The Red Cloud chief., 1905-04-14
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK,

been for this ankle-but IL seems to he
my chest that's hurt-and side-not
that 1t matters, you know. The sophie
mores Just as good or better. It's on
~ my cSotism. Yes, it must be the
s!dc-and chcst-and head-all over.
belleve. I'll try again next y%car-neXt
year Ill make it Il daily. Helen said.
not that ! should call you Helen-I
mean Miss Miss Fisbee-no, Sher-
woodruff I've always thought Helen
was the prettioSt naine In the world
you'll forgive mcf-and please tell
Parker there's no more copy and won't
bel wouldn't grind out another stick
to save Ills immortal-she said-ah. I
never made Il good Observation-Disclosures
they can come seven milcs-but I'll
finish you, Skillet, first; | know you!
i know nearly all Of you. Now let's
sing Annie Lisle'"- He lifted his
hand as if to beat the time for a
chorus.
"Oh, John. John!' cried Tom Mere.
dith, and sobbed outright. MY boy.
my boy-old friend!' The cry of the
classmate was like that of a mother,
for it 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 a gentle
man with a beard, an air of eminence
and q 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 he narrow cOrri-
dor. They had a short conversation
with the surgeon and a word with the
nurse, then turned the others out of the
room by Il practiccd innuendO of man
ner. They stayed a long time in the
room without opening the door.
Meredith went cut on the steps and
breathed the coo night air. A slender
faint of drugs hung everywhere about
the building. and the almost impercep-
tible permeatiOn sickcned him. 1t was
deadly, he thought. TO him it was i'm
bued with a hidcous pOrtent of suffer
ing. The lights in the little ward were
turned up, and they seemed to shine
from n chamber of horrors. while he
waited rs Il brother might have waited
outside the inquisition, if indeed a
brother would have been allowed to
wait outside the inquisition.
Alas. he had found John HAIRLESS.
He had lost track of him rs men some
times do lose tract; Of their best be-
loved. but it had always been Il com
fort to know that Harkless was some
where. Il comfort without which he
could hardly have got along. Like 9th
ers, he had been waiting for John to
turn up-On 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 a man
who had spent the day in Plattville on
business speak of him: "Thcy'vc got n
young fellow down there who'll be gov
ernor in a few years. He's n 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 a man in the district who
wouldn't cheerfuIly lie down in the
mud to let him pass over dry. lts
that young Uarklcss, you know. Owns
the Herald the paper that owned Nc
Cune and smashed those imitation
white Caps in Carlow county" lie
had been struck 10y the coincidence of
the name, but 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 Horncr came out on
the steps with the two eminent sur.
geons, and the latter favored him with
a few words which he did not under
stand. He did understand, however,
what Horner told him. Somehow the
look of the shcriff's Sunday coat, wrin-
king forlornly from his broad, bent
shoulders, was both touching and sol.
emn. He said simply: Hes conscious
and not out of his head. They're gone
In to git his antcmortcm statement"
And they re-entcred the ward.
Harkless' eyes were bandagcd. The
lawyer was speaking to him, n as
Horner went awkwardly toward the
cot Warren said something indicative
-.c c,. ,,,,n,,nn and tha hand