Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-10-18
CHAPTER IL.

that Gordon was thrown to his knees.
CHAPTER IL.
They We're surrounded Immediately
hy a crowd in which policemen were
Il prominent feature. The chauffeur
Semed daZed in the hands of the Off
GERS.
A little, barefoot, white faced figure
huddled Imply in the midst showed
Gordon what had happened: also there
were menacing chances towards him.
self and a show of lifted tones He
heard one boy say: You bet he's in
a hurry to oft away. Them lind allus
is. They don't care who they kills,
they don't
4 great horror seized him. The cab
had run over a newshoy and perhaps
killed him. Yet instantly came the re-
membrance of his commission: Don't
let anything hinder you. Make it a
matter of life n DEATH" Well, it
looked as ii this was a matter of death
that hindered him now.
They bundled the moaning boy into
the taNicab and as Gordon saw no es-
cape through the tightly packed crowd.
who eyed him suspiciously. he climbed
in beside the grimy little scrap of UNI
conscious humanity, and they were off
to the hospital to the tune of Don't
let anything hinder you! Don't let
VI NlIlilS Il1lucI YOU. ulIlll aOI-
don felt that IL it did not stop
soon he would &c crazy. He
meditated opening, the cab door and
making his escape in spite of the speed
they were making, but a vision of
broken legs and a bed In the hospital
for himself held him to his seat. One
of the policemen had climbed on in
front with the chauffeur, and now and
again he glanced back as if he were
conveying a couple of prisoners to Jail
1t was veNatious beyond anything! And
all on account of that white dog! Gould
anything be more ridiculous than the
whole performance?
His annoyance nj irritation almost
MADE him forget that it was his prog
ress through the streets that had 81
fenced this mite beside him. But. lust
as he looked at his watch for the fifth
time, the boy opened his eyes and
moaned. and there was in those eyes
a striking resemblance to the look in
the eyes of the dog of whose presence
he had just rid himself.
Gordon started. In spite of himself
1T seemed as if the dog were reproach-
ing him through the eyes of the child
Then suddenly the boy spoke.
will yous stay by me till I'm mend
ed?" whispered the weak little voice.
Gordon's heart leaped in horror again
and it came to him that he was being
tried out this day to see if he had the
right stuff for hard tasks. The appeal
In the little street boys eyes reached
him as no request had ever done, and
yet he might not answer 1T. Duty-life
and death duty-called him elsewhere
II he must leave the little fellow
! whom he had been the involuntary
u of injuring, to suffer and perhaps
to die. 1t cut him to the quick not to
respond to that urgent appeal.
Was 1T because he was weary that he
was visited just then by a vision OF
Julia Bentley with her handsome lips
not have approved of his stopping tc
carry a boy to the hospital, any more
than to care for a dogs comfort.
Look here, kiddie," he said gently
leaning over the child, I'D stay by you
II | could, but I've already made my
self late for an appointment by com
Ing SO far with you. Do you know
what duty is?"
The child nodded sorrowfully.
Don't yous mind me-" he murmured
weakly. Just yous go. I'm game all
right" Then the voiced trailed off into
silence again, and the eyelids fluttered
down upon the little, grimy. uncon-
scious face.
Gordon went into the hospital for a
brief moment to leave some money in
the hands of the authorities for the
Denefit OF the boy, and q message that
he woulo return In a week or twn, II
possible; then hurried away.
Back ia the cab once more. he Eel,
as IL he had killed a man and lief,
him lying by the roadside while he on
tinued fls answering march toward
the hideous duty which was growing
moment;y more %portentous, and to be
relieved ot which he would gladly have
surrendered further hope Of his chiefs
favor. He closed his eyes and tried to
think. but all the time the little white
face of the child came before hissvision
and h mocking eyes of Julia Bentley
tantalized him, as IL she were telling
him that he had spoiled all his chances
and hers-by his foolish soft heart
edness. Though, what else could he
have lone than he had done, he asked
himself fiercely.
He looked at his watch. 1t was a,
least 10 minutes ride to the hotel. the
best time they could make. Thanks to
his mar. the process of dressing for
evening would not take. long. for he
knew that everything would be in place
n h: would not be hindered. He
would rake short work Of his toilet.
But there VA his suit case. It would