Evening star., 1925-06-23
Ore OF a series of the
wears best short
stories.

Yes" said Riley Now. Meade
he was down here too. and he starts
north after Lee" Riley proceeded
with the familiar story. And SO. on
June %. Early he comes riding into
Gettysburg
You saw HIM" whispered the
stranger.
Riley felt thai he was taking 2 risk
but he took it boldly.
Il saw everything from nov on"
The stranger clasped his hands. ha
twisted them together. he wound his
arms around each other. The Dunk
ers left the train: The engine started
again. painting as though in agony.
the temperature in the car rose IN an
almost unendurahle point. but To
passing events. to DELAY and discom
fort. raconteur and listener were
alike oblivious. RILEY concluded the
preliminary explanations: now Bu-
ford detected the advance of the en-
emy. Reynolds hastened TO meet his
death. Doubleday rode up and down
The lines. the railroad cut received its
lumblinc and bloody guests. the Union
troops fed in roUt through the town.
and the first day over Mean
While tbe rrain stopped between sta
tions and wheezed for n minutes he
fore il toiIed on. Al tho stations tho
OF the agents. who prophesied they
would never get past Tdaville. There
was loud laughter as the train strue
gled desperately 10 depart
The battle ragged now on Cu1p'e
Hill. now on East Cemetery Hin. now
on the Round Tops Slocum rallied
his forces. SiCkles disobeved orders
the Valley Of Death was paved with
wounded and diving. about Devils Den
/ Ia Il ha
engine had climbed with anguish %
ldaNille the moon came out nd
locked down upon the slain of the
second day. They were now more
than n hour late but time and space
were nothing To Riley and the
stra niger. Sometimes the stranger in
terrupted with frantic exclamation.
They must have been distracted to
shoot each other down" The thunder
If guns echoed to the hills Pickett
was preparing for his charge. Long
street was weeping nd into Lee
I heart crept a cold chill The stra ncer
moistened his dry lips: he still sat like
child his little feet not quite reach.
ing the floor There was ions pause
in the journey al GOODYEAR. another a.
Peach Glen, hut there was no pause
I in the recital. II was 10 instead Of
S45 when they came 10 Biglervilla {.
so it was over" said Riley with
/ the sigh of one who wakes from A
heroic dream. An over"
The stranger clutched him by the
arm.
But afterward' he said. his hun
ger unappeaSed. How did they take
care Of the sick and bury the dead
My God, Ten thousand dead men tc
bury
Riley looked little frichtened
awaklnc to the present. he remem-
bered thai November u vas close n
hand. and he saw the dim sts hle ard
the Sullen. angry boy and the tWn
horses. The details had changed. j,
was morning now, nd the confusion
outside had rhickened. and beside the
/ boy stood his employer. looking dis
| tIausht At the dangling shoe RILEY
saw another picture like the close
up IN motion picture: mans face.
dark. rugged downbenr. sorrowful
Its time We We're in long ago."
he said nervously fumbling for his
watch You ought to be paid for
riding on this road Look at the
| time, Wen be two hours late"
! The stranger cared nothing for
/ time, and his hand refused TO he
| Shaken off
OF course YOU know why I'm going
! To Gettysburg at this time Of year"
! he said Il want 10 stand in that
( cemetery where Lincoln stood. Now.
You didn see or hear him. | suppose -
/ The stranger meant. "Of course YOU
/ heard and saw him. Now fill my soul
with joy Did you7" he said when
/ Riley did not answer
! Al last Riley got rid Of the clutch
| ing hand
/ I'm going TO the door to get some
air. This cars like 4 furnac
The stranger persisted. But did
ySu?"
Il did" said Riley. But I wa.
young. He rose and turned TO step
into the aisle. but the perverse
across the space between the two
seats
Il understand they gave him
small horse to ride and he looked
ridiculous" he said. His aspect was
innocent. bur 10 Riley he had the
malice of venomous snake. He he
! ieved al last he was found out
Il was Young" said Riley. He
! lifted his long legs and stepped over
the slight barrier into the aisle
IN het ii was done for spite or
! hatred. continued the stranger in his
shrili voice. There were plenty thai
would have been glad 10 make a fool
! of him. They thought he was fool"
! The stranger rose and followed Riley
! toward the door
They called him fool and
clown. One Of his own cabinet said
! he was the original gorilla The
| papers made fun of his speech-think
OF that The stranger began to re
| cite shrilly. 'Fourscore and seven
/ years ago our fathers"
Turning into a seat as though 10
| let this persistent little terrier run
| past. Riley staggered and sat down
| periorce. 1t was the last curve. thank
| heaven. Already the lights of Gettys-
| burg cleaned brightly. He rose when
| the engine was again headed straight.
! and went back TO fetch his hat. The
/ train was slowing down. and The
/ stranger was mounting the seat for
I ms Satchel. Riley could have reached
| II with single motion of his arm. but
| he FASTENED TO the door.