Cañon City record., 1904-04-14

| that Meredith felt to be pathetic. He
had entered the room with 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 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 I feel a sense OF wrong
Gay" Meredith whispered to the sur
geon, whom he know. 81 feel as If
had done the fellow to death myself.
as II 1t 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 II
there's mistake to be made you can
count ON Barrett and his sergeants to
make 1t. l 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. 81 want
TO talk to you little. Rouse up. will
you? l want to talk to you as a
friend"
The incoherent muttering continued.
See here. Jerryr repeated Barrett
more sharply. Jerry! 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
terpos.I. Bending over the cot. he said
in n pleasant voice: Its all right, old
man: it's all right. Slattery wants to
know what you did with that man
down at Plattville when you got
through with him. He can't remember.
and he thinks there was money left on
him. Slattery's head was hurt. He
can't remember. He'll go shares with
you when he gets 1t. Slattery's going 10
stand by you II he can get the money"
The Teller only tried to move his free
hand TO the shoulder Barrett had shak-
en-.
'Slattery wants to know" repeated
the young surgeon. gently moving the
hand back upon the sheet. Hell divyy
up when he gets it. He'll stand by you
old man.
would you please not mind" whis-
pered the Teller faintly-"would you
please not mind II you took care not 10
brush against my shoulder again?'
The surgeon drew back. with an ex-
| clamation. but the Teller's whisper
gathered strength. and they heard him
murmurlng oddly to himself Mere
dith moved forward. with a startled
gesture. whats thatT' he said.
Seems to be trying to sing. or some
! thing" said Barrett. bending over to
I listen.
The Teller swung his arm heavily
over the side of the cot. the fingers nev-
er ceasing their painful twitching. The
surgeon leaned down and gently moved
the cloths so that the white. Scared
lips were free. They moved steadily.
They seemed to be framing the sem
blance OF an old ballnd that Meredith
knew. The whisper grew more distinct.
1t became rich but broken voice. and
they heard 1t singing like the sound OF
some far. halting minstrelsy:
Wave wiiiows-murmur waters-solden
sunbeams smile.
| Earthly music-cannot waken-loyciy-
| Annie Lisle."
Meredith gave an exclamation.
The bandaged hand waved Jauntily
over the Teller's head. 'Ah. men," he
said. almost clearly. and tried to lift
himself on his arm. II tell you it's II
grand eleven we have this year! There
will be little left OF anything that
stands against them. It's our cham
pionship. Did you see Jim Romley ride
over his man this afternoonr'
As the voice grew clearer the sheriff
stepped forward. but Tom Meredith.
with loud cry of grief. threw him
self on his knees beside the cot and
seized the wandering fingers In his
own. "Johnr' he cried John. is 1t
your
The voice went on rapidly. not heed
Ing him. "Ah. you needn't howl! Well.
laugh away, you Indians! If IT hadn't
been for this ankle-but 1t seems to be
my chest that's hurt-and side-not
that 1t matters, you know. The sopho-
more's just as good or better. It's on
| ly my egotism. Yes. Il must be the
side-and chest-and head-all over.
believe. I'll try again next year-next
year I'll make It daily. Helen said.
not that should call you Heien-I
mean -Miss-F'isbee-no Sber-
woodruff I've always thought Helen
was the prcttiest name In the world
you'll forgive me?-and please tell
Parker there's no more copy and won't
bel wouldn't grind out another stick
/ m aoya biQ ir,n,nrfaI-sha aatI-ah 4