Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-02-16

the backs OF people and the way theif
hands would shake. Janet Smith, IN
side, dressing Haley's wounds, was
first warned by the tumult and cries;
she as well as Archie and Haley VINO
were with her could see nothing until
they got outside All Mrs. Melville
saw was the glistening back OF the car
and Mercer stepping into the car ana
Instantly lurching forward. The ex-
plosion seemed to her simultaneous
with MERGERS entering the car. But
Mrs. Rebecca Winter. who perhaps
had the coolest head Of all, and who
was standing on the dais OF the arcade
exactly opposite the car. distinctly
saw Keatcham with an amazing exer'
ton OF vigor for man just risen from
q sick-bed. and with kind OF whirl-
ing motion, literally hurl Mercer out
of the car. She heard the crackle
and a roar and Kito screamed In Jap
anese, running In from the carriage
side. She cannot tell whether Tracy
or Arnold reached the mangled crea-
ture on the pavement first. Arnold
only remembers how the carriage robe
tapped in Tracy's shaking hands be-
fore he flung 1t over the man. Tracy's
/ fair skin was streaky, blush white,
and his under jaw kept moving up
| there and down like that OF fish out
of water, while he gasped. never ut
tering . sound.
Young Arnold was trembling 20 that
raised the wounded man. Mercer
alone was composed although deathly
pale. He had the presence Of mind to
throw the harmless fragments Of the
bomb into the fountain and TO examine
| the interior OF the car lest there
| SHOULD be more Of destruction hidden
| therein. Then he approached the heap
on the flags; but Keatcham was able
to motion him away, saying In his old
voice, not softened in the least:
! Don't you do that! I'm all In. No
use. They got me. But 1t won't do
them any good: you boys know that
/ will you Witnessed; 1t gives a fifty
i
or the killing Of Atkins; his own cut
throats will betray him for that. But
where's Winter? You damn careless
fools didn't let him get hurt?"
"shure. sor, he didn't let himsilf
git hurted." Haley blurted out; he had
run in after Miss Smith, brandy bottle
in hand; otis the numbering dagoes
| is gettin' hurted Of there behind the
big rubber trees; I kin see the dead
legs Of thin, this minnit. IT'S grand
/ cool shot the colonel Is, sor."
Bring him in, let them go; they
were only tools" painted Keatcham
: weekly; but the brandy revived him;
and his lips curled in a faint smile az
Janet Smith struck match to heat
| the teaspoonful Of water for her hypo-
dermic. Make It good and strong.
give me time to say something to
Mercer and Winter-there he comes;
good runners those boys are!"
I Tracy and Arnold, acting on q COM
mon unspoken impulse, had dashed
after Winter and were pushing him
forward between them. Keatcham was
nearly spent, but he rallied to say the
words In his mind. He kept death at
bay by the sheer force Of his will.
When Winter knelt down beside him,
with a poignant memory Of another
time IN the same place when he had
knelt beside . seemingly dying man,
and gently touched the unmarried right
hand lying on the carriage-robe, he
could still form a smile with his sti1
lips and mutter: "on1y thing about
me isn't in tatters; of course you
touched It and didn't try to lift
me where I'm all in pieces. You
always understood. Listen! You,
too. Mercer. Winter knows the
things I'm bound to have go through.
rye explained them to him. You'll
be my executors and trustees? A
hundred thousand year. not too
big q salary for the work-you can do
it. It's bigger job than the army
one, Writer. Warnebold will look
after the other end. He's narrow but
he is straight. I've made 1t worth his
while. Some loose ends-it can't be
helped now. Maybe you'll find ou.
there are more difficulties in admits.
tering a big fortune than you fancied;
| and that 1t isn't the easiest thing In
| the world helping fools who can't
| help themselves. There are
all those Tidewater idiots made
me read about you'll have to
attend to them, Mercer old
woman in the queer clothes +.
| chorus :. girl those
old ladies who who had one egg be-
tween them for breakfast !.
you'll see to them all?"
EYES," said Mercer. looking down
on the shrunken features with a look
of pain and bewilderment. yes, sub.
I'll do my best"
"And-we're even?"
81 reckon I'm obliged to call it so,
subj" returned Mercer, with a long,
gasping sigh, "but-my Lord? you'd
better have let me go!'
i Every likely" said Keatcham, dryly,
'.the city needs me. Well, Winter.
you must look after that I've been
thinking why a man throws his life
away as l did; he has to, unless hos
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