The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-09

Keith Elbowed His Way Through tte
Heterogeneous Crowd.
him also The latter broke silence
with a quick. jerky utterance. which
seemed to peculiarly fit his personal
appearance.
Damn II all-know you, sir-sure
l do-but for life of me can't tell
where"
Keith stared across at him more
searchingly. and replied, rather In
differently:
Probably mistake then. as l have
no recollection of your face
Never made a mistake, sir-never
forget face" the other snapped with
some show OF indignation. his hands
now clasped on the table, one stubby
foref1nger pointed. as he leaned for
ward Don't tell me-Tve seen you
somewhere-no, not word-donr
even tell me your name-I'm going to
think of It."
Keith smiled. not unwilling 10 humor
the mans eccentric!ty. and return I'd to
his meal. with only an occasional IN
quiring glance across the table. The
other sat and stared at him. his
heavy eyebrows wrtnkled as he strug-
g'ed TO awaken memory. The younger
man had tegun on his pie when the
face opposite suddenly cleared
Damn ne. I've got it-hell, yes:
.c'ri'al tent-Sbenandoah-bullet i'm
Leo I'd under h'Td rib-ordinary case
chats Why forgot-clear as mud
~ow--Ge: the na,Dc m minute-Cap-
,a."-Captain Kei;A--that's it-ahss
hAris."
Puzzled at the unexpected recogri-
ton. yet realizing the friendliness o.
the man, Keith grasped the pudgy fin
gers extended with SOME cord,ality.
Don't remember me I s'pose-don't
think you ever saw me-delirious
when | came - hate TO tell you
what you was talking about-gave
you hypodermic first thiDg-behaved
we'll enough though when dug out
the lead-Minie bullet. badly blunted
hitting the rib-thought you might
die with blood poison--couldn't stay
TO see-to damn much to do-evident-
y didn't though-remember me now9"
mo. only from what you say. You
must have been at General Wa!te's
headquarters"
That's it--charge of Stonewall's
field hosp!tal-tust happened to ride
INTO Watte's camp that night-damn
lucky for you I did-young snip there
wanted to saw the bone+ stopped
that-lfked your face-imagined you
might be worth saving-ain't 30 sure
OF 1t now. or you wouldn't be out In
this God foreaken country, eating
such grub-my names Fairbain-Jo-
seph Wright Fairbain, NJ. D.-contract
surgeon for the misunderstanding on
the liner
Keith shook hts head, feeling awak.
ening interest IA hts peculiar com
panion.
NO: Just drifted IN here from down
on the Arkansas" he explained brief
ly. did you know General Waite
was dead?"
~Dead?-Willis Waite dead?" he re-
peated. What do YOU mean. sir? Arc
you sure' Whenr'
Il ought TO be sure; buried him
Just this side the Cimmaron Crossing
out on the Santa Fe trail"
But do you know 1t was General
Waiter" the mans insistent tone full
OF doubt
u have no question ebout IT," TO
turned Keith, conclusively 1.-The man
was Waite's size and general appear
ance, with gray beard, similar to the
one remember he wore during the
war. He had been scalped. and his
face beaten beyond recognition, but
papers In hjs pockets were sufficient
TO prove HIS identity. Besides, he and
his comranion-a young fellow named
Sibley-were known to have pulled out
two days before from Carson CITY"
when was this@"
"Ten days ago"
FAIRBANKS lips smiled, tho ruddy
color,ng sweeping back into his
cheeks.
Damn me, Keith, you came near
giving me q shock" he said, Jerkily.
Shouldn't be so careless-not cure
my hearts Just rght-tendency to
apoplexy. too-got 20 be guarded
against Now. let me tell you some-
thing-maybe you buried some poor
devil out at Cammsron Crossng--but
II wasn't Willis Waite How do
know? PccaIse ! saw him, and talked
with him yeeterday--damn me, II
didn't, right here in this town."