Nebraska Newspapers

    THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
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The Ambition of Mark Truitt
By
HENRY RUSSELL MILLER
(CoCTrUkt. Wlfcj Ti
SYNOPSIS.
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rrtc. r 3b nfl ? nt I th can
trrotfeai rc H! ttowssn 1 thm work
wto Iran ;ilM JfJier to Hotnan
AoiitrrJaWtiL i7Ks-arth furncman. H
twoeH nrdrtp In Koni.in'a htwne find
asstet. rw. Rrenan'a von. In ht RtuJlrs.
Kaxta, a ataptod daughter, allows her
SraUtttd In weh . manner na to arouta
(ark's tatwat In her.
CHAPTER VII Continued.
"Yes, you would, Kazla. But I guess
It's more than Just tho money You
see, In Dcthel there's no chance, coin
ing to do; except crow old and noso
Into your neighbor's business and
and want tho things you can't have."
"Yea," she said slowly, "I know."
"You know? Do you want things,
too?"
"Want things!" Sho drew a long
wondering breath, ns she measured de
fllro. Sho did not watt for his ques
tion. "To bo different."
Thoy oat a little nbovo tho carriage
road, along which rolled tho Sunday
afternoon proceBBlon of pleasure
takers. Ho pointed to an open landau
In which two women sat, primly up
right, hands folded In laps and faces
not straight ahead, the very picture of
They Sat a Little Above the Carriage
Road.
ti'oll-drosscd, sotf-consclous respect-ablllty-s-aB
"dlfferont" from Kazla aa
anything ho could ccucclvo.
"Like that?"
"Yes, like that, Sometimes." Sho
looked wistfully after tho departing
respectabilities. "But mostly, Just to
belong to somebody."
"Hut Roman and tho Mntka and
Plotr"
"Thoy'ro uahamed of mo and afraid
other peoplo'll llnd out about mo.
Wfcen I wont to Bchool tho other boys
and girls said things and did things.
I didn't caro." Her head wont up and
hor volco told how passionately sho
had cared. "Dut Plotr told them at
homo and they wouldn't lot me go any
more. They'd bo glad If I woro gone.
And some day I will go."
"But whoro, Knzla?"
"I don't know," sho said wearily.
"If I know, I'd go now. Somo placo
whBje thoy won't know about me. Horo
liobodj, when thoy find out, treats
mo llko other people. Except," sho
added, "Jim Whiting."
"And mo," h(j said gently.
"And you." Sho turned to look
searchlngly Into his eyes. "Don't It
really make any difference to you?"
"I settled that question onco for all
last Sunday."
Her look of gratltudo disturbed him
atraugely, Ho stirred uncomfortably.
Sho saw, but did not uudorstaud.
Sho pointed to tho-(linking sun.
"See! It's getting lato, I must go
homo and got your supper."
Ho took her hand and helped her
to rise. Hut be did not release the
hand.
"Have you liked It today? And will.
you come again?" Ho smiled down
upon her.
In her eyes was still tho look, of
gratltudo, of trust. "If you want to,"
one answered Blinply.
''And in tho weeks that followed they
did repeat that holiday moro than
onco.
Mark did not try to anaiyzo htB
pleasure In those woeks. His heart
Bald: "I am young and life should bo
bright. Dut this existence toll, eat,
eleep and toll again Is eating my
youth away, I havo a right to this
llttlo pleasure," The only real shadow
was that cast by Jim Whiting.
Tho weekly bulletins to Uulty con
tained important omissions,
Ono night ho was in his room, sleep
less. There had been 110 little chat
with Kazla aftor supper. She had had
Just ttmo to inako her simple toilet
boforo Jim Whiting camo to carry hor
uway. Mark lay thore, toBBlng rest
lessly, vlslonlng the two In some se
cluded spot where Whiting could make
love to her undisturbed. Tho thought
. waa not a sedative, Uo wished they
.Author of
"TUBMAN nir.iir.R UP."
