Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-03-20

There aoas a silence auhtle they looked at
each other.
ley answered, with an impatient move
ment of his hands. "What are you 60
Ing to dor
I'm going over to see the governor
In the morning. I'll be away two or
three days. imagine"
"Vanrevel," exclaimed Crailey hotly,
Twill you give me an answer and not
beat about the bush any longer, or do
you mean that you refuse to answer7"
Tom dropped his cigar upon the brick
window ledge with an abysmal sigh.
"oh, no; it isn't that" he answered
mildly. "I've been thinking it all over
for three days in the country, and
when I got back tonight I found that
had come to decision without know
Ing it and that I had come to it even
before 1 started. My leaving the letter
for you proved It It's little like this
Mexican war-a mixed up problem.
The thing Is bound to happen, and you
can't stop it. l believe the men who
make this war for their own uses will
suffer for it. But It is made, and there's
only one thing I can see as the thing
for me to do. They've called me every
name on earth-and the same with you,
too, Crailey-because I'm an abolition
st, but now. whether the country has
sinned or not, good many thousand
men have got to do the bleeding for
her, and 1 want to be one of them.
That's the one thing that is plain to
me-"
YES" returned Cralley. "You know
I'm with you. and 1 think you're al
ways right. Yes, we'll all be on the
way in fortnight or so. Do you mean
you won't quarrel with me because Of
that? Do you mean it would be poor
time now, when we're all going out to
take our chances togetherT
Quarrel with your Tom rose and
same to the desk. looking across 1t at
bis friend. did you think I might do
that?"
"Yes-I thought so'
"Crailey" And now Toms express
zion showed desperation. 1t was that
Of man whose apprehensions have
eliminated and who Is forced to face
! a crisis long expected long averted,
but imminent at last. His eyes fell
from Crailey's clear gaze, and his hand
adgeted among the papers on the desk.
mo" he began with painful lame
ness and hesitation. II did not mean
t-no. meant that, in the same way,
only one thing in this other-this other
AFFAIR that seems SO confused and Is
such problem-only one thing has
| grown clear. 1t doesn't seem to me
that = that" here he drew a deeI
breath before he went on with increas
ing nervousness-"that if you like 8
man and have lived with him q good
many years-that is to say, If you're
really much Of a friend to him, DOM
believe you sit on high seat anG
| judge him. Judging and all thai
haven't much part in it, and it seems tt
me that you've got yourself into pref
ty bad mixup, Crailey."
YES" said Crailey. ''Its pretty
bad"
''Well," Tom looked up now with al
almost tremulous smile, Il believe tina
is about all 1 can make of it. Do 70,
think it's the part Of your best frient
to expose you? 1t seems to me that i
there ever was time when ought t,
stand by you it's now
There was silence while they locke,
ut each other across the desk in til
faint light. Toms eyes fell again a
Crailey opened his lips.
"And in spite Of everything" Craile,
said breathlessly, you mean that yo
won't tell?'
| "How could I, CraileyT' said Tor
vanrevel as he turned away.
ITO be continued.