Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 4 — page 59: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

DEADWOOD. his ears, accustomed to all the house noises, noted the faint clatter that meant washing up the breakfast dishes. This surprised him, because his own breakfast was always served before the others ate. At the same time, feeling a little cold, his eyes turned tféward the fireplace. The embers were banked each night beneath a layer of ashes; and before he awakened, one of his sisters would tiptoe in, rake out the live coals, and put on fresh birch sticks, which . would be crackling cozily while he break- fasted in bed.. This morning, only cold, dead ashes littered the hearth. He reached under his pillow and consulted his watch. It was nearly eight o’clock. Indignation kindled within his breast. Unable to understand this sudden forget- fulness on the part of his faithful gervitors, he drew the log-cabin quilt closer about his chin, and whiled away the time by think- ing up sarcastic comments to utter when the delinquents should finally appear. This form of mental repartee soon palled on him. Elmer had a healthy appetite, not having tasted food since the night before. He was about to raise his voice in angry summons, when he heard light footsteps on the back stairs. He settled back, ready to _Meet abashed explanations with one or the other of the ironic phrases he had devised for the occasion. The footsteps pattered down the hall, accompanied by subdued dialogue; and an instant later Miss Hetty, followed ‘by Let- ty, entered his room. To his astonishment, neither of them bore anything to eat. No gold and white eggs on hot buttered toast; no curly, crispy strips of bacon; no potent coffee with its attendant pitcher of thick yellow cream. Nor did either sister so much as glance at This attitude upset his. system, which was based upon the natural expectation that they would express contrition for their neglect; whereupon he would reply briefly and cuttingly. He remained silent, his angry eyes fixed upon them. Letty went to a window and gazed drearily out. ‘“ T can’t realize that he is no longer with us!’ she sighed. 565 The older sister coughed dryly. “One always has that feeling in a room where somebody has recently. died. After a time it passes away. I never feel it now in any of the other rooms, and somebody has died in every one of them, at one time or another.” | | ‘‘ How glad I am he could end his days at home, among his own folks, instead of in some city boarding-house with unfeeling ‘strangers around him!” . “ Yes, it is a great comfort to think he was laid out by neighborly hands instead of a hired undertaker. Arid how he seemed to relish his last meal! Do you remember what pains I took to have that steak done just as he always liked it?” ‘“And how nicely I browned the pota- toes?” . ‘Poor Elmer! He was a great sufferer at the last. Do you think, Hetty, that he was resigned? That his soul has gone to— that it is—”’ “YT don’t have to decide that. God is just, and will make allowances. You know mother,-when she took to her bed for the last time, told us always to be tender to Elmer. ‘He ain’t quite all there!’ were her very words. He won’t be judged like other men who have all their faculties.”’ Elmer listened in speechless indignation to this dialogue, as his sisters moved aim- lessly about the room, setting back a chair here, picking up a thread from the floor, straightening the candlesticks on the man- tel. Before he could grasp the amazing fact that he was cast for the réle of the de- parted, they gently passed from the room, closing the door behind them. No sooner had their footsteps echoed down the hall, than he was seized with a frenzy of energy. Grasping a heavy. cane which stood at the head of his bed, he pounded furiously upon the floor with it, this being his summons at such rare times as his voice failed to evoke an immediate response. The racket he made was considerable. The sisters, now descending the stairs, paused. Letty pressed a handkerchief to her lips, and trembled violently. Even Hetty turned a little paler than usual. But the grim Nancy, in the kitchen below, emuaiEl fro eo! an G OHIO STA L THE NOOK CO