'HIS RISC
TO rOWER,
r.tc
Bc4AMen4n Company)
wpuld como home; ho did not llko
to think of her out In tho languorous
alght with Whiting.
In tlmo thoy did return. Tho mur
mur of their voices on tho little front
porch came to him through his open
window. Whiting seemed In no hnsto
to leavo. Mark wondered imnntlently
what they found to talk so long about.
At length, sleep as far away ns over,
ho nroso, dressed and went quietly
down stairs with what Intent ho
hardly knew. .On tho bottom stair he
stopped, facing tho door. Whiting was
on tho point of leaving. Mnrk saw
him coolly put an arm around Kazla;
sho suffered It. Hot nnger and some
thing far sharper boiled within tho
eavesdropper. Nor was It perceptibly
coolt-J when ho saw her deftly avoid
tho Wbb Whiting would have taken;
sho laughed ns sho rroko away. Whit
ing went down tho steps, whistling
gaily.
Mark was still standing on tho stair
when sho wont In. Sho stnrted.
"Oh! Is that you?"
"I think it la."
"That'B a funny thing to say," she
laughed. "Your volco sounds funny,
too."
He had Just been condemning Whit
ing for tho Indecent length of his stay.
Now ho said: "Lot'8 go out on. the
porch n while."
Thoy wont out Into tho moonlight.
He sat upon the railing and stared
grimly In tho direction of Whiting's
departure It was past midnight; the
street slopt. From tho valley below
thorn camo the rumblo of tho mills
that woro teaching him fenr and self
control. He was Bllent for a few mln
uttfs, whllo he tried to master the ugly
thing within him.
"What is it?" sho asked wonder
ingly. "Kazla," ho blurted out, "you
shouldn't lot him do that."
"Oh! You saw?"
"I didn't mean to."
"Why do you say I shouldn't?"
"Ho Iio'h not fit tq touch you." .
"Ho'b very Jolly and nlco to mo,"
sho said qulotly, "And and ho wants
to tako mo away."
"But you're not going, nro you?" ho
cried.
Sho sighed. "I don't know yet."
"Kazla!" Ho did not know how his
volco was shaking. "Promise mo you
won't go away with him."
"Why not?" Sho turned to him.
"Why not?"
"Because" ho began unsteadily, "bo
causo I want tho best for you. Be
causa becauso this I" With a sudden
rough rocklosB movement ho caught
hor closo to him. She Buffered him as
'sho had Jim Whiting. "Don't you know
I want only the boat for you?"
"I think I do." Sho put a hand to
his cheok and turned bis faco out of
tho shadow, looking long and search
lngly rlnto his oyes.
Then she gavo a llttlo sigh. "I prom
lao now." Her lips' waited for his
kiss.
Gradually his senses cleared. He4
bogah to oeo tho ugly troachery of
what ho had dono. Hla strong clasp
slackened.
Sho scorned to feel, with tho sixth
senso that was hers, the change In
him.
"What 1b It?" Sho looked up in
quick alarm.
"Nothing." To avoid her oyes ho
caught her closo again, burying his
faco In her hair, nud yielded to tho
Intoxication of hor. "Oh! Kazla,
Kazla!" . . .
CHAPTER VIII.
Afire.
July camo, Buch a month aa the
city could not rcmombor, humid and
.slckenlngly hot, Children played lan
guidly, always in tho shade, and
Hocked around Ice wagouB, quarrellug
over tho division of tho fast melting,
cool fragments.
In tho mills the men tolled on,
"spooling up" as always to feed a
world hunger for ateol. They drank
vnst quantities of water; ttioy salted
It that they might drink the more, be
hoving that In much sweating ulono
lay aatoty. Thero woro giants In those
days. But somotlmos thoy fell. A sud
den drying up of sweat, a violent nau
Bea, a sharp blinding pressure upon
tho brain In a few minutes or fewer
hours thoy were dead; tholr namoB did
not- always appear In tho dally lists.
Somo that did not ulo found their
strength forever broken.
