The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-01-16

one is too bad to repent and be saved.
Oh, David, Christ makes all life worth
while"
81 believe that" the reply came in
whisper "I've never said much, John.
but I've tried to-
The usually cynical voice actually
broke with sob that cut John Gordon
deep, although in that tense moment
which had come on so swiftly there
was fierce joy at the confession his
friend had made
He bent over and put hand on Bar
toms, and they sat thus silent for q
gracious moment. It was significant
that neither of them had said word
about Barton's physical condition and
his hopeless future, so far as physical
life was concerned. The stiffness in
the room was suddenly interrupted by
a clang out on the street.
Gordon went over to the window and
looked out.
1.-THE department is making One
rum" he said briefly to Barton.
1t was late and the avenue was al
white horses on the engine which pre-
ceded the hose and ladder wagons
plunged forward with desperate but
glad abandon that struck fire from the
pavement and whirled the engine along
with a mad but glorious energy that
made human blood run faster and kept
the pulses beating with sympathy. The
driver and his assistant leaned for
ward. their bare heads tossing their
free hair behind; the whole scene
flashed by in the night like bit torn
out of a Roman chariot race Of the
dead past, transformed by chance to
the modern municipality, whose streets
are lighted with electricity, and whose
buildings loom up in the smoky air
like crags beside the prairie sea.
The whirling group swept around the
corner at the end Of the next block,
Stacking speed just enough to avoid
turning over. John Gordon came back
to David's side.
Where is the fireY
81 didn't notice the alarm. Must have
been a still one"
"Have you ever thought what would
happen, John, IL fire ever got good
chance around Hope House"
"Have 1? l think Of it every time l
go into the double decker. They are
simply traps. If fire ever started in
the basement of No. 81, it would be a
miracle if anybody got out alive"
How about Hope House itself?" The
question showed uneasiness.
Hope House is dry old shell in
side 1t would go like finder"
"The fire tonight is not down that
way?"
mo; the teams turned up Favell
street"
us No 81 any worse than other num-
bers?"
"No; it's better in some ways. But
there's bakery in the basement. They
fry greasy doughnuts over cracked
stove. One drop of grease catching
fire in the place might sweep score
of children into eternity"
They'd be better off in eternity than
in the tenement, wouldn't they? Maybe
the best thing you could do would be to
pray for No. 81 to catch on fire when
the winds just right"
John Gordon made no answer, and
Barton asked drowsily:
"How about Mr.. Marsh? You dropped
me a line about the probability of his
having an interest in helping Miss An
dreWs financially"
'Mr Marsh is the landlord Of No.
91."
"Sho. You don't sayr' The voice
was awake again 'Then the amount
of his contribution to social settlements
is not yet made public?'
"AIr. Marsh has been with me through
the district today. He. saw his own
tenement for the first time"
That's good story; tell me about
It." The voice was again drowsy,
tits too late, David" Gordon remon-
strated. /"
mo; it isn't. I'm going to sleep here.
often do. 1t starts the cough If get
up again. I'm comfortable. You'll
stay all night? You know your room.
Do, that's a good fellow. | may want
you to help me harness up the cough
in the morning"
Eyes; I'll stay if you want me to-.
Are you comfortable there?"
every much so, old man. Go ahead
with Mr.. Marsh"
Gordon had not talked five minutes
before, Barton was asleep, an unnat-
ural slumber, more like death than
healthy refreshing of wearied powers.
His whole attitude was that of COM
plete exhaustion. The seal of death
was upon him.
John Gordon stopped talking, and the
tears rolled down his cheeks. David
Barton was the dearest friend he had
The two were ten years apart in age,
but from the time when they first met
they had been instantly drawn to,
gether and had begun to love each
other
1t was after II O'clock, and yet Cor.
don hesitated to go to bed. He almost
reared that Barton would never wake
! up, the pallor of his face, the attitude
Of the body, were SO suggestive of the
great change.
He was still sitting there, his cheeks
| still wet with the tears that he did mo-
| try to repress, when Williams came II
| softly on tiptoe.
There's queer old lady outside
Mr.. Gordon, says she wants to see Mr.
Barton, If it amt too late. She's
mighty queer looking specimen. Sh'
4 xvor,+ oo ouov and fhouoht mavh,