from door to
doo~ till you get what it calls for
I wrote brief note explaining the circum-
stances and got the children off. Then l
went upstairs.
One glance at poor Tom gave me to under
stand that the dreaded fever had again as
serted itself. His eyes were supernaturaJ11
bright and as 1 entered the room his features
wore look of unrestrained anxiety
Well,' he asked, irritably; didn't you find
out?"
Not yet, but I'll have some books here in