Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-09-12

", shook their heads at one another
md slowly went up to the porch. where
Toe met them. Mrs. Louden uttered q
sharp exclamation, for the colonel
,hook hands with her stepson.
Perhaps Flltcroft himself was sur
orised He had offered his hand al
most unconsciously, and the greeting
vas embarrassed and perfunctory, but
lis two companions, each In turn,
ravely followed his lead, and Joe's
set face flushed a little. 1t was the
irst time in many years that men Of
heir kind in Canaan had offered him
his salutation.
"He wouldn't let me send for you"
ie told them. "He said he knew you'd
De here soon without that" And he
ed the way to Eskew's bedside.
Joe and the doctor had undressed the
I'D man and had put him into night
gear Of Roger Tabor's taken from an
lntlque chest 1t was soft and yellow
Ind much more like color than the face
,bove II, for the white hair on the pill
ow was not winter than that. Yet
here was strange youthfulness In the
eyes Of Eskew, an eerie, inexplicable.
luminous, live look. The thin cheeks
Ieemed fuller than they had been for
iears, and, though the heavier lines Of
ige and sorrow could be seen, they APP
)eared to have been half erased. He
ay not In sunshine, but in clear light.
The windows were open, the curtains
restrained, for he had asked them not
o darken the room.
The doctor was whispering In a doc
:or's way to Ariel at the end OF the
.oom opposite the bed when the three
I'D fellows came In. None of them
poke Immediately, and, though all
.hree cleared their throats with what
hey meant for casual cheerfulness TO
Indicate that the situation was not ut
Ill extraordinary or depressing, II was
% be seen that the colonel's chin trem-
)led under his mustache, and his com.
AIDES showed similar small and unwill-
ny signs of emotion.
Eskew spoke first. "Well. boysT he
Iaid and smiled.
That seemed to make IL more difficult
or the others. The three white heads
,eut silently over the fourth upon the
pillow, and Ariel saw waveringly, for
Ter eyes suddenly filed, that the colo
lel laid his unsteady hand upon
Eskew's. which was outside the cover
ct.
'It's-lt's not" said the old soldier
not on-on both sides, Is II.
sskewp
Mr.. Arp moved his hand slightly In
answer. 1T amt paralysis" he said.
They call II shock and exhaustion
,ut It's more than that It's just my
line. I've heard the call We've all
been slidin' on thin Ice this long time
Ind It's broke under me-
"Eskew. Eskewg' demonstrated Pc
er Bradbury. You'd oughtn't TO talk
You only kind OF over
lone a little-heat o. the day, too,
MD
peter" interrupted the sick man.
With feeble asperity. did you ever
manage TO fool me in your llfe?"
''No. Eskew."
well. you're not doin' II now"
Two tears suddenly loosed them
elves from Squire Buckalew's eyelids
espite his hard endeavor TO wink them
way, and he turned from the bed too
lte 10 conceal what had happened. /
There amt any call to feel bad" said
skew. lit might have happened any
Ime-in the night, maybe-at my
ouse-and all alone-but here's Airie
'abor brought me 70 her own home
nd takln' care OF me. couldn't ask
ny better way to go. could IT'
II don't know what Wen do" stam-
nered the colonel ''if you-you talk
bout goin' away from us, Eskew. We
we couldn't get along
"Well, sir, I'm almost kind OF glad
think" Mr.. Arp murmured. between
hort struggles for breath, that it'll
e quleter-o the - National House
orner."
A moment later he called the doctor
aintly and asked for restorative.
There" he said In a stronger voice
nd with a CLEAN OF satisfaction In the ,
indication of his belief that he was
ying II was almost gone then. ,
nowg He lay painting for moment,
hen spoke the name OF Joe Louden. |
Joe came quickly 10 the bedside, {
Il want you 10 shake hands with the {
olonel and Peter and Buckalew." .
I'VE did" answered the colonel IN.
nl,ely surprised and troubled. I've 6
hook hands outside before we came
l."
DO IL again." said Eskew. II want /
} see YOU" :
And Joe, making shift to smile. was '
lddenly blinded. so that he could not q
'e the wrinkled hands extended TO r
Ina and was fain to grope for them. Z
God knows why we didn't all take
Is hand long ago" said Eskew Arp. A
didn't because l was stubborn. l b
ated 70 admit that the argument was u
sainst me. / acknOwledge II now ha- A