The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-05-05

bed would account for a noise that
reached him across a wide hall and
through two closed doors of thick wal
nut. Suddenly he heard a quick, heavy
tread, shod, in Harkless' room, and d
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 a small trunk.
The Mortified Meredith stood for a Sec
Ond bleached and speechless; then he
rushed upon his friend and seized him
with both hands,
mad, by heaven! Madv
"Let go of me, Tomv'
'Lunatic! Lunaticv
Don't stop me one instant!'
Meredith tried to force him toward
the bed. "No; get back to bed. You're
delirious boy!'
"Delirious nothing! I'm we'll
man.
"Go to bed! Go to bed!'
HAIRLESS set him out of the way
with one arm. 'To bedv' he cried
"Pm going to Plattvillev'
Meredith wrung his hands ''The
DOCTOR
doctor be hangedv'
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 a very elegantly laun.
dered cuff and shirt sleeve dangled out
from under the fastened lid Il haven't
one second to talk, Tom; I have eight
cen minutes to catch the express. It's
more than a mile to the station, and
the train leaves here at 9:O2. I get
there at 10:47. Telephone a cab for
me, please, or tell me the number. I
don't want to stop to hunt it up
Meredith looked him in the eyes. In
the pupils of Harkless Jared a 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 lie took deep,
quick breaths. His shoulders were
squared, and in spite of his thinness
they looked massey. 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 going?'
eyes," he answered quietly, Il am
going"
"Then I will go with YOU"
THANK you, Tom,' said HAIRLESS
simply.
Meredith ran into his room, pressed
an electric button and began to dive
into his clothes with a painting rapidity
astonishingly foreign to his desire. The
colored man appeared in the doorway.
'"The cart, Jim!' shouted his master.
1--WE want it like lightning. Tell the
cook to give Mr.. HAIRLESS his breakfast
AAA q AuAAy. 0CI q cup VI COue0 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 HAIRLESS. "We'll break the ordi-
nance against fast driving getting
down there"
Ten minutes later the cart swept
away from the house at a 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 pireuetted around curves on one
wheel. To him it seemed they skirted
the corners and death simultaneously,
and the speed of their going made a
strong wind in their faces.
Harkless leaned forward. "Can you