The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-03-18
CHAP!TER]
2R 5-XXTY!

AIHu was Struggling DhCk from COu3s
He muttered, he talked. he awOke
Lieber found HE sunken eyes. the pu.
pills appearing almost concave, fixed
on him with seeing gaze. 1t was like
resurrection. A spirit had come down
upon the body. Eye to eye. mouth to
mouth, heart to heart, 1t had given
sight, breath, life.
The eyes closed. Lieber hurried
away. From the kitchen he brought
a bowl Of broth. 1t was steaming and
filled the room with an odor Of rich
essence. 1t was in itself concentra-
ton of life The bowl was emptied.
Alan sank back into the pillows. His
eyes wandered wistfully over the bare
walls. the high thing Of the strange
room. "'I would have, great gods! but
one short hour Of native air-let me
but die Mt home,'" he murmured, and
Lieber heard.
The words clutched mt his own heart,
but he answered cheerfully, "You shall.
my boy, you shall die at home II you
like, but you're going to have years to
think 1t over. Sleep, that's the word.
And sleep 1t is," he added to himself
as Alan's eyes closed and his chest be-
gan to rise and fall In healthy breath
ing. Lieber held his wrist. The pulse
was taking OH strength.
Alan was still sleeping when Gerry
arrived. Lieber looked up, surprised.
you've come all the way back from
Fazenda Flores2'
Gerry nodded. GLOW is he? Has
he come to, yetY'
YES" said Lieber in a low. modu-
lated tone. "I1e enme to, all right. But
the fights not over yet. Fever goes
and comes, you know. II another par
oxysm scizcs him. he'll not have the
strength to pull through. It's ques.
ton of hours now"
you've been up all night" said Ger
~. go and lie down for n while. I'll
call you II anything happens"
Licber rose reluctantly. Don't fail
to call me-" he said. "I'n leave my
door OPEN"
Gerry sat down in chair beside the
settle. He had not known how tired
he was himself Soon he drowsed. His
head fell forward on his chest Sleep
! came to him and then great trouble
came to his sleep. He reused himself
from nightmare and, suddenly wide
awake, found Alan's eyes fixed on his
face.
"You!' murmured Alan.
Gerry did not answer, His face bo.
came a mask. 1t seemed to him that
only Alan's eyes were alive, and to
Alan that Gerry had projected his
spirit to his bedside to watch him die.
Alan tried to smile in defiance.
"Can't you speak| he whispered
hoarsely.
Gerry leaned forward. The question
he had to ask was stronger than he.
1t forced its way through his lips.
"Alan, what did you do with her? Tell
me that and I'll go away"
A troubled look came into Alan's thin
face He frowned. do with her? Do
with whom1"
"Alan," said Gerry, his suppressed
voice trembling, "You know. With
Alix."
"Oh," said Alan. still struggling on
the verge of consciousness. II remem-
Der. did nothing with her. She
wouldn't go with me-"
"Alan," groaned Gerry. II saw you.
I saw you and Alix on the train"
The frown was gone from Alan's
forehead. He felt sleep coming back
to him and he was glad. "Yes," he
said, "she was on the train with me.
I remember. She Jumped off. A bag
gageman-caught her." He dropped
of to sleep again.
Lieber stepped catlike across the
floor. He caught Gerry by one ear,
and with the other hand over his
mouth led him out of the room. Gerry
went tamely. When they were on the
veranda Lieber looked at him. $50"