The Mankato free press., 1903-08-07

his eyes,
And they went south and east and north;
The strong man fights, but the sick man
dies
There were three friends that spoke of the
dead;
The strong man fights. but the sick man
dies.
sand would he were here with us now"
they said,
''The sun in our face and the wind in
our eyes"
Ballad
~HE Nilghai was angry with
Torpenhow. Dick had been
sent to bed-blind. men are
ever under the orders of those
who can see-and since he had re-
turned from the park had fuently
cursed Torpenhow because he was
alive, and all the world because it was
alive and could see, while he, Dick,
was dead in the death of the blind,
who at the best are only burdens upon
their associates. Torpenhow had said
something about Mrs. Gummidge,
and Dick had retired in black fury to
handle and rehandle three unopened
letters from Maisie.
The Nilghai, fat, burly and aggres-
sive, was in Torpenhow's rooms. Be
hind him sat the Keneu, the Great War
Eagle, and between them lay large
map embellshed with black and white
headed pins.
"I was wrong about the Balkans"
said the Nilghai But I'm not wrong
about this business. The whole of our
work in the southern Sudan must be
done over again. The public doesn't
care. of course, but the government
does, and they are making their ar
rangements quietly. You know that as
well as / do"
81 remember how the people cursed
US when our troops withdrew from
Omdurman. 1t was bound to crop up
sooner or later. But l can't CO." said
Torpenhow He pointed through tha
open door. 1t was a hot night. Gan
you blame me?
The Keneu purred above his pipe like
a large and very happy cat.
"Don't blame you in the least It's
uncommonly good of you, and all the
rest of it, but every man, even you.
Torn must consider his work. / know
It sounds brutal, but Dicks out or re
race-down, expended, finished, done
for. He has little money of his own.
He won't starve, and you can't pull
out of your slide for his sake. Think
Of your own reputation
"Dick's was five times bigger than
mine and yours put together"
''That was because he signed his
name to everything he did. It's all
ended now. You must hold yourself in
readiness to move out. You can COM
mand your own prices, and you do
better work than any three of u.s."
Don't tell me how tempting it is.
I'll stay here to look after Dick for
awhile He's as cheerful as a bear
with a sore head, but think he likes
to have me about him."
The Nilghai said something uncompli-
throw away their careers for other
fools. Torpenhow flushed angrily. The
constant strain of attendance on Dick
had worn his nerves thin.
"There remains a third fate" said
the Keneu thoughtfully. Consider this
and be not larger fools than is neces-
sary. Dick is, or rather was, an able
bodied man of moderate attractions
and a certain amount of audacity."
"Ohop' sais the Nilghai, who remem-
bered an affair at Cairo. 81 begin to
see. Torp, I'm sorry
Torpenhow nodded forgiveness. "You
were more sorry when he cut you out
though. Go on, Keneu."
''I've often thought when I've seen
men die out in the desert that if the
news could be sent through the world
and the means of transport were quick
enough there would be one woman at
least at each mans bedside"
"There would be some mighty quaint
revelations. Let us be grateful things
are as they are" said the Nilghai.
"Let US rather reverently consider
whether Torp's three cornered minis
trations are exactly what Dick needs
just now. What do you think yourself,
Torp?''
81 know they aren't. But what can
do?'
'Tay the matter before the board.
We are all Dicks friends here. You've
been most in his life.''
"But l picked it up when he was off
his head"
''The greater chance of its being true.
! thought we should arrive. Who is
she?"
Then Torpenhow told tale in plain
words as a special correspondent who
knows how to make a verbal precis
should tell it. The men listened with
out interruption.
''Is it possible that a man can come
back across the years to his calf love?'
said the Keneu. "Is it possible?"
81 give the facts. He says nothing
about it now. but he sits fumbling
three letters from her when he thinks /
am not looking. What am I to doY'
Speak to him." said the Nilghaf.
'Oh, yes. Write to her-I don't know
her full name, remember-and ask her
to accept him out of pity. l believe
YOU once told Dick you were sorry for
him, Nlghai. You remember what
happened, eh? Go into the bedroom
and suggest full confession and an ap
peal to this Maisie girl, whoever she is
1 honestly believe he'd try to kill you
and the blindness has made him rather
muscular"
"Torpenhow's course is perfectly
clear" said the Keneu. "He will go to
Vitry-sur- Marne, which is on the Be
zieres-Landes railway-single track
from Tourgas The Prussians shelled