The ilorco heat blistered Mark's
naked Bwoatlng skin. Tho water ho
drank carrlod out through his pores
tho food that Bhould havo nourished
him. The boavy labor put upon him a
wcnrlucsB sloop could not dispel. Tho
incessant roar, tearing at qulvorlng
nerves, Impeding thought, bocame In
hla overwrought stnto oxqutBlto tor
ture. Hato, for tho mills, for thoao
above who drove bo pitilessly, even for
the men boaldo him, tilled him; and
fenr. Onco, when Henloy, passing,
gave his careless nod, ho was an
sworcd only with a venomous glare
that summoned the mastor's sardonic
grin. Mark could havo killed him then.
Ho envied Roman, often almost bit
terly. Tho big Polo felt and showed
tho offects of tho lntenso heat, but
he wns tho same untturrled philosoph
ical workman as ever, always with a
cheerful word; no tear of collapse dis
turbed htm.
Through watching him Mark was
bescl by a now temptation. When
their turns wero ended Roman and
tho men invariably flocked to tho nenr
est saloon and there drank repeatedly
whisky and brandy mostlyuntil
vigor returned to their wornout bodies.
It was a falso vigor, Mark know, and
short-lived. But thero wero times
when the thought of the hour of sur-ccase-from
fatigue, of spirited outlook,
lured him almost Irresistibly.
And ono evening ho followed Roman
and his companions to tho bar.
"Whisky," ho ordered.
Roman put out a restraining hand.
"You bettor not drink," ho counseled
gravely. "Or only beer."
Mark laughed recklessly and re
peated his order. Thrice ho drank.
Tho weight dragging at his llmba
lifted, the misery rankling in his heart
dissolved. Ho was cheerful, talkative,
soon maudHn. Boforo ho reached homo
tho whisky had possessed his unac
customed brain; he was staggering,
drunk. Roman undressed him and
put him to bed without supper. But
ho had had his period of forgettulness.
Tho next day ho paid and tho crav
ing gnawed moro sharply. That eve
ning "Roman, understanding, avoided
the saloon and led Mark by a straight
course homeward. Thereafter It was
his custom, until Mark saw tho care
and forbade.
"You needn't bo afraid. It costs too
much. Everything," ho added with a
bitterness for which Roman had not
the key, "costs too much."
"Zo? But you aro tlredt. Unt you
are not strong. Vy do you not leaf
tho vork?"
"Give up now, after holding on this
far! I guess you don't mean that.
But somo day I'll get where I want
I'll havo llfo by the throat." It did
not Beem melodramatic to him. "Then
I'll mnko It pay for thison Its knees."
Roman shook htB head gravely, ns
at a blasphemy.
"You shouldt not say zo. Alvays
llfo iss tho master. But you aro tlredt."
And In tho midst of the ordeal by
fire ho fought his first battle. At times
he was almost grateful for tho physi
cal weariness that distracted him from
the Innor struggle.
Ho learned then how Insensibly
Unity had receded Into tho back
ground. Sho had become vague, of
llttlo substanco; she was a story he
had read a long tlmo ago. But she
was real, too, In that sho was a habit.
There was n momory that accused
a girl, for onco warm and yielding,
in tho last glory of the sunset, cling
ing to him with tho tremulous cry;
"You won't forget mo out thore?" Ho
had made a vow. . . .' Within a
twelvemonth he had clasped another.
That other was both real, intensely
real and near. Ho tried to avoid
her; It was not easy.
Kazia went about) quieter than ever,
what sho felt too doep for words, too
solemn for laughter. She did not again
break into song. But no one seeing
Iyer ryes could have doubted what had
como Into her heart. And she 'gave
to her lover with both hands, knowing
no thrift 'in love.
Her happiness awed, Bometlmea al
most frightened hor, but she would not
question It. When her sixth sense
stirred, sho shamed It into silence.
Sho saw In her lover's eyes a trouble
that deepened us the days went by,
heard it In his voice, felt it when he
clasped her.
