The Washington herald., 1906-12-02

yielding TO a peevish mood. He was hav-
ing too much of Mr.. Sides on short ac-
Quaintance.
pills is wot he needs, and life-siZed |
ones at that Won't you Gomez
Unable TO resist the pleading Of his good
friend. the tourist slid into his clothes and
started once more to administer first aid
TO the bottle-haunted diver AS they sped
down the beach road Bill unloaded some
rapid explanations. He had dropped in on
Horace and found him hot and damp and
steamy At the doctors house, near the
hotel, they said the medical man was
playing poker with the consul at the
other end Of the village, whence Bill had
come
80 l asked you to look after Horace.
His symptoms is serious and severe. He
Is turning blue"
Mr.. Barnacle painted and swallowed an
imaginary clam that had the shell Oh IT,
1T wouldn't be surprising II Horace
hoped the golden ting. Look at him."
They had reached the open door Of the
shanty. The sheet metal structure glow
ed like an oven. On an iron cot lay
the stricken diver still aTrayed in dun
garee-overaI-pajam and the big horn
spectacles. A bUlkhead lamp, backed by
brilliant tin reflector. flashed its yell
low light full in the face Of the dying
man. He had turned blue, as diagnosed
by the ObseTvant Mr.. Barnacle. Leaning
over Bill placed one hairy paw on the
heaving bosom Of the patient Up came
the hand of Horace Sides. The fingers
clutched the neckcloth Of the seaman and
gave it two distinct jerks, followed by
long pull
Still diving 20 beat the band" sob
bed Bill. Poor old Horace just signaled
vehement for a monkey wrench"
Don't let him have it," cried Mr.
BIoke, aroused TO the urgency Of the case.
Go and get the doctor while I watch.
Drawing a box TO the bedside. the
watcher sa1 down and looked at the div
er. He lay with eyes closed behind the
spectacles. and his great hands pIucked
feebly at the bedding. Blotches Of blue
appeared on the bronze-tinted head and
face. which still retained the weird helmet
Ike effect. Pretty soon the eyes opened
and stared at Mr.. Bloke, sitting, pale and
scared. on his silent vigil
Raise ne up he said. in a voice that
gave no hint Of delirium, but the eyes be
lied the tone.
The watcher arranged the uulaundered
pillows. and placed the diver in a sitting
posture.
Now, landlord. give us the box. and
I'll shake any old sport Around Cape
Horn for the drinks"
: sickness stole over Mr.. Bloke-he felt
empty.
''No. no, not thatr' he said. soothingly.
Lie down and rest"
shut upr Mr.. Sides retorted, not un-
kindly. Don't be a piker. Be sport
Around the Horn we 20, Here, take the
box and throw"
To humor the man. Willie made an
imaginary dice play on the bed II chilled
him 90 90 Il.
Thirteen. 1 make IT," said Horace.
counting the spots with eyes that saw and
did not see. You're easy, old sport
Watch me"
Lifting the box TO his lips. Mr.. Sides
blew into it for luck. placed one hand
I
liberation, his eyes fixed on the ceiling
II was a ripping moment in the tender
life Of Mr. Bloke- In that phantom bar
room tragedy he heard the ticking OF hts
own heart and the cushiony purr OF
phantom dice that slid to and fro in a
phantom box.
Seventeen, and I win. You're the goat.
We drink the last round at your expense.
No hard feelings. I hope The diver was
hilarious
Not in the least" The pallid lips Of
the watcher merely formed the words.
The hand Of Mr.. Sides fell weakly TO his
lap, TO be raised moment later. bearing
a phantom toast Of the same kind OF
gin He clnked the glass in joyous rev.
elry. swallowed the drink and burst into
rickety song:
Here's to brandy. gin, and rum
ANY old juice to make drunk come"
Slowly the bottle-haunted diver Of sam
boa slid down 10 his back, dropping a
limp arm over either side Of the cot.
Slowly the bIotched brow and face grew
white-a dead, CHASTITY white. like the
head Of a new drum Sweat oozed up
from the backs Of his hands until the
hairs stood out Ike dew-laden grass at
sunrise. His face rained moisture, which
dribbled down his cheeks and darnpened
wide arcs on the pillow-and the sweetish
fumes Of juniper filled the shanty.
MY God! It's the gin-whole quarts OF
gin; he's flooded with it," groaned Mr..
Bloke, plunging terror-stricken from the
house. With reeling brain, he sought the
waters edge to bury his hot and feverish
feet in the soft. cool sand Standing
there. beneath the pale stars, shining SO
far away, he turned his paler features TO
the comforting glow and his lips moved
"Oh, Lord" ne whispered; I'm not d
praying man. and you know it; but please
never let my stomach stage a spectacu-
lar effect like that Amen"'
Peace stole into the tortured soul of
Mr.. Bloke Fifteen minutes passed.
while the pale stars still held him for
:heir own. Far down the road the thud of
large, fat feet dented the night, and soon
the faithful BIZ hove in sight towing the
fussy German doctor. They picked up
Willie and hustled him on TO the shanty
and the charge he had so basely deserted.
The place was empty.
Where is he at-where is Horace Sides,
and him dying and blue in the face?"
demanded Bill. Where did you stow
him?''
Il never touched him; I swear il"
faltered Willie His mind was much up
set. Maybe Mr.. Sides ioated away on
a tidal wave of gin"
The doctor looked sideways at the late