Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-04-05

realize that no mere tossing upon q
| bed would account for noise that
reached him across wide hall and
through two closed doors Of thick wal
nut. Suddenly he heard a quick, heavy
tread, shod, in Harkless' room, and q
resounding bang as some heavy object
struck the floor. The doctor was not
to come till evening. The servant had
gone downstairs Who in the sick
mans room wore shoes? He rushed
across the hall in his pajamas and
threw open the unlocked door.
The bed was disarranged and va
can't Harkless, fully dressed, was
standing in the middle Of the floor
hurting garments at small trunk.
The Mortified Meredith stood for sec
ond bleached and speechless; then he
rushed upon his friend apd seized him
with both hands.
Mad, by heaven! Mad!"
"Let go of me, Tom!'
s.Lunatic! Lunaticv'
Don't stop me one instantw
Meredith tried to force him toward
the bed. mo; get back to bed. You're
delirious, hoy!''
"Delirious nothing! I'm q well
man.
go to bed Go to bedw
Harkless set him out Of the way
with one arm. ITO bedv' he cried.
"I'm going to Plattviller'
Meredith wrung his hands. 1.-THE
Doctor
Doctor be hangedw
what in the name Of all that's ter
rible is the matter, John?"
His companion slung light overcoat,
unfolded, on the overlooking, mis-
shapen bundle OF clothes that lay in
the trunk, then he jumped on the lid
with both feet and kicked the hasp into
the lock, While very elegantly laun.
dered cuff and shirt sleeve dangled out
from under the fastened lid. Il haven't
one second to talk, Tom; l have eight
cen minutes to catch the express. It's
more than mile to the station, and
the train leaves here at 9:02. I get
there ut 10:47 Telephone a cab for
me, please, or tell me the number.
don't want to stop to hunt it up"
Meredith looked him in the eyes. In
the pupils Of Harkless fiared fierce
light. His cheeks were Redeemed with
an angry, healthy glow, and his teeth
were clinched till the line of his jaw
stood out like that of an embattled
athlete His brow was dark, his chest
was thrown out, and he took deep,
quick breaths. His shoulders were
squared, and in spite Of his thinness
they looked massy. Lethargy or ma
laria, or both-whatever his ailment-
it was gone He was six feet Of hot
wrath and cold resolution.
Tom said, You are goingT'
EYES," he answered quietly, II am
going"
"Then I will go with you"
THANK you, Tom." said Harkless
simply.
Meredith ran into his room, pressed
an electric button and began to dive
into his clothes with painting rapidity
astonishingly foreign to his desire. The
colored man appeared in the doorway.
"The cart, Jimv' shouted his master.
1--WE want it like lightning. Tell the
cook to give Mr.. Harkless his breakfast
in a hurry. Set a cup of coffee on the
table by the front door for me. Run!
We've got to catch a train. That will
be quicker than any cab" he explained
to Harkless. We'll break the ordl
nance against fast driving getting
down there"
Ten minutes later the cart swept
away from the house at gait that
panied the respectable neighborhood.
The big horse plunged through the air,
his ears laid fiat toward his tail. The
cart careened sickeningly, and the face
of the servant clutching at the rail in
the rear was smeared with pallor as
they pirouetted around curves on one
wheel. To him it seemed they skirted
the corners and death simultaneously,
and the speed Of their going made
strong wind in their faces.
Hariless leaned forward "Can yon
make 1t little faster, TOMB" he said.
They dashed up to the station amid
the cries Of pAsple flying to the walls
for safety. The two gentlemen leaped
from the cart, bore down upon the
ticket Office. st6rned at the agent and
ran madly at the gates, fourishing
their passports. The official on duty
eyed them swsaElly {. ResRs gala tKp