Part 19 (1/2)
The ard
”Wot is it?” he asked, and his tone was softer than she had ever heard it
”I think Mr Theriere is dying,” she said, ”and I--I-- Oh, I am so afraid”
The man flushed to the roots of his hair All that he could think of were the ugly words he had spoken a short tihed had anyone suggested that he entertained any other sentiment than hatred toward the second officer of the Halfmoon--that is he would have twenty-four hours before; but now, quite unexpectedly, he realized that he didn't want Theriere to die, and then it dawned upon him that a new sentiment had been born within hier all his hard life--friendshi+p
He felt friendshi+p for Theriere! It was unthinkable, and yet the mucker knew that it was so Painfully he crawled over to the Frenchman's side
”Theriere!” he whispered in the man's ear
The officer turned his head wearily
”Do youse knowknew from the man's voice that there were tears in his eyes; but what she did not knoas that they welled there in response to the words the mucker had just spoken--the nearest approach to words of endearment that ever had passed his lips
Theriere reached up and took Byrne's hand It was evident that he too had noted the unusual quality of the mucker's voice
”Yes, old man,” he said very faintly, and then ”water, please”
Barbara Harding brought hiainst her knee while he drank The cool liquid seeth for presently he spoke, quite strongly
”I'o I want to tell you that of all the brave men I ever have known I have learned within the past few days to believe that you are the bravest A week ago I thought you were a coward--I ask your forgiveness”
”Ferget it,” whispered Byrne, ”fer a week ago I guess I was a coward
Dere seems to be ht kind, I guess”
”And, Byrne,” continued Theriere, ”don't forget what I asked of you before we tossed up to see which should enter Oda Yoriet,” said Billy
”Good-bye, Byrne,” whispered Theriere ”Take good care of Miss Harding”
”Good-bye, old pal,” said thetears rolled down the cheeks of ”de toughest guy on de Wes' Side”
Barbara Harding stepped to Theriere's side
”Good-bye, my friend,” she said ”God will reward you for your friendshi+p, your bravery, and your devotion There must be a special honor roll in heaven for such noble men as you” Theriere smiled sadly
”Byrne will tell you all,” he said, ”except who I ae, irl, ”that you would like to have me deliver?”
Theriere re
”My name,” he said, ”is Henri Theriere I ae, Miss Harding, other than you see fit to deliver to my relatives They lived in Paris the last I heard of them--my brother, Jacques, was a deputy”
His voice had becouish his words He gasped once or twice, and then tried to speak again Barbara leaned closer, her ear alainst his lips
”Good-bye--dear” The words were almost inaudible, and then the body stiffened with a little convulsive tremor, and Henri Theriere, Count de Cadenet, passed over into the keeping of his noble ancestors