“And you may rely upon me also, Tom, to join Bob in doing for your mother whatever would please you most,” said Herbert, unable to keep back the hot tears.
“Yes, I am sure of that, Herbert. You and Bob are just alike, and can do more than I could if I had lived. I am so glad I knew you, Herbert,” continued the dying boy, his face flushing with momentary animation as he recalled the past. “What good times we have had, you and me and Bob! I thought they would last always, but—but—well I wish I might have lived to go into business with you. I would have tried my best to please you, and——”
“What is it?” asked Herbert, noticing the sufferer’s hesitation.
“I was going to ask you if the business, your new business, wouldn’t get big enough to take Bob in with you—to make him a partner, so he can make a lot of money, too. I was almost afraid to ask you, but——”
“That is already fixed,” said Bob hoarsely, almost overcome by the solicitude of his dying friend. “Herbert gave me an interest in the business today, and I shall commence working with him as soon as I am needed.”
“I am so glad, so glad,” responded the sufferer faintly, and with a smile that told plainly the joy this knowledge gave him. “It’s all right now,” he continued slowly, and with greater effort, for the little strength he had left was fast leaving him. “You will be taken care of, mother, and Bob will be taken care of by Herbert,” he went on, sinking into a half unconscious state. “I know they will do well and will make rich men and have everything in the world that they want. I wish I could see them then with a big banking house and clerks and private offices and errand boys and electric bells and fine carriages and horses and a brown stone house in the avenue, may be.”
tom flannery’s deathbed.
In a little while he regained full consciousness as if by a powerful effort, and said in a faint whisper: