The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1903-02-13

party that was going up with dis
patches. and the result was that he
had adventures enough to fill a book
The party got through alive, but every
man of them was wounded, including
Jones, who made the last forty miles
He found sTempleton fiat on his
back and raving with fever in q quaint
century old church that had been turn
ed into a hospital. The surgeon in
charge told Jones that 1t was prac-
tically all over; the man was as good
as dead. Will he be conscious again?'
asked Jones. And the surgeon said
that it was possible.
When is 1t likely to happen?'
"'Heaven knows answered the sur
geon.
~Ill watt said Jones. And he sat
down on the foot of the bed. OF course
they tried to take him away. but he
wouldn't go, and as everybody was
pretty busy. he was presently forgot'
ten. a
"Templeton rayed and tossed. and
he said some things that might go to
a feeling mans heart, considering the
circumstances. but he mentioned no
name. About 3 o'clock he became
quiet, and from that hour till morn
ing he seemed to be sinking down to
death. Then he stirred and half raised
himself
"'Hello. Jones' said he. Where did
you come from?'
"T've got letter for you. George
was the reply. 1t came after you
left
"'Give it to me- said Templeton.
extending a weak. thin hand.
He took the letter and raised 1t to
his breast as he sank back against the
pillow. Jones waited. but Templeton
did not move. He lay there smiling.
with the letter on his breast. The man
was dead.
This is a valentine that some one
has sent to him from home said
Jones when the surgeon came. i
think we ought to bury 1t with him.
How do you know what 1t Is:
asked the surgeon.
Jones could not answer.
1--WE ought to open It, said the doc
tor. in order to communicate with
the writer. Some one might want to
know that he got it
He took the envelopeeout OF the
dead mans hand and opened 1t after
some hesitation.
Dear George he said in q whis-
per. Mail this to Frank Jones II you
know where he is. and never tell him
-hN hax In nd.
dress him. but you can find out
That's mine.' said Jones in
dream.
"The doctor put the inclosure into
his hands. 1t was in n separate en-
velope, unaddressed.
"'This is a friendly letter from
mighty fine GIRL said the doctor. I'D
like to take something OF this kind
with me when CO.
He put 1t back into Its envelope
and laid 1t inside the rough woolen
shirt which was the dead mans gar
ment.
"'He has delivered your message.
little GIRL said ha. and he'll never tell
who sent it.
$50 that's the whole stoy. Jones
has come back to this country. and he
has that valentine-a pretty card with
a little love verse on 1t. but not =
scrap of writing. He doesn't know
who sent 1t, but II he did think he
would find that girl. feel quite sure
that he would find that girl"
Not bad. as such things CO." said
Breck. rising. but conventional"
Conventional bel beg your par
don," said l. why, the thing is true"
Il don't see that that helps 1t any"
replied Breck. However. that's
neither here nor there. I'm hard W.
and IL valentine story's what you
want I'll go home and see what l can
do for you. BY the way, It wasn't Tenn
pleton's girl. Of course?'
"The one who sent the valentine?
Certainly not" replied. When Jones
got back to this country he looked up
Templeton's affairs bit to see
whether he could do anything for his
family and that sort Of thing. and he
happened to discover that the girl for
whose letter he had waited was really
waiting for him-waiting, as have
faith to believe. very near that rude
church In Luzon where the man closed
his eyes SO happily to open the eyes
of his soul next moment in her pres
ence."
You mean she had died." said
Breck.
"Precisely," I replied.
"And Jones hasn't lound the one
girl who remembered him upon the
far side of the wor:d?"
NO" said 1. but he Will"
Breck lighted another OF his deadly
cigarette.
"why can't write this thing for
your" he inquired.
"Not for your life. my friend. said /.
why not?" he demanded.
"pacauae I am sJOnea'1 said l. "and