The Elk Mountain pilot., 1920-11-18
BOOK ONE
Repatriation.
CHAPTER |.

Dan Failing stepped out of the ele-
vator and was at once absorbed in
the crowd that ever surged 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 microscope. He
wore fairly passable clothes, neither
rich nor shabby. He was 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 off, 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 fiicking together. and when a
man can discern this. he can hear the
cushions of mountain lion on 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
fhn ~.
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 had even curled in
a little smile of encouragement. But
the doctor had been perfectly frank,
entirely straightforward. There had
been no evasion in his verdict.
i've made every test" he said.
They're pretty well shot. OF course.
you can go to some sanltarium, II
you've got the money. If you haven't
enjoy yourself all you can for about
six months"
Dams voice had been perfectly cool
and sure when he replied. He had
smiled little, too. He was still rath-
er proud Of that smile. "Six months7
Isn't that rather short7"
Maybe whole lot shorter. think
that's the limit"
There was the situation: Dan FAIL
ing had but six months to live. He
began to wonder whether his mother
had been entirely wise in her effort to
keep him from the trough games" of
the boys of his own age. He realized
now that he had been an underweight
all his lIfe-that the frallty that had
thrust him to the edge of the grave
had begun In his earliest boyhood. But
1t wasn't that he was born with ply
steal handicaps. He had weighed
full ten pounds; and the doctor had
told his father that a sturdier little
chap was not TO be found in any ma
ternity bed in the whole city. But his
mother was convinced that the child
was delicate and must be sheltered.
Never in all the history of his family.
so far as Dan knew, had there been a
death from the malady that afflicted
MIN. Yet his sentence was signed and
sealed.
But he harbored no resentment
against his mother. It was all In the
game. She had done what she thought
was hest. And he began to wonder
in what way he could get the greatest
pleasure from his last six months OF
life.
Good Lord - he suddenly breathed.
4 may moi be here to see the SHOWS
.omer' Dan had always been partial
10 the winter season. When the snow
Jay all over the farm lands and bowed
down the limbs Of the trees. II had
always wakened curious food of
feelings In the wasted man. II seemed