The Washington times., 1904-03-13

= took his last ounce of nerve to re-
sist the impulse TO walk straight on
past the drug store. Later, when ne
was feeling moro fit, he might re-
turn, or possibly, he might give HIM
self the benefit of the doubt, and not re-
turn at all. But he had made it rule
from his early Doyhood that as soon as
! he found himself afraid 10 do what
1seemed to be his duty, he must do 1t at
once The result of this system was.
that by the time he had reached his
twenty-ffth year there were not many
things LEFT that he was afraid of.
Now he was reminded of how. When
he was a little boy and spent his long
lonely Summers with his Puritan grand
parents, he used to compel himself
nightly to face the terrors of his dismal
bedchamber In the great dark wing OF
the gloomy old farmhouse. Just as he
used to then. be caught his breath and
dived suddenly into the shop.
With a pale face but steady steps, he
walked back to the little window over
which was the single word "Prescrip-
tons" On the other side of the win
dow there was another sign: 'Bacteri-
illogical Examinations a Specially
He tapped smartly on the ground
glass It slid up. framing in the open
ing a pallid. peevish face.
Have you examined the specimen
I left here yesterday" asked the man
on the outside
The peevish expression gave place to
one of professional suavity.
yes, doctor-one minute, please. Let
me see-479. $50 yes. here you are sir
thank yOu-can again sir. We make
Of vT~ort- and au0rInW
Of the best psychologists in the city
Good day. sir"
The young man showed the yellow
envelope into his pocket, and walked
out hurriedly-
ae thought it would be better to get
over in the park and sit down on one
OF the benches before he opened it. Or
dinarily, he was sure enough Of his
nerves, but this was different.
Near the edge of the park he sank
down on a bench and took the envelope
between his fingers. His heart was go
ing like a trip hammer not full and
Justify. as it did the first day he took
command of his company. but with a
quick. empty beat. as if it were pumping
cold air through his arteries and tap
ping the wall Of his stomach with every
thrcb.
More than once in HIS life he had led
a Struggling band of blue-shirted men
across a sweltering stretch Of meadow.
while the BIausers spat like jungle cats.
and little puffs of dust flew from the
sun-dried rice dikes. Men thought
rather well Of that. and did not hesitate
to say So And yet to compare that to
this! 1t was a cold bath beside leap
from a precipice.
Thoughts of brave former days
brought back his nerve again. Another
gasp, and with firm hand he tore of
the end Of the envelope, and quickly
scanned the paper within.
His heart gave one tremendous throb.
and then the pain was over-he knew:
the doubt and uncertainty and hope. the
most refined OF fortunes, had fed.
He glanced at the big clock at the
end of tie square; ten minutes past ten
that was the real date Of his death;
the apparent hour was yet to come
The paper lying crumpled in his hand
bore the ,superscription of the labora-
tory, and. underneath. the signature Of
the analyst. Between were the words.
Specimen swarms with tubercle bacilli.'
The fear and uncertainty were gone.
At last he was at peace. He thought
he understood now how It was that muir
derers usually passed a restful night
and ate a good breakfast upon the
morning Immediately before their exc
cution
Then his mind concentrated on him
self. and he thought and thought. while
the hour hand Of the big clock mad made
the complete circuit Of the face
\ Finally ne rose and walked across the
park down two blocks, and turned into
a side street. In front of a house that
wore the air of decayed but proud gen
tility in a fashionable gathering. he
paused and rang the bell
rs the doctor IMP
sab"
Il didn't ask you that; I asked you
II he was in Answer my question"
The darky tried to look naughty, as
only the servant OF a great specialist
can look. but failed.
Eyes, sab, he is in, but I don reck'n
he see nobody"
Take him this card"
In a moment the man returned.
'Doctah say come right up. sab"
The visitor walked past the Office and
up the stairway as one accustomed to
the place. At the head of the stairs
he was met by a fne-looking man with
snowy white hair and mustache, and a
face in which professional enthusiasm
and natural kindness Of heart had for
forty years been struggling tor suprem-
acy.
well. we'll Duncan. I'm delighted
to see you. When did you get back?"