The Washington herald., 1913-02-16

alarmed the doctor.
They say you've carried some dis
tricts on the North Side"
(which ones?" asked the colonel
Don't remember
Anything else?"
"weIl. they say Warner has carried
some North Side districts. too-and
some West Side districts"
Warner
We'll, whatever his name To-"
Then Foerder was silent, and the
colonel lay a long time thinking.
Did you learn how it's going In the
Ninth. or the Second. or the Seven
teenthT'
They say it's about an even break
everywhere"
And how's the Firsty' The colonel
put this question In a whisper, as X
he feared the answer. The doctor did
not know. Then the silence again.
and the coloners labored breathing.
and the ticking Of the nurses little
gold watch.
What district do you live II, Doc
tor?" the colonel asked later.
.1?' replied the medical man in some
surprise.
Yes
'I-why. I don't know" he said. ..
The colonel family smiled. where
do you live. then?'
I'm Drexel Boulevard"
That's the Fifth" the colonel said.
Warren carried that"
did he?" The doctor looked as it
he were ashamed. I'VE mustn't talk
any more just now"
Foerder remained until evening";
pacing the anteroom, his hands be-
hind him, his lips twitching In his in
voluntary smile. Now and then he
took a turn in the long. dark softly
carpeted hall. to smoke a cigarette.
At times some politician would come
with a scared face and inquire about
the colonel and the doctor always de-
! manded news OF the battle. before he
answered the questions. The reports
brought by the politicians were not
encouraging. and they hurried outside
again. Their visits in the afternoon
waned, became fewer. Even Mosely
and Garwood had been glad of the ex-
citing excuse offered by the First dis
trict convention in Italia Hall down
Clark Street to escape from the shad-
owed headquarters. At o'clock
no one had been there for an hour
save some sympathetic bell-boys and
porters from downstairs. and Carroll.
of course-he came every half hour
from the convention. disheveled, bathed
in perspiration. his eyes burning with
excitement and suspense. Foerder
would not allow him to see the colonel.
eyes half closed. too weak any longer
| TO whisper.
At I O'Clock the reporters came, and
Dr. FoerGer, as they put II. issued bull
letin.
He's alive" the doctor said. pulse
100 to l2i. respiration - to Is. tempera-
ture eS His remarkable nerve done sus-
tains him. He's making the most mag
nificent fight / ever saw in all my life
have you heard anything from the con-
vention?'
They're all over but the one in the
First District" one of the reporters said.
while they scr;bbled down the physi-
SLAMS figures 1T all depends now upon
what that does It's the worst fight
ever known in Chicago. They say War
rem has spent twenty-five thousand to-
day"
Does il look as II he could be elected
therein the First. you know
The reporters smiled and winked. ono
at another.
The colonel lay like one asleep until
far along in the evening. Once or twice
he opened his eyes and looked an inquiry
into the Doctors eyes, but Foerder could
only shake his head. And cnce or twice
he muttered something about Baldwin.
and was troubled that they could not
understand. Then he sank into a state
OF coma and the news for which all
were waiting would not come.
DR.. Foerder was forever glancing at his
watch and asking Lambert how he
thought the First District convention
would turn out. Lambert had no idea
81 hope We'll win" Foerder would say
Finally. he sent Lambert down for news
Lambert hurried back. They had taken
fortv-sfx ballots. he said and the vote
was tied. At 10 o'clock DR.. Foerder eN-
arnined the colonial again. examined his
eyes his fingernails, drummed on MS
chest and histened to his heart
You're magnificent" he could not re-
frain from whispering, but his patient
did not answer or look. or even srnlie
this time. He was growing HerE Sean an,
His breathing was faint. he inhaled the
air through IIvid lips. He did not arouse
from his stupor.
DIR. Foerder got very impatient we
can't wait much longer. he said
"Its all We can do, now. said Lam
inert.
was deserted. The pohticlais eaIne ",.
more. He would sit down. then instantly
get I'D, walk back and forth; his eye
brows knitting in his scowl. his hps
twitching IN that mirthless smile. ana
he smoked cigarette after cigarette he
did this for an hour.
Along toward midnight he heard a step.
F'lying to the door, ne saw Carroii,
dragging down the nan WIN soy
defeat and exhaustion. The boys mar.
was matted under his hat. his eyes were
dull sunken. black as night
Licked" he said. waving his hands
with a gesture of despair, as IL the worid
had come to an end. Foerder went IN
side, leaving Carroll to sink into the nrse
chair But a moment later the physi-
clan opened the white door. and beck
oned with his head. The motion was
conclusive. final. He held the door agar
and Carroll entered The useless drugs
had been pushed aside. The room was
filled with the strange silence, the ooor
of death. Lambert stood at the window
looking out into the darkness The nurse
stood by the bed, waiting to perform
her last office for the dying man.
Carroll tmidly approached and looked
down at the long form. scarcely outlined
by the sheets. at the rigid head. at the
great. waxen brow, at the httie DUO
spheres formed by the closed eyelds. at
the mouth slightly open beneath the
white nustache with its tinge OF yellow.
Doctor Foerder was pressing his fingers
to the coloners wrist. The breathing
had lost all human quality. 1t was but
a series Of automatic gasps, which. II
seemed, would never end. Finally they
grew shorter. at last they ceased. there
was one faint inspiration. and Doctor
Foerder. laying the thin old hand down
upon the coloners breast, said:
ITS all over
There was silence for whole minute.