There were no customers in the room. The scrub-man came nearer.
Shudder after shudder, seeming to come in waves, passed over Henry,
but suddenly he became calm, and slowly he walked toward the rear end
of the room. The scrub-man moved forward and was at Henry's feet. He
reached down and took hold of the man's arm--took the rag out of his
hand. The man looked up. There could be no mistake. He was Henry
Witherspoon.
"Don't you know me?" DeGolyer asked.
The man snatched the rag and began again to scrub the floor.
DeGolyer took hold of his arm. "Get up," he commanded, and the man
obeyed as if frightened.
"Don't you know me?"
"No."
"Don't you remember Hank?"
"I'm Hank," the man answered.
"No," said DeGolyer, with a sob, "you are Henry, and I am Hank."
"No, Henry's dead--I'm Hank." He dropped on his knees again and began
to scrub the floor.
Just then the proprietor came in. "What's the trouble?" he asked.
"Why, mister, don't pay any attention to that poor fellow. There's no
harm in him."
"No one knows that better than I," DeGolyer answered. "How long has he
been here--where did he come from?"
"He came off a ship. The cap'n said that he couldn't use him and asked
me to take him. Been here about five months, I think. They say he used
to amount to something, but he's gone up here," he added, tapping his
head.
"What's the captain's name--where can I find him?"
"His ship's in now, I think. Go down to the levee and ask for the
cap'n of the Creole."
"I will, but first let me tell you that I have come for this man. I
know his father. I'll get back as soon as I can."
"All right. And if you can do anything for this poor fellow you are
welcome to, for he's not much use round here."
DeGolyer snatched his hat and rushed out into the street. Not a hack
was in sight; he could not wait for a car, and he hastened toward the
river. He began to run, and a boy cried: "Sick him, Tige." He stopped
suddenly and put his hand to his head. "Have I lost my mind?" he asked
himself.
"Well, here we are again," some one said. DeGolyer looked round and
recognized the railroad man who had charge of the excursion.
"I'm glad I met you," DeGolyer replied. "It saves hunting you up."
"Why, what's the matter? Are you sick?"
"No, I'm all right, but something has occurred that compels me to
return at once to Chicago."
"Nothing serious, I hope."
"No, but it demands my immediate return. I'm sorry, but it can't be
helped. Good-by."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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