The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1914-01-08

behind him. He struck a light and
stood surveying the small, boxlike
apartment with weary, unreconciled
eyes. Instead of making him forget,
the five years exile-each day and
hour 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
its ensuing emptiness and hurt, va
riety of emotions we're depicted upon
his thin, expressive face. But they
passed as quickly as they came, and
Rogers lifted his head with a startled,
alert movement as vague, but un-
mistakable sound struck on his
trained ear; 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 it wide open.
There was gust of biting air and
a binding whip of sleet in his eyes,
like the sting from thousands of tiny
lashes.
He stopped and touched the pros
trate figure with gentle hands, but
there was no response, and gathering
the unconscious man In his arms. he
carefully as a woman might have
done, he placed him on his own rude
pallet, and piled the fire high with
fresh fuel. the Goals breaking instant
ly 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
and in a little while there
were signs Of life.
Rogers left his chair and came up
to him with a reassuring smile.
Feel any better now" he asked.
Rogers" he said, "Tve been look
ing all over creation for you and I've
found you at last"
Looking former"
For you, yes. an a dying man.
Look at me and you can see that"
Consumption" he went on, tap.
ping his chest with one weak hand;
the doctors told me couldn't last a
month"
MY dear fellow" he protested,
I'm afraid"
mo, no, no. I'm not. know what
you'd say. l am In full possession of
III my senses Would to God l was
lot!" he put in fervently.
Years ago." he pursued, after
,rief pause, II found out that She
ny wife-loved you. She never cared
or me, and she's yours by all the
avs of heaven"
He paused moment out of sheer
weakness, and wiped the cold drops
rom his mouth and forehead When
e had controlled himself sufficiently,
e went on:
Il loved her-God, l worshiped her,
ut l knew it was you she cared for,
nd not me. It did not take me a
eek to realize my mistake. And {
ogers-" His voice broke and /
allied off to whisper. There was a t
ng, shuddering sigh, and the dying 8
ans lids quivered suddenly over I'M {
eyes. a
Rogers sat for a moment as though n
rned to- stone; his face was as @
bite as the snow that Kissed against O
10 windows; his eyes bright and u
artled. But suddenly his features v
anged, lightened and fleeing fingers Il
uched them with ripple of silent
y. 7
A moment. and the dying man
ened his eyes again-they were
tie rational now. He looked up ap- =
alingly into Rogers face and CROPPED
tside the cover with cold, trembling
nds.
Rogers caught them suddenly in his :,
Irm, strong grasp, and his head Il
opped forward on his breast. =
A minute passed, two, three. An :,
UT went by; then another, and =
Ither stirred. At midnight the dis y
It sound Of bell startled Rogers a
m his reverie. He looked up swift ~
and bent to catch the sound Of the %
ler's heart-beats. Dl
But the last great enemy had come. DC