had always said: "Fire Schmidt! Not much! Why,
Schmidt writes better stuff drunk than all the rest of the bunch sober."
And Schmidt would be granted another reprieve by the Powers that Were.

Suddenly Blackie beckoned the nurse in the doorway. She came swiftly and
bent over him.

"Gimme two minutes more, that's a good nursie. There's something I want
to say t' this dame. It's de rigger t' hand out last messages, ain't
it?"

The nurse looked at me, doubtfully. "But you're not to excite yourself."

"Sa-a-ay, girl, this ain't goin' t' be no scene from East Lynne. Be a
good kid. The rest of the bunch can go."

And so, when the others had gone, I found myself seated at the side of
his bed, trying to smile down at him. I knew that there must be nothing
to excite him. But the words on my lips would come.

"Blackie," I said, and I struggled to keep my voice calm and
emotionless, "Blackie, forgive me. It is all my fault--my wretched
fault."

"Now, cut that," interrupted Blackie. "I thought that was your game.
That's why I said I wanted t' talk t' you. Now, listen. Remember my
tellin' you, a few weeks ago, 'bout that vacation I was plannin'? This
is it, only it's come sooner than I expected, that's all. I seen two
three doctor guys about it. Your friend Von Gerhard was one of 'em.
They didn't tell me t' take no ocean trip this time. Between 'em, they
decided my vacation would come along about November, maybe. Well, I beat
'em to it, that's all. Sa-a-ay, girl, I ain't kickin'. You can't live on
your nerves and expect t' keep goin'. Sooner or later you'll be suein'
those same nerves for non-support. But, kid, ain't it a shame that I
got to go out in a auto smashup, in these days when even a airship exit
don't make a splash on the front page!"

The nervous brown hand was moving restlessly over the covers. Finally it
met my hand, and held it in a tense little grip.

"We've been good pals, you and me, ain't we, kid?"

"Yes, Blackie."

"Ain't regretted it none?"

"Regretted it! I am a finer, truer, better woman for having known you,
Blackie."

He gave a little contented sigh at that, and his eyes closed. When he
opened them the old, whimsical smile wrinkled his face.

"This is where I get off at. It ain't been no long trip, but sa-a-ay,
girl, I've enjoyed every mile of the road. All kinds of scenery--all
kinds of lan'scape--plain--fancy--uphill--downhill--"

I leaned forward, fearfully.

"Not--yet," whispered Blac