One evening the last boforo tho hot
wave broke; but he did not know that
he dragged himself homeward, be
lieving he had como to tho end of his
enduranco.
"But I suppose I havon't," he sighed.
"Probably I'll Just go on and on but
somo "day I'll droj.. .1 wonder why I
do it! I wish the end would 00 mo
soon now." Ho thought ho meant
that.
Even the bath brought no rellof. He
sat down to a supper against the very
He Saw tha Figure Crouching on the
Floor at tha Bedside.
thought of which his stomach rovolted.
After a few mouthtuls he left tho tablo
and -wont to his room. Ho throw him
self, still dressed, oa tho bed, tossing
roBtleuily In tho vain search for an
easy position. Ills body was one dull
ache. The overheated blood pounded
through his veins, each throb a knife
that hacked his brain. Hla skin was
hot and dry, hla mouth parched; fever
roBo.
Tho lato darkness fell, dispelled a
llttlo by tho faint glow from a nearby
street lamp; it found him lying iuert
but awake. Ills mind was beginning
.to behave queorly, seeing strange
shadowy objecta that moved stealthily
about. Ho caught himself muttering
- M 111!
Avv.... a-T:ftBlJrWUrBBLEy 'Cv Ei
I Ml
to them. Ho wondered If he were
growing delirious, but ho could not
summon energy to call out or arise.
It must havo been 10 o'clock when
ho thought ho heard a light tnp on tho
door. Ho made an effort to speak.
"Come."
Tho door opened. Somo ono tip
toed softly to the bedsldo and leaned
over him.
"Aro you sick?" camo tho broken
anxious whisper. "You looked bo tired
and you camo up without speaking
to mo. Thoy said, let you sleep. But
l'vo been so afraid."
Ho caught her hand and clung to It.
"Would -you mind staying a whllo?"
ho whlspored back. "My head does
funny tricks in tho dark."
Sho put her ireo hand to his hot
forehead. Then sho gavo a low pity
ing cry. "You nro sick! Walt!"
Sho left tho room qulotly. Soon sho
returned with tdwels and a basin of
water In which Ice tinkled. Sho
lighted tho gas Jet and turned It very
low.
"Close your oyea now," sho said
softly, "and try to sloop. I didn't tell
any one, bocauae I wanted to help you
myself."
Ho lay passive, whllo sho placed
cold wet towels over hla eyes, bathed
his hands and wrists In tho ley water
and stroked his throbbing temples. He
wondered dully that hands which
worked so hard could bo so gentle.
For many minutes thoy did not speak.
. . . Tho stealthy shapes wero laid.
Tho sharp pounding In his brain be
gan to subside. Drowslnoss was steal
ing over him.
Ills hands gropod until they found
hers. "Kazla, Kazla!" ho breathed.
"Hush!" sho said.
"It's such, a pretty name," he mur
mured sleepily.
Ho felt her lips on his forehead.
After that ho Blept.
When hd awoke tho room was dark.
A cool moist wind swept strongly in
upon him. Ho heard tho rumble of
far away retreating thunder. And with
tho heat tho headache and overpow
ering fatigue had gone. Ho drew a
long sighing breath. Something stirred
in his hand.
Then In tho faint reflection of the
street lamp ho saw tho figure crouch
ing on tho floor at tho bedside, her
cheek pillowed In hla outstretched
hand. It took him a moment to real
ize what had brought her thero.
"Aro you awake?" Bho whispered.
"Yes."
"And better?"
"All right now, thankB to you.
Why, you're aft wet!"
"Yes." Sho rose stiffly to her knees.
"It's been storming and it rained In
on me a llttlo. But It's coolor now."
"And you What tlmo is It?"
"A clock Just struck four,"
"And you've been here all tho time?"
"I was afraid you'd wako up and
need Bomo ono. And I wanted to."
"Kazln, why do you do-these things
for mo?"
"It Is my place."
Her place! What place, then, had
ho given her? "Kncla " he began.
