New-York tribune., 1910-11-13
The Test
CcrtinusI iron, pags 5

strangely moved at the sound of an old, half
forgotten nickname he had not heard for
nigh thirty years. Who:
You mean to tell me You don't know old
Buck Twitchell?'
"You!" gasped Darlington, starting back
and leaning heavily against the table. "Oh
u
Thought l was probably dead by now,
eh?" quercd the man. mo, not yet; but
soon. That's why I'm here. To see you,
first
Darlington stood staring as at a ghost.
He tired to speak; but his contracting throat
refused. Buck" he managed to choke out
at last "YeS, now | see, now | Seel But
And over his eyes he pressed trembling
hand. Through his mind flashed long ban
ished memories, memories of as close and
warm friendship as is often given men to
know; then recOllcctiOnS OF girl named
Agnes, of rivalry, of loss. bitterness, dis
hcartening rancor-the underlying cause, he
knew, of a whole lifes failure as viewed from
the standpoint of the world. As though put
ting from him an evil vision, he flung his hand
outward and opened his eyes once more.
Twitchell was watching him, blinking behind
the dark hued glasses.
shes dead" the sick man whispered.
1.-TWO years ago, in Idaho. Money! spent
had no children. I've got nobody now-no-
body, but lust one greedy nephew. Nothing
at all to live for, nothing! You lost track of
of us, didn't you? But I've never lost
track of you; no. not even-we1, no mat
ter And now
The doctor pulled himself together
Come" said he, lets get that coat off,
first of all. You mustn't sit here with it on.
When you go out again, you know
Twitchell laughed weakly AS if any
thing like that mattered nOw!" said he.
Kind of relief not to have to bother about
ones health any more, eh? Though it's
some other things. Skipper, old man, I'm in
bad, fatally badi What do you say that we
wipe things all out now and be square and
straight for lust a little whle-til the end?
1t won't be-long!'
His voice sank to a whisper. In silence
the doctor took his hand once more The
two men looked intently at each other Car
rington nodded; the other feebly smiled.
Sit down said he at last. Sit down,
Skipper Listen. I've got some things to
say that can't wait much longer"
lin listening, am yercd the doctor.
DON'T ask YOU to forgive me, or any rub
biSh of that sort, the sick man began
after long pause. You and I-weil, we
never used to talk hot air, and we won't be-
gin now | want to put things to YOU
straight, and get straight. clear answer,
that's all. >"
| He stopped, as though for breath The
| doctor, like one in dream, sat staring at
him. Even now that he knew the mans
identity, he could scarcely force himself TO
believe that in such body dwelt the soul of
the one-tlme vigorous, daring Bucknam
| rWitchell.
With renewed effort the man went on,
My life That won't interest you. y lit
tie OF everything, from the stage to politics,
from cattle breeding to mining Mostly
everything failed, till five or six years ago.
when the luck turned turned after it was
too late. What does a million or two mean
to me now She Was wretched with me,
after all. 1t turned out to be a long. miser-
able, horrible mistake | suppose in way,
the mistake killed her Probably | was TO
blame. Each OF Us kills the thing he loves, =
you know. There nothing trucr in the
world than that line in the Ballad of Read
lng Iiaol She died, anyhow. Left me with
nothing TO It'll my life but the emDticSt thing