The San Francisco call., 1906-06-24

out of the bundle popped
straw-cOlOred head and a pair of
a. weak watery blue eyes roVed
aimlessly about the room
Looks like a chicken with the pip,
don't he," exclaimed Jack in disgust.
-..Nyice 6geer of a District Attorney he is!'
he may come out of ii all right by to-
marrow afternoon said Vaughan. whose
experience in the past year with
..drllnks'' had taught him to take hope
ful view Of such conditions
% '.where'n 1 put him?" asked Jack
looking about
In nv bedroom, / suppose" said
Vaughan. not overjoyed at the prospect
Where you going to sleep?"
.On four chairs. There are plenty of
blankets TO soften them. and L have two
pilows-come on. I'll help you"
They lifted Barker between them; his
perveless legs dragged helplessly along
the floor
.-Now-,lp he goesr' cried Vaughan, and
they tunbled him on TO the bed
ITS awful good of you, parson."
drswled Jack looking down on Barker,
who was already slumbering like child.
IF / warn't fixed as 1 ana married
man-Td take him I'm myself Just sorter
tide him over the Bill Isham stage and
he'll be easy 10 manage, after that"
door. but returned. If you could con-
rrive 10 let me know how he is in the
morning began wouldn't want TO
have him go Till hes sure all right Mrs.
Barker Number Two amt the sweetest
tempered woman that ever was in the
world" He took his leave
Vaughan stood for some minutes. gazing
down at the small. shrunken figure on
the bed. Whatever could tempt a man
10 make such a spectacle Of himself.
The relaxed Jaw. the parted lips-how
week they were, The little. womanish
hands that twitched and plucked at the
bedclothes-their appeal was only to a
pity which was more than half con-
tempt. To give UP control. TO renounce
authority over ones self-how could any
one be so mad
And for whst2 The temporary gratif-
cation OF an appetite which was not even
thirst
Barker. too. a man who had read and
thought who knew human nature, knew
his own and its needs, could respond to
what was great and fine. who adored
his daughter and was by her loved ten
derly, She refused 10 leave him. even
when he urged il. and her stepmother
made things hard. How could he, how
could he, And now. OF all times. when
Office and honor awaited him,
Vaughan returned TO his desk At in
tervals he glanced toward the bedroom,
but quiet continued 10 prevail. He almost
forgot his charge. in the book he was
reading.
Suddenly the bed creaked; Barker was
awake and struggling TO rise. Vaughan
went TO him and tried TO put him back
into bed. but Barker pushed him aside,
and succeeded in reaching a sitting pos
ture.
''Pard" he said gravely. I've got to
Kill Bill Ishsm"
What for?" demanded Vaughan curl
eusly. He would really like to know.
Barker ignored the question. Got to
DO IT," he said earnestly. Got to do il.
Got TO Kill Bill Isham. He neither fears
God nor regards man. Got to do It,. Got
70 XIII Bin Isham" The last words died
away in a murmur. The tide of drunken
sleep was rising again. He lay down
muttering
Vaughan watched him for a few min
utes and then went back TO his desk.
In another half-hour Barker was up
again. This time ne plunged wildly for
ward. and was sitting on the edge Of
the bed when Vaughan approached him.
Got to do it," he cried. Got to kill
Bill Isham,"
He looked imploringly up at Vaughan
as the latter bent over him What
would you do. pard?" he walled.
Ia let him wait" said Vaughan with
decision. There isn't any hurry about
IL -
He neither fears God nor regards
man said Barker solemnly IF there's
anything in this world I hate. it's one
thing more'n another" He lay down
again. muttering, and was once more
sound asleep.
This sort of thing went on. at intervals.
al through the night. Again and again,
the drugged brain fsltered and stumbled
and fell back powerless before its self
imposed task. Thought went to pieces
before it. action was impossible Again
and again Vaughan strove TO fix the
floating intelligence which ever more
drifted out of his reach.
Barker" he called, Barker. try to
come back. try to be yourself. Try to
throw this of. There is so much at
stake
If he could reach that thing which
stood for Bsrkers soul. and grasp and
raise IT, the poor helpless body must
obey Barker" he called into the deaf
ear, listen TO me, You must and save
yourself. Come up out of those depths
and be a man. Assert yourself.
This is your last chance If you don't
respond 10 II you will go doWn-to stay
there, Be man, be trusted officer of
tie State. A true friend. a loving father,
You can do it. You must do it, Think
OF your daughter. Think Of Louisev'
At length he seemed to grip something
and TO hold IL A gleam shot from unde,
the purple eyelids. Where am I?' asked
Barker feebly. What time is ito"
you are in my room. 1t is six O'Clock.
The bells are beginning TO ring said
Vaughan Hear that?"
Father O'Keefe had on his little church
chime OF bells. Three times a dav thev
rang the Angelus. as now Glory be 10
the Father" they rang Glory be 10
the Son. Glory be TO the Holy Ghost,,'
II was an innocent hopeful sound
Tears slowly welled up to the red rims
framing Berker's blood-shot eyes
Lie down again. and I'll make vou
some coffee" said Vaughan practically.
Barker obeyed
he took the cup with trembling hands
but they grew steadier as he drank The
S1ht was rising and running down the
hih bright ray shot through the study
windows and lay upon the floor. The tiny
coffee-pot bubbled ard spluttered over the
IRE. The fresh morning breeze entered