But moro than cowardice sealed hla
lips. She might have been consciously
lighting for her love. Sho bent over
and kissed him.
"Hush! You need to Bleep."
CHAPTER IX.
Liquid Iron.
The hot spoil was over.
For fifty-seven years Roman had
tolled as few men can toil on the
tiny farm that had been his father's,
to satisfy the greedy tax gatherer; in
Essen, learning another craft under
the master Krupp; In the now land
whose promise had lured him. Not
once had his superb strength and en
duranco failed him; therefore he had
never known fear, had not belloved
that tha fate that overtook others
must somo day be his. Ho had been
very prodigal of that strength.
But ono day such a one as In that
season tho steel-workera called cool
he staggered and fell. It was three
days before ho could go back to his
Job. During that tlmo MarkTrultt
was In cbargo of tho furnace.
Ho who returned waa not the care
ful, preclee, unflurrled workman. Ho
know fear. Ho tired easily and was
uncertain of temper. The heat-fretted
him and ho worried over 11b work.. Ho
lost in efficiency; several times he
tapped tho furnaco either too boou
or too lato and waa sharply repri
manded. To .koep up arid to forget
tho now weaknesa he drank more
whisky than ever. Within two weeka
he collapsed again.
It waa during Roman'a third lay-off
that Gracey, tho foreman, said to
Mark: "It looka like Roman's done
for."
"It looks that way," Mark aBsented.
"It's como pretty sudden with him.
It does that sometimes."
"Ycb." Mark Btarod sadly through
tho furnaco mouth at the boiling flame
swept slag. Tho drama had become a
tragedy. Thero was an element In
Bteol of which chemists took no ac
count tho Uvea and souls of men.
"Ho can't expect to keep his Job,"
he heard the foreman continue, "away
half tho time llko this. And last week
ho spoiled two heats. I'm afraid we'll
havo to let him go."
"Yes!" Mark's mouth twisted in an"
ugly sneer. "He's given you tho best
he had. And now he's breaking down.
So scrap him, of courso!"
"That's funny talk," grunted tho
foreman. "Especially alnco tho super
intendent and I've been talking it over
and wo think of you for the Job. That
makes It look different, don't It?" ho
laughed.
"No, It doesn't. Do you suppose 1
haven't boen thinking of that count
ing on It ever since he broko flrat?"
Mark turned hot eyea on tho foreman.
"Why, that's tho worat of you. You
drivo ua to tho limit and when we
break you kick us oft llko an old ahoo.
And that Isn't enough. You've got to
mako bcDBta of ua, cvory man dogging
the fellow ahead, glad when ho drops
and lets go hla Job. Damn you all,
anyhow!"
"Then I'm to tell tho superintendent
you don't want the Job?"
Mark looked ngnln into tho boiling
furnace, felt lte consuming breath, lis
tened to tho mills' strident voice.
Through every senso ho caught their
monaco; his spirit cowered before It.
But ho who had como so near to fall
ing could know tho bitterness of him
through whose fall advancement would
come.
"No!" ho snarled In Bavago con
tempt for himself and his hollow high
indignation. "You can tell him I'm n
beast llko all tho rest."
Ho was on tho night turn then. In
tho morning ho went reluctantly to
Roman's house. At breakfast ho was
alone with Kazla. But thero was no
love-making that morning. Nor did ho
explain that ho was to supersede hor
undo at tho furnaco.
"How'b Roman?" ho aBked with an
added Inward twinge.
"He's not much better," sho sighed.
'JWo'ro worried about him. Ho frets
becauso ho thinks he might lose his
Job."
Ho said nothing.
"Do you think ho will?"
"Ycb." Ho mado shift to raise hla
oyes to hersr "I think ho will."
"Just becauso he's sick. Oh, surely
riot!"
"Becauso no's used up. And when
you'ro used up, you've got to get out
to mako room for hotter for thoso
that can still bo useful."
"Oh, that would break his heart.
How I hato those mills !" she cried.
