The Washington herald., 1914-12-20
Author of The Last Christian.


himself-he'd finished up.
There was a directors meeting
Observation-Disclosures, | think.
never understood it, exactly. Just to
get something on record, | suppose.
Illinois Charley went out to Chicago
About half of us turned around and
came right back--a special car on a
regular train; all the berths made up.
dark aisleS, and snoring through the
broad daylight. n the morning my
man went unconscious on my hands.
In the afternoon, however, he came
to again and asked if | would tcfe-
graph tor his girl to meet him in New
York. l went back, after sending the
message, to talk to him.
viii | get up from ,his onc" he
asked.
| thought he Would. That disease
takes time.
81 suppose its 40 use 10 ask-about
the whole thing:f
Well. well see ] said, avoiding
his eye. II had been bad enough be-
tore, but now the thing was done.
There was no Ttpeal in nature. II
some weeks, or months, it would end
him.
He lay still for, few minutes.
"As ! understand" he said at last
1t doesn't come all at once; it takes
time
| replied that it did.
well, then, after ] get I'D, why
can't | get my lid and take my TRIP
TO Europe"
81 don't know Why not" ! said. He
might as we'll be there As anywhere.
He gave a sigh of relief. "I'd kinG
Of set my heart on il" he explained.
The limousine met our train. He
clamhcrcd in. Two lackeys supported
him through the corridors to the
pisces chambers.
In the morninF, when | called C
see him. he was up. reading the intn.
cial =, INNS OF ihc paper. The rurr
I'D cO:re. CoTinon had already lc-
gun TO feel :hc frst impulse y. the
thing that had happened.
There she gocS up, Doc" he said
excitedly. What did | tell you:
guess we'll be poor, ch2 You just
hang on to that bunch OF yours, too.
We're all going TO ride to glory on
her yet" He broke off
"Where's my IId. She's late" he
said rcstlcssly, ard touched the but
ton for his attendant.
They'd gone ior her all right:
"Ycssuh The trains late, sub"
He'd evidently been pushing the
button all the morning.
And just then the girl came in, flut-
tering--a little sallow, slender child,
overwhelmed in wraps - and ran
across to him.
He rose heavily and held out both
his hands to her
Hello, Babe. he said, devouring
her with his eyes, I'm awful glad to
see you"
She let him kiss her and drew back,
both hands in his, with youths usual
| distastc for dcnionstrativencs from
its elders He introduced me, and she
smiled. He was still holding her
hands. Not a bad little girl, only
wildly overdressed.
81 got a surprise for you, Babe" he
said. He couldn't wait any longer.
You're going to Europe this summer
with your old Pop"
"Oh" she said. and hung back a
little more. He looked anxiously at
her, watching for the pleasure to
light up in her face. He tried again.
"You and I'll go together, Babe,
and see all the kings and queens.
Well have the tiuc OF our lives, won't
we? I'll buy you anything you see"
"Oh, Pop" SHE said, with little
| petulant whine, 81 don't want to so
to Europe with you this summer"
Don't want TO, Babe" he said
stupidity
She Shook her frizzlcd ringlets vio-
lently. Il got it all fixed up with
somebody else"
For moment he looked AT her.
Such nice people she explained
brcathlessly-''girlS in our school, and
their mother. They asked ME, you
sec, months and months ago"
The man held her hands several
seconds before he spoke.
"Oh-I see he said. "Wcll-if
that's the way you icel about it-why,
| gucSs-that'S ali there is to it.
The girl turned her face toward nc.
puzzled. as if asking me if | could
help her understand.
"All right" he said. Now go and
get your wraps of. dear"
I've got to get back to school very
soon," she said virtuously The prin-
cipal says l mustn't lose too much
| time"
Yes, l know, he assented.
You aren't very sick. are you,
Pop" she asked. lingering.
'Oh. no; just per usual.
was there again in the evening.
The man was getting back his
strength-for the. time.
You said you could get me up and
around" he remarked.
said he ought TO be out before
long.
How long," he asked.
"Wcll. perhaps week." | ventured.
'Al right. | got 10 get back to
work. he said.
ITO work.
That's what said" His voice
was dull and savage.
III you're going back TO work, Pm
through" l said.
We'll, get through, then, he said,
with an ugly oath
left the princes apartment for the
last time.
never saw my man again but once
from a diStancG, clambering heavily
into his limousine. He was huge.
But | was passing there one night,
and a hotel funeral-one of those sur
reptitious ceremonies which creep out
OF side entrances at night-waS evil
IDENTIFY in progress. / wouldn't have
noticed it especially it hadn't arrived
just in time to see lifted and deposited
in one OF the carriages the most cnor-
Il =