The Red Cloud chief., 1905-04-28

tt'tis 'bVNs ~ W. 1870
%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? lie rushed
across the hall I'm his pajamas AMI
threw open the unlocked door.
The bed was d~isarrunged and va
cant. Uarklcss. fully dressed, was
standing In the middle of the floor
hurting garments at II small trunk.
The horriiicd Meredith stood for Il sec
ond blcachcd and spccchless; then he
rushed upon his friend and seized him
with both hands.
"Mnd. 10y heaven! Mad!"
"Ict 20 of me, Tom yiSsa
"I.unatic! Lunatic."
"Don't stop me n instant!'
Meredith tried to force him toward
the bed. NO; get back TO bed. You're
delirious. boy
"Dclirious nothing! I'm n well
man
"Go to bed! Go to bed
Harklcss set him out of the way
with one arm. ITO bcd!' he cried.
I'm going To F1nttvillc'
Meredith wrung his hands. "The
doctor
doctor be hanged"
"What in the name of all that's ter
riblc is the matter, JohnY"
His companion slung II light o%vercoat,
unfoldcd, on the overlooking, mis-.
shapcn 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 u very elegantly laun.
dcrcd cuff and shirt sleeve danglcd ont
from under the fastened lid. IL haven't
one sccond to talk, Tom; l have eight
cen minutes to catch the express. It's
more than II mile to the station, and
the train leaves here mt 900. get
there ut 1917. Telephone II cab for
me-. please, or tell me the number. |
don't want to stop to hunt IT up"
Meredith looked him in the eyes. In
the pupils of uarklcss flarcd Il fierce
light. Ills checks were Redeemed with
Nn angry, healthy glow, and his teeth
were clinched till tie line of his jaw
stood out like that of an cmbattlcd
athlete. His brow was dark, his chest
was thrown out, and he took deep.
quick brcaths. Ills shoulders were
squared. and in spite of his thinness
they looked massey. Lethargy or ma
lariu, or both-whatcvcr his ailmcnt-
II was gone. He was six feet Of hot
wrath and cold resolution.
Tom said, 'You are going?"
EYES," he answered quietly, Il am
going"
"Tllcn l 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 Il painting rapidity
astonishingly foreign to his desire. The
colored man appeared in the doorway.
'"rhc cart. JIM" shouted his master.
1--WE want it like lightning. Tell the
cook to give Mr.. Harkless his breakfast
In Il hurry. Set n cup OF coffee on the
table by the front door for me. Run!
We've got to catch n train. That will
be quicker than any cab" he explained
TO Harkless, Wen break the ordt,
nance against fast driving getting
down there"
Ten minutes later the cart swept
away from the house at Il gait that
panied the respectable neighbOrhOOd.
The big horse plunged through the air.
his ears laid Hat toward his tall. The
cart careened sickeningly, and the face
Of the servant c%lutching at the rail In
the rear was smeared with pallOr as
they %pirOuctted around curves OH one
wheel. To him 1t seemed they skirtei
the corners and death simultaneously,
and the speed of their going made d
strOngswind In their faces.
i Harkless leaned forward. "Can yOl
make It Il little faster, TOmT' he said.
They dashed up to the station amid
the cries OF people dying to the walls
for safety. The two gentlemen leapel
from the cart, bore down upon the
ticket office, stormcd at the agent and
ran madly ut the gates. flourislinl
, their passports. The official Oh duty
eyed them YEARLY. Been gone two
minutes" he remarked with u peace
able yawn.
81 HAIRLESS stamped his foot on the CO.
! ment flags; then he stood stock still
! gazing at the empty tracks, but Mere
: dith turned to him, smiling. won't II
= keep" he asked.
"Ycs, 1t will keep" John answered
Q "Part of 1t may have to keep till elec
ton day, but some of II | will settle
I before night. And that" he cried be