"But don't tell him you think that."
"No." Hla eyea fell. "I won't tell
him. Ho'll find out Boon enough."
Roman did not go back to work
until his shift waa on day turn again.
Somo presentiment of the Impending
calamity must havo como to him, for
aa ho and Mark set out for the mills
that morning the Irritability that had
marked him since I1I3 first cbllnpse
gavo way to a deep dejection.
It was not until thoy wero entering
tho mill shed that Mark said: "Roman,
I think Gracey wants to see you."
Ho tried to make it very gentle.
"Za?" Roman halted, looked In
tently at Mark. Ho draw a long whis
tling breath. "Zo!" He understood.
But his presentiment had not told him
how deep the hurt would be. '
He tried to look tho man ho had
been. But his tired lack-luster eyes
belled the stiffly martial shoulders
and firm step. Ho went straight to the
foreman.
"Mlno chop?" ho asked steadily.
"You vlll take It avay?'
"I'm afraid we'll have to let you go,
Roman."
"Unt vy?" Thero waa no complaint.
"You'ro laying off too much," tho
foreman answered bluntly. "And you'ro
getting careless In your work. You've
lost your grip."
"I haf been zlck. Monpy," Roman
made an effort to speak tho confidence
hedid not feel, "meppy I'll get belter."
"I hope so. You've been a good man
In your time. But I don't think so.
You're getting too old for tho work."
Gracey waa still ygung; he could speak
carelessly of growing old.
"In my tlmo! Oldt," Roman re
peated slowly. "I haf not bellefedt
zo."
He did not wince. But the shoul
ders he had been holding so- bravely
or'oct sagged.
"Oldt! It iss zo."
He started to move away, but the
foreman called him back.
"See here, Roman," he said with
rough ItindneBS. "You've always drawn
good pay. And you've quite a bit laid
by, I hear.- Why don't you go back
to your own country and take It easy
the rest of your llfo?"
Roman eyed him listlessly. "Here
Iss mine country. But I do not vant
to tako It eaay. Alvays haf I vorkedt
the vork of strong men."
He left tho foreman and walked
slowly, heavily before tho furnaces un
til he camo to hla old station. There
ho stopped, watching the crew at
work; In particular watching tho fig
ure so slight for that labor of tho
young man who had endured where
stronger men fell. How neatly ho fit
ted into bis new niche!
"Unt ho iss not oldt. Oldt!" Roman
shivered.
Mark Trultt ate or pretended to
eat his supper In tho saloon that
night. Ho could not bring himself to
tnco tho ordeal of sitting at tablo with
Roman's family.
Thero was no senso of triumph in
his promotion, honestly earned though
It was as hla world measured such
things.
Ho walked to Roman's house, with
a firm tread that was the outward ex
pression of his mood. Ho knew just
what was coming. He dreaded it, the
moment when ho muBt again face the
man by whoso fall he profited, must
again break the sweet ties this life
formed only to aover. Yet ho did not
flinch. Ho might rail against tho Is
sues presented to him, but at least he
had always the courago of his choice.
There was none of ttie trappings of
tragedy in tho moment he had dreaded.
Tho family was gathered aa usual In
tho dining room. Roman had himself
In liand onco more.
Mark stopped in tho doorway. For
tho life of him ho could not speak the
commonplace salutation on his lips.
ITo saw Kazla steal qulotly from the
room. But he knew that she stayed
within hearing.
It was Roman who broke the silence.
"You hat eaten?"
"At tho saloon."
"Zo? You shouldt haf como. Vo
valted."
Plotr snarled: "You've got a nerve
to como back here at all."
"Plotr," Roman reproved nlra
qulotly, "It Iss not for you,"
"Of courso," Mark addressed Uomau,
"you want mo to go. I auppooo you
blamo mo. I blamo myBelf somohow
I don't know why. It It Isn't fair! It
Isn't my fault you'vo been fired. You
ought to 8co that. And I'd bo a fool
not to tako your Job, now that yoo.
can't havo It any more."
