The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-02-03


IffS offoT' alrutlipr. intir lie was on tue
verge OF starvation ana CRIME !"
great, mercless city
"Out i'm the night that night, ulIS
lad stumbled against your frienu Mi
Rorton. lie gave him shelter and food
Then he sent him out to Colorado be-
fore it was too late Then Gordon
was crying. The old lady had some.
| thing in her sharp eyes that glitttreu
! brighter than the eyes.
"Thon this lad discovered secret.
/ The Ehnghams always were quick
| He found out that he was not the only
/ one Mr.. Gordon, DO you know that
this friend OF yours has during the last
| Ave years sent a little colony OF con
sumptive people to Colorado and paid
all their expenses there, saving at least
n dozen lives? This much my grand
| son has discovered. He was the first
one of them to find out his benefactor's
name and address. II first came to
him through an accident. But your
friend is-and you did not know III l
want to thank him. l.want to tell him
how much my boy owes him. You
said he was H. trust 1t is nothing
seriousY
John Gordon let the tears flow down
his face. His friends jealousy guard
ed secret was out at last. Now be
knew why he had so stubbornly re-
fused TO go to Colorado himself. He
knew IL was too late and had always
been. But, knowing It, he had put his
own life aside and had thus saved
others. And 1t was too late for him
now. The cynical, careless, great
hearted friend suddenly grew into an
image that would always sit on the
throne Of his memory in the high place
of honor.
"IIe is very III? Tell me. Is It Sc
rlousT The old lady for the first time
betrayed uncasiness.
John Gordon answered gently.
Gle is very H. lie has consumption.
lie cannot live"
God bless him" the old lady ex-
claimed, and her tears fell fast After
awhile she said gently:
"Do you think | might see him?
would like To look on his face"
For answer John Gordon rose, parted
the curtains and beckoned. The old
lady followed and soon stood looking
at the wasted face.
She stood moment silently gazing
then she put ont hand, which Cor
don had noted before as astonisRlngly
White and beautiful for such an aged
person. aud softly touched BartOn's
head As she Strengthened up ana
stcppcd back. Gordon saw that she
was much agtatcd. lie offered her
assistance 10 walk back into the hall.
She accepted with an old fashioned
acknowledgment Of his politeness that
touched him deeply.
When they were In the hall she said,
"Will you tell him I came to see
him?'
Gordon was thinking it over. Would
! Barton care to have hls secret known:
Yes. / win tell him"
II think il will be- better TO let him
know. Ycs. It will DE better" the old
lady said with approval The time
win not be long VIII You write me
when the end comes for him."
Yes. madam. thank you FOR him
that You came"
"'rhc pilgrimage Is brief at the Ion
gcSt, she said with q strong gravity
that was FAR from gloom. But sure
! ly your friend has redeemed his time.
am glad | saw his face Yes. glad"
Gordon offered 10 see her to the
train, but she firmly refused TO be Of
amy trouhle to any one. Il am able
to go alone. 4 carriage Is waiting for
me Good night, sir, and God be with
you"
Good night. madam replied Cor
don. Williams appeared and opened
the door Gordon insisted ON seeing
her down the steps and into the ear.
riagc. lie had shut the door ana the
driver had Just started his horse when
the old lady stopped the driver with
word, her line sharp cut face looking
! out of the window.
/ Tell your friend I will write. Ii
Will not hc long before we shall meet"
The carriage went ON, and Gordon
walked up the steps ana into the hall
| with feeling that he had been dream.