The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1902-09-18


Afser that thry turned as loose 20
go where we would. We have wan
dered here, there aud everywhere,
living on what we could pick up, and
dying thousand deaths every day.
II would have been better II We had
died ontright---but somehow we've
come through. Can you take ua ia
place where we can procure food I
We've been living on Jungle r.uit ios
an eternity. My foot wants looking
to pretty badly, too"
"Ne'li do ali we can for YOU" said
Granthsm. That's II we can get you
down TO the ford, which Is about FIVE
miles away"
You'll have TO carry me, then,
for I'm foo far gone to walk"
"T think Il can be managed" sald
Grnntham. at any rate we'll try"
Turning 20 the little Shan he dis
patched him with a message to
Handiman, and when the other had
disappeared, knclt down beside tbs
tall man and set To work 10 examine
his injured foot. There could be no
doubt that II was in a very serious
condition. Trsmplng through tbs
Jungle he had managed 20 poison Il,
and had been unable 20 apply the
necessary remedies. Obtaining some
water from the stream Grantham
bathed u tenderly, and then bound II
up aS well aS be could with his hand.
kerchief.
That's the best | can do for YOU
for the present" he said. eve must
leave il As Il IL, and, when We get
you TO the station, we will see what
else can be managed"
iic looked mp and saw the little
mans eyes watched him intentiy.
There was a look Of almost dog-iike
affection In them for his companion.
that went TO the young soldiers
heart.
"i3y Jove," he said. I'm sorry for
You fellows. You must have suffered
agonieH. The Chinese are devils. hut
yours ~ not the frat case We have
heard Of. We only come mp here Tor
q month at time, but the man we
relieved told us a strange talr about
another poor beggsr who came into
the station some two months ago.
He had been wandering In the jungle,
and Was nearly ut deaths door."
The blind man gave start, while
the little man seized his hand and
made a number of rapid movements
upon Il with his fingers.
"My friend wants to know II you are
aware of that mans name?'' he said.
''Wc lost a companion, and he thinks
that he may be the man. For heav.
ems sake tell us what you know.
You have no idea what IL means
10 u.s."
''Sinee you are 30 interested IN him
l am sorry TO have to say that ! do
not know very much. You see he had
very little 60 do with Ms, A ! have
said, he turned up while our prede-
eeEsors were here. From what I
heard about him from Gregory. he
gathered that he was q tall, thin
man, who had como through from
PekinR by way Of Yunnan."
care you sure IL was from Yum
nan7s
That's what they told me- said
GranthRm. "Since then 1 have heard
that he was on his way from Picking
10 Burmah and that his coolies had
robbed him Of all he possessed"
You don't happen to remember his
name. I auppose!"
The blind man tried to ask the
question calmly. but his voice failed
him.
"As far as ! remember bis name
was George Bcrtram," Grantham an-
swered.
There was pause for q few sec
1nds. after which the blind man be-
gan again
"Hs didn't tell you, I suppose,
he had any money about
lim7"
lie hadn't red cent" said Grant
nam. "The Chinese cleared him out.
rhey lent him the money to get Ia
tanRoon. happen to know that he.
'ause he eashed my friends check IN
3kamo."
There WAS another and somewhat 1
onger pause.
''Yuu did not hear whether he had I
my precious stones in bis posses.
ion2"
Good gracious, moi From what
hey told me I gathered that the man 4
hadn't a halfpenuy in the world |
Shy should he have been likely ia /
save had jewels7 In point Of fact
m sare he hadn't, for | was given |
o understand he was about ms woe.
'egone a customer as could be found /
anywhere"
The blind man uttered . heavy sigh
nd sank hack to his former position
pom the ground.
An honr and . half later, Just as
he shadows Of evening were drawing
n. a party of sikhs put In an appear
nee. bringing with them dhooly.
a which they placed the injured man
{ was almost dark when they
cached the station, where Grant.
ANS superior officer was awaiting
heir coming.
"What on esrth's the meaning OF
hia7' he asked. as the eortcge drew
p before the bungalow. who are
heAe men? And where did you find
hemp
urantham made his report. and
hen the wounded man was lifted
at and carried 60 hut nj the rear
I the main block of buildings. The
tile man watched everything WITH
~ eagle eye. az II he were afraid
omc evil might be praetieed upon his
ompanion. When the blind man had
cen placed ON he'd. and bis foot at.
ended 90 ms we'll Hs the rough sur
cry of the place would admit, Grant
am did something he had not al
tady done. and that was TO ash their
hsir names.
''Ms name Is Kitwater." said che
lind man, "and the name of ms
riena here II Codd--septImus Gold.
e's one of the beat and stanrhes9
title fellows In the world. | donAi
now whether our names will con.