"Huh!" sneered Plotr. "You'n glad
enough of tho chance, too."
"Plotr 1" Tho boy subsided. Roman
went on: "It las not your fault I am
oldt, no. But It Isn better you go.
You haf mlno chop. It Iss not goot
for mo to seo unt hear of tho vork
of strong men ven I am not ctrong."
"I will go tohight."
"I haf not zaidt tonight. Von you.
hat another goot placo to go."
"I will go tonight."
"Well goodby, then," said Plotr
promptly.
Mark wattod a moment longer. But
thero was really nothing raoro to bo
said. He went upBtatrs.
His carpetbag packed a brief taste
ho waited. And this was hard
"Huh!" Sneered Plotr, "You're Glad
Enough of the Chance."
hard! Now thero was at least tho sem
blance of a Btrugglp.
it almost shook him becauso with
that went Kazla. Instinct, brushing
asldo the mist of false teachings, in
terpreted anew and aright the passion
ho had thought Ignoble, warned him to
tako this whole lovo while yet thero
was time.
"Almost thou persuadest me. . . ."
But not altogether. His desire to
survive, to win bis place among tho
masters still held the whip, kept him
facing doggedly his straight road,
ahead. And, as If Jealoua of any rival
for supremacy over htm, It claimed
the pale lesser love. Ho could not seo
the unlettered Hunky girl sharing that
conquest.
When sho camo, sho stood for a mo
ment at tho door, -a question and a
great fear in ber oyes.
"I I was waiting for you," he said.
"I knew. But I couldn't come any
sooner."
Her glance fell to the bag, roso
again. Sho walked Blowly toward him.
He roso. Scarcely an arm's length
away, she halted. Suddenly teara stood
In her eyes. She put out both hands
in a quick pleading gesture
"Don't go!"
"Thoy don't want me to stay, Kazla."
"That's bocaiiBO you'vo taken his
Job. Don't taku it!"
He shook his head. "You don't un
derstand. Thoro'a no reason why I
shouldn't tako It."
"He's your friend."
"You don't understand," he repeated
wearily. "If I could give him back,
his Job by not taking it, I'd not tako
It." He believed that then! He be
gan again tho old reasoning. "But
I couldn't. Somo ono else would got
It that'B all. Ian't it better for mo
to have it than a stranger? Roman,"
he concluded bitterly, "ought to see It
that way."
"I know thero isn't, any good roason.
But I couldn't go with you, If you
took It."
Sho couldn't go with him! His eyea
fell mlaerably.
"Oh, no!" With ono Bwlft step sho
bridged tho space between them.
r throwing her armB around hla neck.
"Oh, no! I didn't mean that. I'd go
with you, whatever you did. I'd have
to. I couldn't stay hero, when you're
gone go back to tho way It was bo
foro you came. I couldn't stand that."
A llttlo shudder passed over her.
"You can't understand," ho cried
again. "I've tried "
"I know. I've seen It troubling you,
though I didn't know what It was. But
can't you seo? l'-tn the reason.
You'll never find any ono that can lovo
you like I can. It's all I know to
love to lovo you, I don't ask much.
But I can give everything."
With a forco that must have hurt
her he freed himself from her clasp
and sank shaking Into "tho chair, cov
ering his faco with his hands. For a
breath the scales quivered. Then;
"Kazla," he whispered, "I haven't
been square with you. Thero's thero'a
another girl "
"Thero 1b And you "
After what seemed llko a long
silence ho dared to glanco up to seo
how sho had taken It. By then sho
had crept to the threshold and waa
looking back at him. About her lips
a dazed, foolish llttlo emtio was play
ing. And, ber eyes were the eyes of
one who had Juat seen a great horror.
When ho looked up again, sho was
gone.
An hour later how ho could not
have told he found himself wander
ing In tho streets, carrying his ancient
carpetbag,
(TO BE CONTm'KD )
: A.fC : Jie'Vi-c?taS!!Kr' s-r;-4ir