The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-12-26
CHAPTER XIV.
The White Messenger.


coaching party reached the
house.
stay week longer the little man
urged. and i'll go with you. Well go
together. all of US. in my car I'm
getting worse here every day. I've
got to get back to nay doctors in New
York
I'm sorry, CAL be answered quick
~, but | must leave at once"
Nan allowed him to go without an
effort to change his decision. A strange
calm had come over her. She drove
to the station with him in silence. He
began to wonder what it meant.
As he stepped from the machine she
extended her hand. with tender
smile. and said in low tones:
Until we meet again
He pressed it gently and was gone.
He reached New York thoroughly
exhausted and blue, but the sight of
Harriet seated on the stoop of the old
home by the square watching crowd
Of children play brought smile back
to his haggard face.
They've come to honor me with
their good wishes on my voyage" she
said.
What voyage?' be asked in sur
prise.
"Oh. you didn't know. I've an en-
gagement to sing on the continent
this summer. The news came the
next week"
A sudden idea struck him.
LET me go with you. girlie?''
''Oh, Jim, if you only would, I'd be
in heaven
81 willr' he said with decision.
You've booked your passageY'
Yes, but I'll change it to suit you"
He found business which required
week and booked his passage with
Harriet on a Cunarder which sailed
in ten days. A week later Nan and
Bivens returned to their New York
house. The papers were full of stories
Of his failing health.
Two days after her arrival Nan tele-
phoned to Stuart.
'You must come up to see Cal to-
night" she said earnestly. "He is ask
ing for YOU
rs he really dangerously ill?" Stuart
Interrupted.
It's far more serious than the pa per>
suspect You'll Gomez
Yes, early tomorrow morning. I've
an important engagement tonight that
will keep ME until II O'Clock. I'm sail
ing for Europe day after tomorrow
A sudden click at the other end and
he was cut off. His experienced ear
told him it was not an accident.
1t was just dawn when Stuart's tele-
phone rang and he leaped from bed.
startled at the unusual call.
'Well, WELL he cried in quick. i'm
patient tones. who is it? What is the
matter?''
For heavens sake come at once.
Cal was taken dangerously i'll at .
o'clock. The doctors have been with
him every moment He doesn't get any
better. He keeps calling for you"
"I'll be there in half an hour-three-
quarters at the most
THANK you" she gasped, and hung
up her receiver
Stuart's cab whirled uptown through
the rivers of humanity pouring down to
begin again the round of another day
In all the hurrying thousands not one
knew or cared straw whether the
man of millions in his silent palace on
the drive lived or died.
The house was evidently in hopeless
confusion. Servants wandered in ey-
cry direction without order. Doctor aft
er doctor passed in and out, and the
sickening odor of medicines filed the
air. A group of newspaper reporters
stood at the foot of the grand stairway.
Nan stood shivering at the head of
the stairs, pale, sdisheveled, her dark
eyes wide and staring with new ex-
preston Of terror in their depths.
How is he. Nan?'
Worse" she stammered through
chattering teeth. The doctors say he
can't possibly live. He has been call
ing for me for the last hour I-can't
-go!'
Why"
I'm afraidw
He took her hand. It was cold and
he felt a tremor run through her body
at his touch.
Come, come, Nan, you're not a silly
child, Pm ashamed of you. If Cal is
calling, go to him at once You must
see him
Shivering in silence she led Stuart
to the door of Bivens' room and fed
to her own.
On a magnificent bed of cleaning
ebony inlaid with rows Of opals. thou
sands of Opals. Stuart found the little
shriyeled form. The swarthy face was
white and drawn. the hard thin lips
fallen back from two rows of smooth
teeth in pitifuI, fevered weakness. The
shifting eyes caught sight of Stuart.
Its awfully good of you to come
up here so soOn," he began feebly.
I've some plans | want you to carry
out for me right away. You see
never thought before of the world as
place where there were so many
men and women sick and suffering
thousands and tens and hundreds of
thousands These doctors say that
every night in New York alone there
are half a million people sick or bend
ing over the beds of loved ones who
are suffering. and two hundred die
every day"
He paused for breath. and the black
eyes stared at his friend.