The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-11-01

sssSS introduced himself to Bar
t retts Superintendent of po-
ice; warren sim sin hand Homer sheriff
of Carlow. He. spoke in. a low voice.
ssMy name is Meredith" he said. Mr..
Harkless was an old and-and--" He
paused for a moment. The Plattville
men nodded solemnly. sAn old. and:
dear friend Of nine, he. went on, with
some dihculty, and-Warren Smith took
him silently by the hand.
sIlJou can come insand see this man.;
the Teller, with us il you like, Mr. Mer-
edith, 9 said the superintendent. .Your
friend made it very hot for him be-
fore the two Of 'em got away with him.
Hes so shot and hacked up his mother
wouldn't. know him If she wanted to.
At least that's what they say oct here.
We haven't seen him. He's called Jer-
n the Teller, and one Of my. sergeants
found him in the freight yard Knew
it was the Teller, because he was stow
ed away in one Of the empty cars that
came from Plattviile last night. And
Slattery-that's his running mate, the
one we caught with the coat and hat
owned up that they beat their way on
that freight Looks like Slattery-
the Teller do all the fighting. He amt
scratched We've been at Slattery
pretty hard, but he won't open his
head, and we hope to get something
ont of this one He's deiirious, but
they say he'll come 10 before he dies.
DO you want to go in with us?"
Yes, 2 said Meredith simply, and a
young surgeon presently appeared and
led them down vide corridor and up
narrow hall, and they entered
small. quiet ward
There was a pungent smell Of chem
icals in the room. The light was low.
and the dimness was imbued with a
thick, confused murmur, tncoherent
whisperings that came from cot in
the corner. It was the only cot in use
ia the ward. and Meredith was con-
scious OF terror that made him dread
TO look at It, to go near it. Beside it
nurse sat silent, and upon It feeb!y
tossed the racked body Of him whom
Barrett had called Jerry the Teller.
The head was shapeless bundle. so
swathed. it. was with bandages and
cloths, and what part OF the face was
visible was discolored and pigmented
with drugs. Stretched under the white
sheet the man looked immensely tall
as Homer saw with vague misgivins-
and he hay in an odd, inhuman fash
ion, as though he had been all broken
to pieces. His attempts to move were
constantly soothed by the nurse. and
he as constantly continued such at
tempts. and one hand, though torn
and bandaged, was not to be restrained
from a wandering, restless movement
that Meredith felt to be pathetic. He
had entered the room with a dare OF
hate for the thug whom he had come
to see die and who had struck down
the cid friend whose neafness be had
neSer Known until it was too late. But
at frst sight of the broken figure lie
felt all animosity fall away from ,Eila
Only ave remained and a growing
traieorous pity as he watched the long
white fingers of the Teller pick at; the
corerlet. The man was muttering
rapid fragments OF words and sylla--
bles-
Somehow feel a sense Of wrong.
Cay" Meredith whispered to the sur:
geen. whom he know. 81 feel as if /
had done the fellow to death myself,
as if il were all outrof gear / know
now how Henry felt over the great
Guisard. How tall he looks! That
doesn't seem to me like thugs hand"
The surgeon nodded. "Of course if
there's a mistake to be made you can
count en- Barrett and his sergeants to
make it. doubt if this is their man.
When they found him, what clothes
he wore were torn and stained. but
they had been good once. especially
the linen"
Barrett bent over the recumbent fig
ure. "See here. Jerry he said. II want
10 talk to you a little. Rouse up. will
you? want to talk to you as
friend"
The incoherent muttering continued
Asee here. Jerryr' repeated Barrett
more sharply. "Jerry. Rouse up. will
you? We don't want any fooling. un-
derstand that, jerry He dropped his
hand on the mans shoulder and shook
him slightly.
The Teller uttered short. gasping
cry.
"Let me-" said Gay and swiftly in
terposed. Bending over the cot, he said
In pleasant voice: Its all right. old
man; it's all right Slattery wants to
know what you did with that man
down at Plattville when you got
through with him. He can't remember
and he thinks there was money left on
him. Slattery's head was hurt. He
can't remember. He'll go shares with
you when he gets it. slattery's going to
stand by you il be can get the money"
The Teller only tried to move bis free