The Washington herald., 1921-12-11
By Arthur Lucas

tently broke in O'Rourks; II don Know
what to think"
DO you suppose he's gone Oh bis head,
worrying about his money, and wandered
away, or killed himself?'' persisted Rs~lin'
"oh. shut up!' anrrily exclaimed
o'Rourke. what's the use imagining the
worstg"
We'll. he amt here; he's got no other
place to go; where IL he, II he's alive
There wa, no answer. Moody silence
fell upon the three.
God" exclaimed o'Rourke after a lons
interval; 81 can't stand this any longer
Let's 60 out and lock for him
But lust then the door pushed open
violently and Cassidy confronted them. AZ
a rule these men were strangers TO tear, out
they shrank from this tatteret, osgrnS
figure with blood -stresked face and hsnos'
and eve, that blazed with something sut-
costing a worse condition than one OF rage.
During several long moments not . vore
M, said. Then Brett blurted out, fnassyi
why. uhere've you been, old man
Cassidy continued to glare at them.
"Jin old fellow, don't take 90 %; -
-, all a Joke: We
o,Rourt. made that attempt, but his -oics
rallied of into tllence ee Ooee'Ns l~ -
i'm. laughed horribly and sbrisked
Joke. Bully Joke! Nice, pretty, 'unh'
;oke. Didn't you hear me laugh all over
he mountains ever since j found out nov
funny it wa1
Don't tax. it like that eoaIso
u.Rourke. We've got your money here
- civ. hack TO you. OF course, we didn't
mes, 20 keep il. Well see 10 II that you
liant lose anything. Come jim you Know
I'm your friend
o,Rourk. held out the ron Of bids which
cassidy had handed over that nornihs'
Cassidy seemed rooted to the spot-
THAT'S another joke, vhstT ne sImo"
bi.d "You expect me TO reach for thtt
money and then you'll grab II away ans
III ,t me .r.in. But I'm not roinf 70
- Gov II. YOU see I've become wise tincs
"a. -o,nin. You can't joke with ne any
more"
cr,dr,lly his voice took on soft az
- which in the circumstsnces
,,h,r.d tn. conviction Of th, three that
he had gone mac. o,
=, ,.srt,l: but Cassidy let out another
- chs, va, half yell, half shrek, turned
suddenly ana oasneo 0O'
stop him
Come back. Jim
Don't run away
oh. Ny GOO
o,RoURKE was the first TO recover nm
elf n. dashed out calling to the
-. % follow him. Outside they listened
g. IN. footballs Of the departing cns, but
.opnd gave them his direction. In the
I.rkness they were helpless.
o., little later, they heard a peal Of
u,ri,c,l laughter, but the echoes 50 nule.
- II that they could not undertake 10
renoreful. desptirint trio that
r.turned. long .fterwsrd, TO the cabin,
..,rc.lv v.nturinr 70 look on. another IN
the fsce.
"In the mornint-ve'u look fer hin" at
length whispered o'Rourke.
"Yes-in the morning; but
Brett could not voic. what b. vas thinE-
ing.
-Ne-hnd-him-so-ss be uss
here tonight. well be no better than muir.
derers." mumbled Rawlins.
Sleep did not come to those three that
night More tervent prayer never went up
than that sent forth unspoken from the
heart Of each. for the safety and the mental
restoration of the fellow man out there in the
darkness OF the mountainous wilderness.
At dsybreak they were out, searching the
country far and near. but not a trsce Of the
lost one could they find. They would not
summon assistance from the camp yet. for
they feared to let Il be known what mis-
fortupe thev nd uDor f.ll.-
creature.
TT WAS O'Rourke who found Cassidy al
L last. when the shadows we're lensthepiur
again.
1t haG occurred to O'Rourke to visit III.
mine. Cassidy might have wandered back
to the source Of his trouble.
Near the hole lay Cassidy, fac. downward
Beside him lay his pick. He was Quit. mo-
tionless
For a long time o'Rourke stood Iootir,
Setting his will against his fear he advanced
a little
Jim be called. but the word cam, q,
a whisper.
Inc heure On the ground never stirred.
Then o'Rourke plunged forward.
Jim Jim Good God! Why don't
'ou answer mel"
aSsiGy turned over. rose to sitting posi.
"o"' ruooed his eyes slecpily and srinnsd.
Hello, Tom. what are you don. b.,,
mere did you come FROM" be .sk.d a,
NOSE questions were quite natural one,
tee out I'm tired. You see. I'm NO,
used to this kind of work and 1 Law do~,
to rest and fell asleep.
But whst-how-why-wh.t III. d,n,.
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