Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-26

Now for the first time he hesitated between
an order and the impulse to obey. Peter
the aim was short. and 1t fell into the wa
ter. But this did not disconcert Eddie.
Five cents" was to him only name. He
never had seen coin in his life.
The prov of the police boat moved in be-
side the Refuge, and its captain. revolver
In hand, threatened to shoot Peterman II
he was not instantly Silent. But the peril
OF the situation was now conferred. not In
Peterman. but in Eddie, who had passed
the period Of promise; and on whose slow
rolling brain the meaning of Peterman's
request was beginning to dawn He gazed
blankly at the lever. He even fingered 1t
cautiously. He might suddenly draw it for
ward at any moment. Back of him the
idiots tramped forth and back, or stood in
groups, pointing and leering at the lighted
boats drawing nearer and nearer.
1t seemed to the anxious men on the
Wanderer that the black moat between the
boats would never be closed. Only one
thing in all the world seemed to move slow
err, and that was the thought-impulse Of
the idiot brain. Jameson. who was coolest,
said afterward that during the long inter-
val Git was fully half minute) he formu-
lated the plan of a monograph to discuss
the probable speed of an impulse which
from the brain of an imbecile might start
to influence his finger tips. The superin-
tendent, in whom the tension was greatest,
because his whole political future depended
on the pulling of that lever laughed giee-
fully, and perpetrated a joke which no one
appreciated just then, but which has come
since to be regarded as the most remark
able witticism in the history of Randall s
Island.
But finally the swell rocked the two
boats together, so that Swainley was able
to make flying leap at the rail of the
tossing scow. He landed safely, and then,
crouching. moved swiftly and stealthily to-
ward Eddie Apple. One of the poor crea-
lures on board got down on his hands and
knees and followed after, hooking him, to
= hn 1i,rLt ~F ,f,~ lp,, had
loudly at the queer performance. AS Swain
ley neared him, Eddie Apple seemed sud
denly to be filled with final resolve. The
impulse had reached his finger tips. His
and pulled, just as Swainley, with half
scream half curse, threw himself at it
and held it rigid.
exhibited almost no trace Of mental de-
rangement. He did not even chafe under
the restraint imposed upon him in the
cabin of the Patrol. He regarded his cap
tors almost with amuSement-the exact eX-
preston one might assume toward the rage
of willful child who insists upon plucking
the gas flame from its burner. He merely
deepened the expression Of his face at each
or their many questions. Once only, did he
reply, and that was when Swainley made
an exultant remark about the saving of the
idiots.
Saved them!' he cried. Yes you saved
then-for what? Every morning Of their
lives the poor devils eat bread and milk!
Every noon they eat stew! Every evening
they eat bread and milk again-365 times a
year Think of it! Always the same, day
in-day out. Never any change. Some Of
the older ones have been doing 1t for sixty
long years: some of the younger ones can
expect to do it for sixty years longer. Be-
yond that 1t is all sleep and drivel Yes.
indeed, you have saved them Your heroic
effort in their behalf has placed the crown
of long life on their heads 1t is a distinc-
ton which will probably remain to remind
you of your great work as long as you
live"
the steamers painted slowly homeward I'M
der the stars. the unanimity of thought
was almost, If not quite, telepa thic.