The Bismarck tribune., 1925-11-07
published by Arrangement with
Lloyd Productions Inc. "

Again he coughed.
"Herel Get !. move on you.
quick" Linton ordered, forcefully.
The idea of you setting around
Matching out lungful OF pneumo-
MIA bugs! Gitl Ill bring your bed
ding"
Mr.. Quirk rose with alacrity.
Say! Let's take my stove over to
your tent and warm her up. l bet
you're cold?"
"N-no! I'm comfortable enough"
The speakers teeth played an ac-
compartment to this mendacious de-
NAL. "Of course I'm not sweating
any. butt spose the stove would
cheer things up, eh? Rotten night,
amt it,"
Worst l ever saw. Rotten coun.
try, for that matter"
"You said something" Mr.. Lin
ton chattered. He nodded his head
with vigor.
1t was wet WORK moving Jerry.
belongings. but the transfer was fin
ally effected, the stove was set up
and a new fire started. This done,
Tom brought forth q bottle OF
whisky.
Here" said he, take snifter.
It'll do you good"
Jerry eyed the bottle with frank
astonishment before he exclaimed:
why. l didn't know you was "a
drinkin man. You been hidin' .
secret vice from me?"
mo. And I'm not a drinking man.
brought it along for-you. Ter
that cough of yours used to worry
me, So"
"Pshawi cough easy. You
know that"
You take a jolt and"--Linton
flushed with embarras ssment-''and
III have one with you. ! was lying
belly"
Happy days." said Qulrk, as he
tipped the bottle.
"A long life and a wicked one!'
Linton drank in his turn. Nov
then, get out OF those cold COM
presses. Here's some dry. under
clothes-tliick. too. We'll double
up those henskin blankets for to-
highland III keep the fire a-going.
Iii cure that cough if l sweat you
as white as washwoman' thumb"
You'll do nothing of the Sort"
jerry declared, as he removed his
'sodden garments and hung them up.
You'll crawl right into bed with
me and we'll have a good sleep,
You're near dead"
But Linton was by no means re-
assured; his tone was puerulous
when he cried: why didn't YOU
come in before you caught cold?
Spose you get sick on me now?
But you won't. I,won't let you
In a panic OF apprehension he dug
out his half OF the contents of the
medicine-ki: and began to paw
through them. "W!:o got the cough
syrup. Jerry; you or me?" The
speakers voice broke miserablv,
Mr.. Quirk laid trembling hand
upon his ex-partner's shoulder; his
voice, too, was shaky when he said.
You're awful good to nc, Tom." i
The other shook of the grasp and
undertook to read the labels on the
bottles. but they had become unac-
countably blurred and there was a
painful lump IN his throat. 1t
seemed to him that Old Jerry's bare
legs looked pitifully thin and spidery
and that his bony knees had a rhcu-
matte appearance.
Hell! I treated you mighty
mean,' said he. But l most died
when you-began to cough. Il
thought sure" Tom choked and
shook his gray head, then with the
heel OF his harsh palm he wiped a
drop OF moisture from his cheek.
Look at me-cryin'!" He tried to
laugh and failed.
Jerry, likewise. struggled with his
tears.
'"You-you dam old foolr' he
cried, atfectionately.
Linton smiled with delight. give
it to me-" he urged. Lam into me,
Jerry. deserve it. Goshi l was
lonesomel"
A half-hour later the two friends
were lying side BY side in their bed
and the stove was glowing CON-
fortably. They had ceased SILVER
ing. Old Jerry had "spooned" up
close to old Tom and his bodily heat
was grateful.
Linton eyed the fire with tender
yearning. That's a good stove you
got."
She's q coeker, amt she?"
II been thinking about trading
you a half interest in my tent for a
half interest in her.
THE trades made" There was a
moment of silence. "What d'you
say we hook up together-sort of 20
pardners for while? got 4 long
outfit and short boat. I'll put 'em
in against yours. l bet we'd get
along all right. I'm onery, but I
got good points"
/. Mr.. Linton smiled dreamily. ITS
a 60. need good partner"
I'LL buy new fryin'-pan out of
my money. Mine got split. some
how"
Tom chuckled. "You darned old
fool!" said he.
Jerry heaved long sigh and
snuggled closer; soon he began to
snore. He snored in a low and con-
fidential tone at first; but gradually
the sound increased in volume and
rose in pitch.
Linton listened to It with a thrill.