The Bismarck tribune., 1925-11-07

ly to get out of there and try the
lake for a change. 81
But Mr.. Quirk made no move in
the direction of the tent; instead he
built fire in his stove and crouched
over it, endeavoring vainly to shel-
ter himself from the driving rain.
Linton watched him with mingled
impatience and resentment. Would
the old fool never get enough?
Jerry was the most unreasonable,
the most tantalizing person in the
world.
After time Mr.. Linton found that
his teeth were chattering and that
his frame had been smitten as by an
ague; reluctantly he crept back into
bed. He determined to buy, beg,
borrow, or steal some more, bedding
on the morrow-early on the NOR
row in order to forestall Jerryl.
Jerry would have to find a tent
somewhere, and inasmuch as there
were none to be had here at Linder-
man, he would probably have to re-
turn to Dyea. That would delay
him seriously-enough, perhaps, so
that the jaws of winter would close
down upon him. Through the drone
of pattcring drops there came the
faint sound of a cough.
Mr.. Linton sat up in bed. "Pneu-
monia!' he exclaimed. Well, Jerry
was getting exactly what he de-
served. He had called him, Tom,
an "old fool" dam old fool" to
be precise. The epithet in itself
meant nothing-it was in fact fat
uous and feeble term of abuse as
compared to the opprobrious titles
which he and Jerry were in the
habit OF exchanging-it was that
abcminable adjective which hurt.
Jerry and he had called each other
many names at times, they had ex-
changed numerous gibes and insults,
but nothing like that hateful word
"old" had ever passed between them
until this fatal morning. Jerry
Quirk himself was old, the Oldest
man in the world, perhaps, but Tom
had exercised an admirable regard
for his partners feelings and had
never cast it up to him. Thus had
his consideration been repaid. How
ever. the poor fellows race was
about run, for he couldn't stand
cold or exposure. Why, a wet loot
sent him to bed. How, then, could
a rickcty ruin OF his antiquity with
stand the ravages OF pneumonia
galloping pneumonia, at that?
Linton reflected that common de-
cency would demand that he wait
over a day or two and help bury the
old man-people would expect that
much of him. He'd do it. He'd
speak kindly Of the departed; he'd
even erect a cross and write an cpl
taplr upon it-a kindly. lying epi-
taph extolling the dead mans vir..
tues, and omitting all mention OF
his faults.
Once more that hacking cough
sounded, and the listener stirred un-
c::i!y. Jerry had some virtues-a
few of the common, elemental sort
he was honest and he was brave.
but. for that matter, so were most
people. Yes. the old scoundrel hao
nerve enough. Linton recalled
certain day, long past, when he and
lQuirk had been sent out to round
up some cattle-rustlers. Being the
Youngest deputies in the sherif's Of
Ace, the toughest jobs invariably fell
to them. Those were the good, glad
days, Tom reflected. Jerry had
made a reputation on that trip and
he had saved his companions life
Linton topped nervously in his bed
at the memory. Why think OF days
dead and gone? Jerfy was an alto
gether different man in those times:
He neither criticized nor permitted
others. to criticize his team-mate,
and, so far as that particularly obli-
CATION went, Linton had repaid 1t
With compound interest. If any
thing, the debt now lay on Jerry's 5
side.
Tom tried to close the book OF
memory and to consider nothing
whatever except the ranking pres
ent. but, now that his thoughts had
/ begun to run backward, he could
not head them off. He wished Jerry
wouidn' { cough; it was a distressing
sound, and it disturbed his rest.
| Nevertheless, that hollow, hacking
complaint continued AMI finally the
i listener arose; lit a lantern, put on a
slicker and united his tent flaps.
! Jerry'a stove was sizzling in the
i partial shelter of the canvas sheet;
over it the owner crouched in an
!; latitude of cherries detection.
How youin,aking out!" Tom in
ouired, gruffiy. His voice was cold,
i his manner was both repellent and
4 hostile.
l"Who. ,rrne?" Jerry ~peered up
from under his glistening SOU
westcr. "Oh, I'm doin' fnel'
i Linton remained silent, i'll at ease;
i water drained off his ,ooet; his Ian
tern fiared smokily in the wind. AZ
4 ter timeihe eleared'his' throat and
inquired:
~"Wet?"
| NAV"
| There was . long pause, then the
visitor inquired: "Are you lying?"
"Unh-hunhl'
| Again silence claimed both men
until Tom broke out, irritably !:
l"Weli, you aim to set here all
nieht?" ].
! "Surel I amt sleepy. I don't
mind a little mist and I'm plenty
warm" This cheerful assertion was
4 beiieda by ,the ,miserable quaver in
which it was voiced.
"Why don't you-er-run over to
Lmy tent?"" Linton gasped and swal-
i lowed hard. The invitation was out,
the damage was done. There's lots
of room." d
! Mr.. Quirk spared his, callers fur
n thera feelings by betssying no Stfi-
umph whatever: Rather p|aintively
i he declared: II got room enough
there. Il aia't exaetly.room ] need"