Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1913-03-12
CHAPTER XIV. d.
The White MESSENGER.

returned to New York on the
+ first train the morning after the
coaching party reached the
house. : ss. sz., s.. .zs
..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 in New
York. 81 s,ys 5 2 I.
I'm sorry, CAL" he answered quick.
~. "but must leave at once. - - ,@s
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 a tender
smile, and said In low tones:
until we meet again" -. .. b r. e.
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 a smile back
to his haggard face - w.
They've come to honor me with
their good wishes on my voyage" she
said.
''What voyage?" 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, girlie?''
"Oh. Jim. If you only would, I'd be
In heaven!'
II will!" he said with decision.
you've booked your passage"
eyes, but I'll change it to suit you -
He found business which required a
week and booked his passage with
Harriet on 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" A...
us he really dangerously ill., Stuart
Interrupted. szs =:3=z ~ r.. 2. = =.
cts far more serious than the paper
suspect. You'll Gomez"
Eyes, early tomorrow morning. Nv
an important engagement tonight tina
will keep me until IL o'clock. I'm sail
ing for Europe day after tomorrow"
A sudden click at the other end an
he was cut off. His experienced ca
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 th
matter?''s
For heavens sake come at once
Cal was taken dangerously Ill at
| o'clock. The doctors have been will
him every moment. He doesn't get an,
better. He keeps calling for you"
"1'll be there In half an hour-three
quarters at the most ...
"Thank you," she gasped, and hun,
up her receiver
Stuart's cab .whirled uptown through
the rivers Of humanity pouring down t,
begin again the round of another day
In all the hurrying thousands not on,
knew or cared straw whether tn,
man Of millions in his silent palace oil
the drive lived or died. IL. *:
The house was evidently in hopeless!
confusion. Servants wandered in ev
cry direction without order. Doctor aft
er doctor passed in and out, and tn,
sickening odor of medicines filed til,
air: A group of newspaper. reporter.
stood at the foot Of the grand stairway
Nan stood shivering at the head OF
the stairs. pale, disheveled, her DART
eyes wide and staring with new ex
preston of terror In their depths.
'tHow is he, Nan r. 8. #
Worse she stammered through
chattering teeth. 1.-The doctors say ht
can't possibly live. He has. been call
Ing for me for the last hour. I-can't
-go!' 1= Is :... ...
''Why?" @.ss ~ A. E......z
"1'm afraid!' ...s. ::5 4. b.
He took her hand. It was cold and
he felt tremor run through her body
at his touch. 's ...5 =:s..5 {: .:
Come, come, Nan, you're not silly
child, I'm ashamed Of you. IT Cal is
calling, go to him ut once. You must
see him." ..- 81. H.. 1..5 n
Shivering in silence she led Stuar,
to the door of Bivens' room and fed
to her own. : =. a: ..z S.
On a magnificent bed Of cleaning
ebony inlaid with rows Of opals,s thou
sands Of opals, Stuart found the little
shriveled form. The swarthy face was
white and drawn, the hard thin lips
fallen back from two rows Of smooth
teeth in pitiful, 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
2 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
lare half g million people sick or bend
ing over the beds Of loved ones who
are suffering, and two hundred die
every day 4