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The Lamp in the Desert by Ethel M. (Ethel May) Dell
page 128 of 495 (25%)
drop; then thrust it back at Ralston.

"Here take it! Pour out some more! Now, Tommy lad, it's up to you!
Swallow it like a dear fellow! Yes, you can if you try. Give your mind
to it! Pull up, boy, pull up! play the damn game! Don't go back on me!
Ah, you didn't know I was here, did you? Thought you'd slope while my
back was turned. You weren't quick enough, my lad. You've got to come
back."

There was a strange note of passion in his voice. It was obvious to
Stella that he had utterly forgotten himself in the gigantic task before
him. Body and soul were bent to its fulfillment. She could see the
perspiration running down his face. She stood and watched, thrilled
through and through with the wonder of what she saw.

For at the call of that curt, insistent voice Tommy moved and made
response. It was like the return of a departing spirit. He came out of
that deathly inertia. He opened his eyes upon Monck's face, staring up
at him with an expression half-questioning and half-expectant.

"You haven't swallowed that stuff yet," Monck reminded him. "Get rid of
that first! What a child you are, Tommy! Why can't you behave yourself?"

Tommy's throat worked spasmodically, he made a mighty effort and
succeeded in swallowing. Then, through lips that twitched as if he were
going to cry, weakly he spoke.

"Hullo--hullo--you old bounder!"

"Hullo!" said Monck in stern rejoinder. "A nice game this! Aren't you
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