Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-01-11

w Ia pcSl concentrated lNlC
the uncanny fire of the terror stricken
eyes. But, apparently. they saw moth
ING. They entirely ignored Simpsons
steady. searching glance.
Here. you, Simpson," old Sullivan
suddenly called out. Get to your bunk!
Don't bother this mani"
The tramp went out through the 9TH
er door; but. as he went, he looked
back over his shoulder at John Smith,
n whistled softly to himself, express
ing his amaZement.
The stranger had let his head 20
down against the desk again. Sullivan,
watching the shaking shoulders, saw
that he was sobbing.
How about you now. John Smith?"
he asked. cheerily. Feel better?"
DO ~ the other returned. Devil
dered, and lifted his head, resting his
chin in the cup of his hands.
He kept that attitude while Sullivan,
recosnlzing the extremity of the mans
suffering. unlocked a small cabinet back
of whisky and a glass. Smith, watch
ing him, sobbed nee or twice con-
VulslNely, while terror made new fur
rows in his features. His eyes grew
In b~rilliance.
sullivan, pouring some of the whisky
INTO the glass, extended it toward him.
with the pleasant invitation:
Take this drink. It's medicine now"
smith, his face w%rithing. his whole
body jerking and contorted, fought
against the agony of his fright. Then,
by a supreme effort, he drew himself
TO his ull height, like a man about to
be shot, and put out a tremulous hand
toward the glass. He tried to grin.
but succeeded only in drawing his lips
away from his teeth, as if they had
been moved by strings manipulated
from the back Of his head.
Go ahead!" urged Sullivan.
smith took the glass in his right
hand and Immediately transferred it to
his left.
Look" he said timidly. I've got tt
right here-right here in my hand" He
spoke now in a hoarse, deep voice, and
put eagerness into his tone. i've got
hold of i~t-haven't II"
"Sure!' agreed Sullivan. Drink it,"
From somewhere strength came back
to John Smith. There was in his eyes
1orce enough to compel the gaze Of
Sullivan, n there was in his backbone
strength enough to hold him erect. His
big, bass voice doomed like thunder.
Old man." he said, the glass entire
~ steady in his left hand, i've come
down from high, awful p-laces-places
so nigh that the peals Of thunder
sounded no louder thar n robins call
so high that the pale ends of lightning
whips cracked harmlessly against my
eyeballs--so high that escaping souls
went by me like thin, white flames!."
He stood a moment rigid, his ardent
glance holding Sullivan.
old man." he swept on. Nv come
up from the blacklist depths of deep
ness, where there was no life, not a
bit. and yet worlds crawled in sliny.
sicNy motion, forever-here there was
no light, and yet millions of miseries
swelled into my eyes-where there was
no sound, and yet the passing of every
thought was a screaming curse. All!
that's a thing you'll know some day
that thoughts have tongues-shrieking
tongues that lash and burn and shriyel
up the heart"
He accomplished a smile. ~patronizing
Sullivan.
old man, you've never been where
I've been. I've seen dead souls shroud-
ed in dreams denied-poor, still souls.
I'VE heard dying souls sob and shrek
when they were cast over the edges Of
eternity. I've learned that spirits die.
Consider that! Spirits sometimes die"
lie paused to set the glass on the
desk, and the terror that had let him
alone caught him up again. straining
his limbs and making curious patterns
on his face.
"Anc I've come backbone back
long corridors that lead to nowhere"
he m%ourned, flinging his arms wide. Il
NS'A1S SN"bS kACS dIONc- me. 3lneV
drove me with fear. They scourged
me with terror. They whipped me with
sha ne. A million bayonets always
within a hairs breadth Of my back
LOCO swords, heavy as horror, dangling
in the sunlight at the end Of a silken
thread-jast above my ears!"
The strength returned to his back
bone. He stood erect.
They show me no mercy" he ex-
planned, the ghost OF pride In his voice.
Il asked none. l did not look back or up.
Without looking, l could see the bayou
cts and the swords. Old man, for at
least 900 years I've fled-fled with all
the furies of he'll at my heels"
He crumpled up on the desk, his
misery-marked face in the cup OF his
two hands, and fixed the flame of his
eyes on the wondering Sullivan.
For God's sake!" the old man cried
out. Drink the whisky! Here!"
Smith began to laugh foolishly. a
sound devoid of mirth or cheer, and. his
shoulders sagging, backed away from
the desk and the drink. He sood so a
long moment. pointing a weak hand at
the glass.
And" he giggled. 1--WE arrived
after 1000 years-Tve arrived at that"