Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-27
The d ally
Short Story
NY BROTHER tom.
BY Elinor Marsh.

went 70 distant city to seek his for
tune. was then a little girl of 10
When the worlds war broke out Ton,
enlisted in an ambulance corps and
went to France without nv seeing
him / had not seen him since he
had left home eight years before
Then news came that he had been
grievously wounded, and was to he
discharged from military service. and
sent home.
Meanwhile, father had died, mother
was very feeble, and there was mo-
one to meet Tom when he should ar
rive at the port Of New York but nv
self The news that he had of Tom
was that he pinned to get home and
the surgeons had decided to send him
without waiting for him to fully re-
cover
| / could not get definite news as to
when Tom would arrive, so went 10
New York and waited. oasss ns7n;;a.
| learned that ship was at quarau-
| tin and would be at the dock In a few
| hours. l Immediately went to the
| landing place, and in due time the
ship was locked. I went aboard, and
on deck, on a stretcher, lay a soldier
waiting to be carried ashore.
Are you Tom?" / asked. kneeling
beside the stretcher
Yes" he said, looking at me in
quiringly.
/ gave him kiss and piled him With
questions as TO his condition, but did
not give him time to answer any Of
them. AS soon as I came to a pause
he said:
when do you suppose I'm to be
taken ashore?''
Don't trouble yourself about any,
thing; I'm here to look after YOU"
said, and seeing an officer of the shin
not far from me, ran 10 him and
begged him to send some men 10 carry
my brother ashore. The officer at once
ordered four men to take up The
stretcher and carry it to the dock. [
walked beside Tom, and on reaching
the shore, asked him If / should get
an ambulance for him.
Not on your life he replied. I've
seen all of the ambulances | care TO
see I got knocked out driving one
. of them. I'm strong enough to sit up
in an auto
There were taxicabs about, and
called one OF them, and the men who
, had carried Tom ashore helped him
| into it. told the chauffeur where to
! drive us and he moved away.
Where are YOU going to take me?'
i. asked Tom.
I'm stopping with Aunt Mary; weql
go there"
She won't take me in. will she?4
, said Tom doubtfully.
Certainly; she'll be only too glad
TO do so. You can lean on me" And
/ drew him toward me and bis head
= sank on my shoulder
= could not get much information
e from him about himself, he was so
: weak. He left everything to me, ask
!. ing no questions and manifesting ne
5 interest in anything till | said: We'll
( be at Aunt Mary's in a few minutes
d and you will soon be comfortable il
L bed. Then he said that he must e
$ to a hospital. His wound was healed
I but it would be safer for him to q
Il where he could have a doctors atten
e ton al a moments notice
+ | was disappointed at this. for
e had hoped to take him home with M
Il the same day.
2 / drove him to a hospital and en-
Il gagged a room for him After seeing
4 him comfortably in bed / gave him
> kiss and, promising TO come back il
: few hours, took my departure fo
; my aunt's. At parting he looked Vi
{, at me with an expression OF deep sp
u probation and gratitude, saying:
i don't know what I should hav
done if you hagn't met me and takel
all this trouble in my behalf"
kissed him again and told him tina
is my service had only just begun
Y Having telegraphed mother tina
n Tom had arrived and was doing wei
N that the doctor said il would be SAT
e for him to go home in about a weel
re I returned to him. / nursed MIN al
n, fectionately, spending every day wit
e, him. At the end Of three days III
se doctor said that it would be perfect
4 safe for him to travel, but Tom sal
y he was too weak TO stand the journey
rs Three more days passed. One aftel
Of noon when I was sitting by his bet
Of holding his hand in mine. the doc
IS opened and young man entered H
re locked az as with an amused EXPIRE:
t, sion and said;
e Well, III be jinged,"
at Tom withdrew his hand from min
le instantly.
Y The stranger took me in his arm
es and kissed me. then said to Tom
~ WHAT the dickens does this meal
le- you old humbug. You have evident
IN been passing yourself OFF for NE.
he 4 haven't. Tom. honor bright; yoJ
sister met me, and took pity on me-
hadn't the resolution TO disabuse h
rd of her mistake You know | haven't
s. near relative in the world Your 81
le ter took me in charge, and It III
te well, for | was not able 20 take ca
be OF myself
lie, Well. well, old man, I'm glad she
he been OF service to you. / don't blan
he you bit. l wish some fellows sisti
20 had met ne; would have played Il
ch same game
le I'm not going to say how I felt.
u covered my face with my hands Al
ae MY brOther-my real brother-pull'
er them away. l suppose l should bsnii
re the ether one. They are both To
n and were friends before they went
Mt war. but l can't. | am still nursil
n him,
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