The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-01-14

ness. At the sig,
BE nal. he turned
- .-<Nf abruptly back in
to the room and made the door secure
behind him. Ise struck a light and
stood surveying the small, boxIike
apartment with weary. unreconciled
eyes. Instead Of making him forget,
the FIVE years exile-each day and
hour a link forged into chain Of de-
liberate destiny-seemed but to bind
him more keenly, more irrevocably. to
the past
AS he bitterly reviewed the crush
ing sorrow Of that other life. with all
It's ensuing emptiness and hurt. va
riety OF emotions were depicted upon
bis thin, expressive face. But they
passed as quickly as they came, and
Rogers lifted his head with a startled.
alert movement as a vague. but un-
mistakable sound struck on his
trained ear; a muffied cry of distress.
In moment it repeated itself, sharp
and human and despairing. He
jumped to his feet, hurried to the
door and flung ii wide open.
There was gust Of biting air and
a binding whip of sleot in his eyes.
ike the sting from thousands of tiny
ashes.
He stopped and touched the pros
trate figure with gentle hands, but
.Aere was no response, and gathering
the unconscious man - his arms. he
staggered back into tae cabin As
carefully as woman might have
done. he placed him on his own ride
pallet. and piled the fire high with
fresh fuel. the Goals breaking instant
" into a kissing blaze Then he pro-
cured a flask of brandy and forced a
few drops Of it between the sick
MANS teeth. He swallowed it spas
medically. and in a little while there
we're signs Of life.
Rogers left his chair and came up
70 him with reassuring smile.
Feel any better nowg" he asked.
Rogers" he said, I've been look
ng AL over creation for you and I've
louhd you at last.
Looking for-me?"
For you, yes. l am dying man.
Look at me and you can see that"
Consumption" he went on, tap
ning his chest with one weak hand;
the doctors told me couldn't last a
month"
NY dear fellow" he protested,
Tn afraid"
mo no. no, I'm not. know what
you'd say am IN fun possession Of
al my senses. sWould TO God | was
not" he put in ferventiy-
Years ago" he pursued, after a
brief pause, 4 found out that She
my wife-loved you. She never cared
FOR me and she's yours by all the
laws Of heaven
He paused a moment out of sheer
weakness, and wiped the cold drops
from his mouth and forehead When
ne had controlled himself sufficiently,
lie went on.
Il loved her--God, worshiped her
but | knew 1t was you she cared for
and not me. It did not take me a
week to realize my mistake. And
Rogers" His voice broke and
trailed OF to a whisper There was a
long. shuddering sigh, and the dying
mans lids quivered suddenly over nm
conscious eyes.
Rogers sat for a moment as though
turned to stone his face was as
white as the snow that Kissed against
the windows; his eyes bright and
startled. But suddenly his features
changed. lightened and fieeting fingers
.onched them with ripple OF silent
10y.
A moment, and the dying man
opened his eyes again-they were
luite rational now. He looked up APP
pealingiy into Rogers face and groped
outside the cover with cold. trembling
hands.
Rogers caught them suddenly in his
warm. strong grasp. and his head
dropped forward on bis breast.
A minute passed, two, three. An
hour went by; then another, and
neither stirred AT midnight the dis
tant sound Of bell startled Rogers
from his reverie. He looked up swift
iy. and bent to catch the sound Of the
others heart-beats
But the last great enemy had come.