The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1909-05-27
THE CAKE



Funny thing Il should have arrived
on my birthday" said Trevor. AZ be
slowly niled his pipe. Il wonder where
Il cane from I wonder who sent a.
Somebody seems 20 have remembered
me But a cake. OF all things IN the
world
Suddenly his angers stopped in their
work Of pipe nlling. and be stared hard
AZ the cake on the table. "Gadi" be ejac-
uiated That's Il. It's poisoned Yes
of oourse Il Is I kncw something would
happen after that lecture on Secret
6ociefiea' I WAS a fool 10 deliver H."
lie was alone IN his Sitting. room. and
when be had stood fr0wning : moment
o. two. be ~ his pipe and sealed him
self IN a deep comfortable armchair.
placing his siippercd feet on a stool
a. ihe side Of the fireplace. Then be
turned and looked once more AZ the
cake where Il stood amidst a Hitter o.
tissue paper wrapplnss-
Eyes" be said musingiy. you're a
doathtap. you ugly little peegar. This
method q murder Is common enough
nowadays. But why he demanded
saiicniy. why should anybody wish %
kin mel I can't make Il out 10 must
hare been that Internal lecture ! how
ed some n those murder club bounders
up. and this Is their little revenge"
lie wiped his brow with bis hand. -Its
CHASTITY q think or BE- @id. Eve
secaped this time. but what does that
mafier7 they'll nnish me yet
This gloomy idea bad become nrmiy
Logged In his bead. aud well aware %
this he shook his bead vigorously. a.
though be would shake out the idea.
Bat 10 failed
I've got myself Into = mess az a
confoundciiy awkward tine be NUT
tered slowly. III Two Offended those
Villains aDd they're anxious 70 get me
q OF the world there's no much use
IN my saying anything to Nelly now.
No use az all. and Il, seemed 10 me
she was beginning 70 care a Bit
To sighed. and getting laEily 70 his
feet. walked over 20 the table and stood
looking down az the cake. lie had
called u ugly and b. had not been un-
duly harsh. That the 40 had been
an amateur was evident. FOR there were
Rnpinx assures IN the cakes sides. and
the generously supplied icing ran into
these fssurcs IN little lunpy glaciers
Trevor looked NJ the cake nbsirscfediy.
Then addressing u. he said
'Evcn n you wcren't polsone1-aud
q course you may not bel wouldn't
put my teeth into you FOR a hundred
pounds. Your very appearance makes
me dizzy and faint.
He picked up n knife and made as
though he would cut the offending CAKE
In two. But he stopped before the
knife-polnt pierced the icing.
NO. he said. Il won't touch you.
III leave you your life. and you'll
leave me mine" lie thought FOR a
moment. and then, "Jovci" he cried.
-the very thingl III send you 70 some
body else. To some dear loving friend.
n you're all right thcn the friend Will
live and give thanks to the unknown
donor, and n you are doctored-well.
the friend. I suppose. viii die. But
that can't be helped. Anything IN the
interests OF science. ! can make IN
friend in his place"
Tho idea seemed TO please him. for
he laughed c~arciessly. and began with
care TO wrap the cako up In It's
rolls OF paper. Then he put Il into the
boz. and tied the latter neatly with
twine. This done. he knocked the
ashes from his pipe and once more
himself up In his armchair.
Tho chair was seductlvely comfort
able, the house was quiet. and Trevor
was drowsy. II was quite natural that
DO should fall asleep. He did fall asleep
md he dreamt: a sweet. pleasant
It was not a cake that he saw
n bis dream. but n girls winsome, hap
,y face. He saw her face, and he
her voice. Her voice was softer
md her words more tender than eveF
hey had been before. and Trevor, beiig
unaware that Il was only a dream, was
infinitely happy, and over his face
here came q happy smile. But even
he fairest OF dreams must come to m
md. and at last the girllsh face lifted
,ut or sight. aud Trevor yawned,
stretched bis arms. and opened his eyes.
The room was IA half darkness, but