The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-04-14
CHAPTER x.


a IT the city hospital in Rouen
I7I that night stout young man
kS63sS| introduced himself to Bar
yS&&) rett, superintendent of po-
lice; Warren Smith and Horner, sheriff
OF Carlow. He spoke in a low voice.
MY name is Meredith" he said "Mr
HAIRLESS was an old and-and-" He
paused for a moment. The Plattville
men nodded solemnly can old and
dear friend of mine,' he went on, with
some difficulty, and Warren Smith took
him silently by the hand.
"You can come in and see this man,
the Teller, with us if you like, Mr. Mer-
edlth," said the superintendent. "Your
friend made it very hot for him be-
fore the two of 'em got away with him.
Hes so shot and hacked up his mother
wouldn't know him if she wanted to.
At least that's what they say out here
We haven't seen him. He's called Jer-
~ the Teller, and one Of my sergeants
found him in the freight yard. Knew
1t was the Teller, because he was stow
ed away in one of the empty cars that
slattery-that's his running mate, the
one we caught with the coat and hat
owned up that they beat their way on
that freight. Looks like Slattery-let
the Teller do all the fighting. lie amt
scratched. We've been at Slattery
pretty hard, but he won't open his
head, and we hope to get something
out of this one He's delirious, but
they say he'll come to before he dies
Do you want to go in with us 2" ..-.,>
YES" said Meredith simply, and q
young surgeon presently appeared and
led them down wide corridor and I'D
narrow hail. and they entered !
small, quiet ward.
There was a pungent smell of chem
1cals in the room. The light was low,
and the dimness was imbued with q
thick, confused murmur, incoherent
whisperings that came from a cot in
the corner. 1t was the only cot in use
In the ward, and Meredith was con-
scious of a terror that made him dread
to look at it, to go near it. Beside it
q nurse sat silent, and upon it feebly
tossed the racked body Of him whom
Barrett had called Jerry the Teller.
The head was shapeless bundle, 50
swathed it was with bandages and
cloths, and what part Of the face was
visible was discolored and augmented
with drugs. Stretched under the white
sheet the man looked immensely tall
as Homer saw with vague misgiving-
and he lay in an odd, inhuman fash
ion, as though he had been all broken
to pieces. His attempts to move were
constantly soothed by the nurse, and
he as constantly continued such at
tempts, and one hand, though torn
and bandaged, was not to be restrained
from a wandering, restless movement
that Meredith felt to be pathetic He
had entered the room with a flare Of
hate for the thug whom he had come
to see die and who had struck down
the old friend whose nearness he had
never known until it was too late. But
at first sight of the broken figure he
felt all animosity fall away from him.
Only awe remained and q growing
traitorous pity as he watched the long
white fingers Of the Teller pick at the
cOverlet. The man was muttering
rapid fragments of words and sylla-
bles.
"Somehow 1 feel sense of wrong,
Cay" Meredith whispered to the sur
geon, whom he know II feel as if l
had done the fellow to death myself,
as if it were all out Of gear. know
now how Henry felt over the great
Guisard. How tall he looks! That
doesn't seem to me like thugs hand"
The surgeon nodded. "Of course if
there's a mistake to be made you can
count on Barrett and his sergeants to
make it. doubt if this Is their man
When they found him, what clothes
he wore were torn and stained, but
they had been good once, especially
the linen"
Barrett bent over the recumbent fig
ure. "See here, Jerry" he said, II want
to talk to you little. Rouse up, will
you? I want to talk to you as a
friend
The incoherent muttering continued.
'see here, jerry repeated Barrett
more sharply. GERRY! Rouse up, will
you? We don't want any fooling, un-
derstand that, Jerry!" He dropped his
hand on the mans shoulder and shook
him slightly.
The Teller uttered short, gasping
cry.
LET me-" said Gay and swiftly in.