The state herald., 1920-12-07
BOOK ONE
Repatriation.
CHAPTER I.

Dan Failing stepped out Of the ele
Sator and was at once absorbed In
the crowd that ever suvged up and
down Broad street. He was just one
Of the ordinary drops of water, not
an interesting, elaborate, physical and
chemical combination to be studied
on the slide Of a microscope. He
wore fairly passable clothes. neither
rich nor shabby. He was q tall man.
but gave no impression of strength
because Of the exceeding spareness Of
his frame. As long as he remained
In the crowd, he wasn't important
enough to be studied. But soon he
turned of. through the park, and
straightway found himself alone.
The noise and hustle Of the crowd
never loud or startling. but so contin.
uous that the senses are scarcely
more aware Of them than Of the beat.
Ing Of ones own heart suddenly and
utterly died almost At the very border
OF the park. The noise from the
street seemed wholly unable to pene-
trate the thick branches Of the trees.
He could even hear the leaves whisk.
Ing and ficking together. and when n
man can discern this. he can hear the
cushions Of a mountain lion on n trail
at night. OF course Dan Failing had
never heard a mountain lion. Except
on the railroad tracks between, he
had never really been away from
cities In his life.
At once his thought went back to
the doctors words. They were still
repeating themselves over and over
In his ears. and the doctors face was
still before his eyes. II had been q
kind face; the lips hnd even curled In
n little smile Of encouragement. But
the doctor had been perfectly frank.
entirely straightforward. There had
been no evasion In his verdict.
"rve made every test" he said.
They're pretty well shot. OF course.
you can go to some sanitnrium, II
you've got the money. II you haven't
enjoy yourself all you can for about
six months"
Dams voice had been perfectly cool
and sure when he replied. He hnd
smiled n little. too. He was still rath
or proud OF that smile. ask months,
Isn't ihnt rather shorti'
Maybe whole lot shorter. ] thini
that's the limit"
There wns the situation: Dan Fnii
Inc huA ht,t al h. 80 n.
begnn TO Wonder whether his mothe,
Ind been entirely wise In her effort /,
keep him from the trough games" O
| the boys Of his own ngc. He realized
now that he Ind been mn undcrwelgh
all his iifc-thnt the frnilty tina, ha'
thrust him TO the edge Of the grnv,
hnd begun In his earliest boyhood. Bu
II wasn't that he was born with ply
slcnl hnndlcnps. lie had weighed
full ten pounds. and the doctor hn,
told his father thnt n sturdicr iittl
shnp was not TO be found In amy ma
icrni,y bed In the whole city. But hi
mother was convinced that the chli
was delicate and must be sheltered
Never In NIL the history Of his fnmil,
90 far ms Dan knew. had there been
icnth from the pnlndy that nf'llctc
him. Yet his sentence was signed an
sealed.
But he hnrborcd no rcscntmcr
against his mother. II was NIL IN III
game. She Ind done what shc though
was best. And he began to wond,
In what way he could gct the creates
pleasure from his last six months :
life.
Good Lordl" he suddenly bren,hc'
Il may not be- here 10 see the snow
comet" Dan had always been pnrtli
10 the winter senson. When the Bno
my Nil over the farm lands md bows
down the limbs Of the trees II In
always wnkcncd n curious Hood I
feelings In the wasted man. II SCENE