Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-22
FROM NOW ON

was curions taste upon them, and
they hurt. They tasted of blood. That
was funny! His teeth must have sunk
into his lips somehow, But he was al.
most Mt the door now--ycs, he could
reach IL now. Only he couldn't close
it when he was lying fat down like
this. lie would have to get UPON his
knees at least.
Ills hand swept across his eyes, and
pressed ferccly upon his forehead. The
moon ray wavercd in through the door
in jagged, glancing streaks-hc had TO
shut that moon ray QUITO make IT
black here in tho car. Strange! IT
was growing black now, even though
he had not shut the door--perhaps it
was n cloud--thc moon passing behind
cloud His body seemed to sway, to
be out of control, and his knees. instead
of balancing him, crumpled suddenly
beneath him, pitching him forward, face
downward, on the floor OF tho car--and
something seemed to snap inside his
head, and 1t was black, all blackncss.
Repose, comfort, incffablc luxurious
ness. something soft and soothing sup
porting his body, and Il freedom from
the excruciating, unbearable, intoler.
able pain that he had been enduring
lie was dreaming! He dared not open
his eyes. 1t was dream. II he
opened his eyes he would dispel the
illusion, and tho pain would come
again.
II seemed as though he had been upon
great journey that was crowded with
multitude Of strange, fantastic
scenes and happenings. He could not
remember them all distinctly: they
jumblcd together III his memory--.the
orphan school. the race track, Square
John Kelly and $4,000 in the Pacific
Coral Saloon on the Barbnry Coast, all
conglomcrated into ono.
lie remembered only one thing dis;
tinCtly. and that was because it had
happened so often. He was in great,
gloomy forest, and always just ahead of
him was Bookie Skarvnn. lie did not
know why it was, but he could always
sec Bookie Skarvan in the darkness
though Bookie Skarvan could not see
him. And yet he could never quite
reach that fat, damnablc figure that
kept fitting around the trees. Bookie
Skarvan was not running away, be-
cause Bookic Skarvan did not even know
that he was being followcd-and yet
Bookie Swarvan always cluded him.
IL ne was dreaming now, 1t was at
least q very vivid dream. He remem-
bered. He had Just fallen unconscious
on the floor of the car. We'll. then, he
must get the door shut, If he was to
escape. Yes, the pain might come again
IL he moved, it would take all his will
power to shatter this blessed restfulness,
and he was still very tired but he had
no choice--it was win or lose--all the
way-no limit.
He opened his eyes. He did not
understand at first; and then he told
himself quite simply that of course he
could not still be lying on the floor OF
that lurching car, and at the same time
feel these soft things all around his
body.
He was in bed-in n white bed. with
white coyers-and there was n screen
around his bed. And around the corner
of tho screen he could see other beds
white beds with white covers. II must
be n hospital ward. There was some
one sitting in chair beside the foot OF
his bed--no, not q nurse; it was u man.
The mans face for the moment was
turned slightly away. He studied the
face. It seemed familiar. His eyes
opened little wider. Yes, it was ia
miliar! A cry surged upward from his
soul itself, It seemed--and was chokea
back. His hands, clenched fercely, re-
laxed. There came a queer smile to
twist his lips.
Tho man at the foot Of the bed was
looking at MIN now. 1t was Barjan,
Lieutenant Joe Barjan, Of the Frisco
plain clothes squad.
The man spoke
Hello, Dave
Hello, Joe!'
There was silence.
The other spoke again:
Tough luck; Dave! Sorry to grab
you like This. Feeling better?"
Some" said Dave Henderson.
Barjan nodde3 | is head.
1T was toud4 md go with you" he
said. bad leg, bad fever-you've
been lying like dead man since the
night they found YOU in the freight
car"
DaYa Henderson made no reply.
There wasn't any door TO shut now,
and he wouldn't have TO move now
until he went away with Joe
there back to Frisco. He wasn't I
squealing stacked cards =
new deal with new pack perhaps
'" ' some day " he wasn't squeal.
ing but he couldn't fight any more
- not now he couldn't fight
. . he was too weak.
"I've been hanging around two or
three days waiting for you to come out
of dreamland, SOS / could ask you Il
question: said Barian pleasantly.
4 lNa.- NJ