Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-18


and It's broke under me-
..Eskew, Eskew!" demonstrated Pc
ter Bradbury. You'd oughtn't to talk
hathaway! You only kind Of over
done llttle-heat o. the day, too.
and
"Peter.' interrupted the sick man.
with feeble asperity, did you ever
manage to fool me In your life2'
mo. Eskew."
well. you're not dom It now!"
Two tears suddenly loosed them
selves from Squire Buckalew's eyelids
despite his hard endeayor to wink them
away, and he turned from the bed too
late to conceal what had happened.
"There amt any call to feel bad" said
Eskew. ut might have happened any
time-in the night, maybe-at my
house-and all alone-but here's Airie
Tabor brought me to her own home
and takin' care of me. couldn't ask
any better way to go. could I 2?
81 don't know what we'll do" STAN.
mered the colonel, III you-you talk
about goin' away from us, Eskew. We
we couldn't get along
"Well, sir, I'm almost kind Of glad
to think" Mr.. Arp murmured. between
short struggles for breath. that It'll
be-auieter-on the = National House
corner
A moment later he called the docto,
family and asked for a restorative
"There," he said in stronger voice
and with CLEAN of satisfaction In the
vindication Of his belief that he was
dying. II was almost gone then.
know He lay painting for moment
then spoke the name of Joe Louden.
Joe came quickly to the bedside.
81 want you to shake hands with the
colonel and Peter and Buckalew."
1--WE did, answered the colonel, In
finitely surprised and troubled. 1--WE
shook hands outside before we came
in"
"Do it again." said Eskew. ~ wan'
to see you.'
And Joe, making shift to smile. was
suddenly blinded, so that he could moi
see the wrinkled hands extended to
him and was fain to grope for them.
God knows why we didn't all take
his hand long ago." said Eskew Arp
Il didn't because / was stubborn.
hated to admit that the argument was
against me. l acknowledge It now be
fore him and before you-snd want
the word Of 1t GARFIELD
"Its all right, Mr.. Arp" began joe
TREMENDOUSLY. "You mustn't'-
"Hark to me-" The old mans voice
lifted higher. "If you'd ever whir,
pered or give back talk or broke out
the wrong way 1t would OF been diff
ferent, but you never did. I've watch
ed you, and I know. And you've just
gone your own way alone, with thu
town against you because you got .
bad name as boy, and once wee
given you that, everything you did OF
didn't do we had to give you blackei
one. Now it's time some one stood b.
you. Airie Talbot u do that with oil
her soul and body. She told me once
thought good deal of you. She
knew. But I want. these three oil
friends of mine to do It too. was
boys with them, and they'll do It,
think. They've even stood up fer vol
against me sometimes, but mostly fe1
the sake Of the argument, reckon
but now they must do 1t when there's
more to stand against than just my
talk. They saw 1t all today-the mean
est thing I ever knew! could Of
stood it all except that!' Before they
could prevent him he had struggled
half upright in bed, lifting clinched
fist at the town beyond the windows
"But, by God. when they got 50 low
down they tried to kill your dog
He fell back, choking, In Joe's arms
and the physician bent over him, but
Eskew was not gone. and Ariel, upon
the other side of the room, could heal
him whispering again for the restora
tive She brought 1t, and when he hat
taken it went quickly out OF doors t.
the side yard.
She sat upon workman's bench un
der the big trees, hidden from the
street shrubbery, and, breathing deep
" Of the shaded air, began to cry quiet
IL. Through the windows came the
ulavering voice Of the old man. lifted
again. insistent, little querulous, but
determined Responses sounded inter
's.oi. from Tn.r-