Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-04-16

ups were free. They moved steadily.
They seemed to be framing the sem.
OlaDce OF an old ballad that Meredith
knew. The whisper grew more distinct
1t became rich but broken voice. and
they heard ii singing like the sound of
some far, hating minstrelsy:
wave willows-murmur waters-golden
sunbeams smile,
Earthly music-cannot waken-Iovelv-
Annie Isle"
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. 81 tell you it's a
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 afternoon"
AS the voice grew clearer the sheriff
stepped forward. but Tom Meredith.
with a loud cry of grief, threw him
| self on his knees beside the cot and
seized the wandering fingers in his
own. "John!' he cried. John, is it
your
The voice went on rapidly. not heed
ing him, "Ah. you needn't how'll Well.
laugh away, you Indians! If It hadn't
been for this ankle-but it seems to be
my chest that's hurt-and side-not
that 1t matters. you know. The sophie
more's just as good or better. It's on
~ my egotism. Yes. ii must be the
side-and chest-and head-all over, I
believe. I'll try again next year-nexf
year I'll make it daily. Helen said.
NOT that / should call you Helen--I
mean Miss-Miss-Fisbee- Sher-
woodruff I've always thought Helen
/ was the prettiest name in the world
you'll forgive mel-and plsase tell
Parker there's no I"ore CODY 4, I'D W. e
bel wouldn't grind out another stick
TO save his immortal-she said-ah,
never made a good trade-no-unless-
they can't come seven miles-but I'll
finish you, Skillet, first; / know you!
know nearly all Of you Now let's
sing Annie Lisle'"- He lifted his
hand as If to beat the time for a
chorus.
"Oh, John. Johnw cried Tom Mere
dith, and sobbed outright. "Iy boy.
my boy-old friendr' The cry of the
claSsmate was like that of a mother,
fer Ii was his old idol and hero who
lay helpless and broken before him.
Two pairs Of carriage lamps sparkled
in front of the hospital in the earliest
OF the small hours, these subjoined to
two deep hooded phaetons, from each
of which quickly descended a gentle
man with a beard, an air Of eminence
and a small. ominous black box, and
the air OF eminence was justified by
the haste with which Meredith had
sent for them and by their wide re-
pute. They arrived almost simulta-
neously and hastily shook hands as
they made their way to the ward down
the long hall and up the narrow corri-
dor. They had short conversation
with the surgeon and a word with the
nurse, then turned the others out Of the
room by practiced innuendo of man
ner. They stayed a long time in the
room without opening the door.
/ Meredith went out on the steps and
breathed the cool night air. A slender
| faint of drugs hung everywhere about
| the building, and the almost impercep-
tible permeation sickened him. 1t was
deadly, he thought. To him il was i'm
bued with hideous portent of suffer
ing. The lights i'm the little ward were
turned up. and they seemed to shine
from chamber OF horrors, while he
waited as brother might have waited
outside the inquisition, If indeed a
brother would have been allowed to
=. ait outside the inquisition.
'as, he had found John Harkless
ua ho q lost track of him as men some
t,noS A, lose track Of their best be-
loved hu+ it had always been a COM
fort IN knausr hat Harkless was some
where, comfoo without which he
could hardly have go, along. Like 9TH
ers, he had been waitins for John TO
turn upon top, of course-he had such
ability, ability for anything and people
would always care for him and believe
In him so that he would be showed
ahead no matter how much he hung
back himself; but Meredith had not
expected him to turn up in Indiana.
He remembered now hearing a man
VINO had spent the day in Plattville on
business speak OF him: They've got a
young fellow down there who'll be gov
ernor in few years. He's sort OF
dictator. Runs fhe party all over that
part % the state to Suit his own sweet
will just by sheer personality. And
there isn't man in the district who
wouldn't cheerfully lie down in the
mud to let him pass oyer dry. It's |
Ihat young Harkless, you know. Owns !
,he Herald the paper that downed Nc !
Cune and smashed those imita fton
White Caps IN Carlow county" Hell
,au been struck by the coincidence Of
he name, but he had not dreamed that
he Carlow HAIRLESS was his friend
Until Helen's telegram had reached
i'm that evening.
lie shivered. His name was spoken
rom within, and Homer came out on