Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-29


lips We're free. They moved steadily.
| They seemed to be framing the SEM
blance of an old ballad that Meredith
knew. The whisper grew more distinct
1t became rich but broken voice, and
they heard it singing like the sound Of
some far, halting minstrelsy:
Wave wllows-murmur waters-golden
sunbeams smile,
Earthly music-cannot waken--lovely-
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
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 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 howl! Well,
laugh away. you Indians! If 1t hadn't
| been for this ankle-but it seems to be
| my chest that's hurt-and side-not
that it matters, you know. The sopho-
more's just as good or better. It's on
| ~ my egotism. Yes, it must be the
! side-and chest-and head-all over, 1
believe. I'll try again next year-next
year I'll make it daily. Helen said,
not that l should call you Helen-I
mean Miss Miss 'isbee-no, Sher
| woodruff I've always thought Helen
was the prettiest 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
to save his immortal-she said-ah, /
never made 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 Isle - He lifted his
hand as If to beat the time for
| chorus.
ooh, John, John cried Tom Mere
dith, and sobbed outright. .My boy.
my boy-old friendp' The cry Of the
classmate was like that Of q mother,
for 1t 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 gentle
! man with 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 word with the.
nurse, then turned the others out Of the
room by practiced innuendo Of man
ner. They stayed 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. It was
deadly, he thought. To him it was Inn
bued with a htdeous portent Of suffer-
ing. The lights In 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 inqulsition. II indeed
brother would have been allowed to
wait outside the inquisitfon.
Alas, he had found John Harkless'.
He had lost track Of him as men some
times do lose track Of their best be-
loved, but 1t had always been COM
fort to know that Harkless was some
where. comfort without which he
could hardly have got along. Like 9th
ers he had been waiting 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 man
who had spent the day In Plattville on
business speak OF him: "Theyve got
young fellow down there who'll be gov
ernor in few years. He's a sort Of
dictator. Runs the party all over that
part Of 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 over dry. It's
that young Harkless. you know. Owns
the Herald, the paper that downed Nc
Cune and smashed those imitation
White Caps in Carlow county" He
had been struck by the coincidence of
the name, bus he had not dreamed that
the Carlow Harkless was his friend
until Helen's telegram had reached
him that evening.
He shivered. His name was spoken
from within, and Horner came out on
the steps with the two eminent sur
geons, and the latter favored him with
q few words which he did not under
stand He did understand, however,
what Horner told him. Somehow the
look of the sheriff's Sunday coat, wrin-
king forlornlv from his broad. bert