The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-03-16

the hospital Deu stared Dack
for a moment into the eyes of the other
big young fellow who stood looking
| down at him. Then he put out one
hand-the left one-and evidently tried
to say something in reply. which did
not, however, become audible.
But his friend understood. He grasped
the thin left hand with his own, said
cheerily: "All right; there's nothing
I'd rather do" and hurried away.
Wien lie had closed the door Of the
mems surgical ward he gave his broad
/ shoulders shake, and shut his lips
| firmly together moment. AS he went
down the corridor he was saying to
! himself: "Oh. that's tough, tough! l
don't blame the poor fellow for going
blue like that. l believe he'd get well
| faster if he could have bit of hope
put back into him.
AS he reached the hospital entrance
he met one of the surgeons coming in,
and ventured to delay him moment.
" ould you mind telling me, Doctor
iIart," he asked, "ii you think de-
Epondency has anything to do with
keeping my friend Caldwell down?
Kirke Caldwell, in Ward f. The nurse
told me you were seeing him now and
then. Is there anythin, can do
"Despondency has much to do with
it." agreed the surgeon, promptly.
"Cheer him up all you can. He's shown
great courage and endurance all though
this siege, but it's told on him. sup
nose he thinks his ambitions are all
thwarted, and that's enough to make
him blue. Get him t, believe there's
something left for him to do in life."
"Yes, that IS it," mused Tom Thorpe,
| as he went on his way. "Ive got to do
something for Eirke-sonethinS posi-
tive, that will put him on mis- feet"
He thought about it all the way to
the great mandatory where he held
the post of electrical engineer. 1t was
a fine position for young man but two
years out of technical school. hirke
Caldwell had held an equally good po-
sition in neighboring city. The two
had been classmates, even rivals within
the bounds of n sturdy friendship.
Three months before, Caldwell, su-
perintending the installation Of new
electrical machinery, had seen one Of
his workmen accidentally short-circuit
q powerful current with a pair OF
pliers, had pulled the man away some
how, but in wrenching his hand away
, from the pliers, had taken the deadly
current himself. He had been so
burned that amputation Of one hand
and one foot had been necessary to
save his life. The man to whose rescue
he had sprung, died, and there had
been weeks during which it seemed
that Caldwell must follow.
That danger was past for him now;
he had bis life, but it was life SEEM
ingly so handicapped that It was small
wonder if the splendid courage he had
shown, all through, had at last failed
him. Alone in the world and depend
ent upon his own resources for living.
he felt that there was little use in
trying to get well.
But Tom Thorpe knew better; and
after thinking about his friends case
all day, he went to his father to ask
his, cooperation in q plan he had
formed.
Tom Thorpe and his father lived to-
gether in a little fat, which was as
homelike as a place with no wife and
mother in it can be.
"He's a magnificent fellow" Tom
declared to his father, walking the
floor, his face full of eagerness. IF
we could just have him here TO:
month, till he got enough strength, and
then take him to see Wentworth, l be-
lieve the thing would be done. I don't
know myself what he could do with
his handicap in electrical engineering,
but 1 believe he could be his own SAL
walton if he got his brain working at
It. You don't know what's in that boy,
father. He's twice as clever rs l. am,
and be must be made to show it,
Mr.. Thorpe smiled. He mad his own
opinion of his sons cleverness. He
let Toms modest estimate of himself
pass, however, and agreed heartily
that a month with themselves and
frip of a hundred and twenty miles to
see q certain man in university town
might he the tonic Caldwell needed.
Therefore Tom went to bed and to
sleep with an easier mind.
'Kirl-e." said Tom Thorpe one morn
ing. wien Caldwell had been for three
weeks member of the Thorpe house
hold. I'm going on a little trip down to
Remsen, and I've mind to take you
with me"
Caldwell. sitting in big reclining
chair by the window, looked round Mt
Tom with an expression of lanSuid
surprise.
"There's no reason in the world why
you shouldn't have an outing" pursued
Tom. briskly. "We're only a few
blocks from the station. l can wheel
you over in your chair, put you into
Pullman, send the chair in the baggage
car. and take you round Remsen as
easily as if were q cash carrier in
department store. Well have fine
tine out of it,
Its good of you, Tom,' said Cald-
Will, gratefully, but"
You're going, that's ALL" said Tom,
f~.nly. 81 know you don't want to, but