The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-05-29
CHAPTER XIV.
The White MESSENGER.
\ spite Of Bivens' protest Stuart
returned to New York Oh the
first train the morning after tii..

first train the morning after the
ro;,ching party reached the
house
Stay week longer" the little man
urged, land 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 my doctors III New
York.
Tin sorry, CAL" he answered quick
~, but l must leave ut once
Nan allowed him to go without an
effort to change his decision \ strange
calm had come over her Size 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 1t 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 Il smile back
to his haggard face
''They've come to honor me with
their good wishes on my voyage she
said.
"What yoyage?" he 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
day you left Isn't that fine? sail
next week.
A sudden idea struck him.
Let me go with you. sirlic?"
"Oh. Jim. il you only would. I'd be
in heavenr'
Il will!'' he said with decision
You've booked your passageT
"Yes, but I'll change it to suit you.
He found business which required a
week and booked his passage with
Harriet on 4 C,fharder which sailed
in ten days. A week later Nan and
Bivcns returned to their New York
house The papers were full Of stories
Of his falling 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.
TITS rar more serious than the paper
suspect. You'll Gomez"
Yes, early tomorrow morning. w
an important engagement tonight tina
Will keep me until ~ o'clock. I'm sail
Ing for Europe day after tomorrow
| A sudden click at the other end AM
he was cut OFT. His experienced ea
told him 1t 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, WE'LL" he cried In quick. i'm
patient tones. "who Is 1t? What is til
matter?"
For heavens sake come at once
| Cal was taken dangerously i'll at
o'clock The doctors have been wit
him every moment. He doesn't get an
better. He keeps calling for you"
"I'll be there In half an hour-thret
quarters at the most"
'"Thank you." she gasped, and hun
up her receiver.
Stuart's cab whirled uptown throug
the rivers Of humanity pouring down
begin again the round of another da,
In all the hurrying thousands not on
knew or cared straw whether th
man of millions in his silent palace o
the drive lived or died
The house was evidently in hopeles
confusion Servants wandered In e'
cry direction without order Doctor af
er doctor passed in and out. and th
sickening odor Of medicines filled til
air 4 group of newspaper reporter
stood at the foot of the grand stairwa,
Nan stood shivering at the head {
the stairs. pale. disheveled. her dar
eyes wide and staring with new e.
preston of terror in their depths
"How Is he. Many"
"Worse,' she stammered throus
chattering teeth. 1.-The doctors say
can't possibly live. He has been cal
ing for me for the last hour. lean
-gOr'
"Why;"
I'm afraidv'
He took her hand It was cold ar
le felt tremor run through her boo
at his touch.
Come. come, Nan, you're not sill
child I'm ashamed Of you Ii Cal
calling. go to him at once. You mu
see him.
Shivering in silence sbc led Stua
to the door OF Bivcns' room aud fl.
to her own.
On a magnificent bed of s!eamii
ebony inlaid with rows of opals. tho
sands of opals. Stuart found the lit
: shriveled form The swarthy face w
white and drawn. the hard thin III
fallen back from two rows Of smoo
teeth in pitiful, fevered weakness. III
shifting eyes caught sight of Stuart.
Its awfully good of you to con
!, up here so soon" he began fcebl
, I've some plans want you to car
| nrf for mo ripht AWAY YOl see