Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-02-13

gravely followed his lead, and Joe'S
set face flushed little. It was the
first time in many years that men Of
their kind in Canaan had offered him
this salutation.
'sHe wouldn't let me send FOR you"
he told them. HE said he knew you'd
be here soon without that. And he
led the way to Eskew's bedside.
Joe and the doctor had undressed the
old man and had put him into night
gear of Roger Tabor's taken from an
antique chest. It was soft and yellow
and much more like color than the face
above it, for the white hair on the pill
low was not whittier than that. Yet
there was a strange youthfulness In the
eyes Of Eskew, an eerie, inexplicable.
luminous, live look The thin cheeks
seemed fuller than they had been for
years, and, though the heavier lines OF
age and sorrow could be seen, they APP
peared to have been half erased. He
lay not in sunshine, but In clear light.
The windows were open, the curtains
restrained, for he had asked them not
to darken the room.
The doctor was whispering in doc
tors way to Ariel at the end Of the
room opposite the bed when the three
old fellows came in. None Of them
spoke Immediately, and, though all
three cleared their Threats with what
they meant for casual cheerfulness to
indicate that the situation was not at
all extraordinary or depressing, it was
to be seen that the colonels chin trem-
bled under his mustache, and his COM
rades showed similar small and unwiIl-
ing signs of emotion.
Eskew spoke first. s'Well, boysT' he
said and smiled.
That seemed to make it more difficult
for the others The three white heads
bent silently over the fourth upon the
pillow, and Ariel saw waveringly, for
her eyes suddenly filed, that the colo
mel laid his unsteady hand upon
Eskew's, which was outside the cover
let.
sIt's-it's not" said the old soldier
gently-'sit's not on-on both sides, is 1t,
Eskew?''
Mr.. Arp moved his hand slightly in
answer. 1T amt paralysis" he said.
ssThey call 1t shock and exhaustion
but it's more than that. It's just my
time. I've heard the call We've all
been slidin' on thin ice this long time
and it's broke under me-
"Eskew, Eskewt' demonstrated Pc
fer Bradbury. you'd oughtn't to talk
hathaway! You only kind Of over
done a little-heat o. the day, too.
and"-
"Peter,' interrupted the sick man,
with feeble asperity, did you ever
manage to fool me in your life?"
mo. Eskew.''
well, you're not doin' 1t now"
Two tears suddenly loOsed them
selves from Squire Buckalew's eyelids
despite his hard endeavor to wink them
away, and he turned from the bed too
late to conceal what had happened
'eThere amt any call TO feel bad.'' said
Eskew. 1T might have happened any
time-in the night, maybe-at my
house-and all alone-but here's Ai-ie
Tabor brought me to her own home
and takin' care Of me. / couldn't ask
any better way to go, could I r
II don't know what we'll do STAN
mered the colonel IF you-you talk
about goin' away from US, Eskew. We
we couldn't get along
swell, sir, I'm almost kind of glad
to think" Mr.. Arp murmured between
short struggles for breath, "that it'll
quieter on the : National House
corner"
A moment later he called the doctor
family and asked for restorative.
There" he said in a stronger voice
and with CLEAN Of satisfaction in the
vindication OF his belief that he was
dying. "I was almost gone then.
knowr' 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. 'sWe
shook hands outside before we came
I'M
do it again." said Eskew. Il want
to see you.'
And Joe, making shift to smile, was
suddenly blinded, so that he could not
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. I
hated to admit that the argument was
against me. I acknowledge 1t now be-
fore him and before you-and I want
the word of it carriedr'
"It's all right. Mr.. Arp" began joe
TREMENDOUSLY. You mustn't
fContinued next week.