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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 22, 1914)
THE SEMfAVEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. Hie Ambition of Mark Truitt By HENRY RUSSELL ROLLER .--m:'?.:Tatf!j;Jl? issTarararrearararec' (Copyright, 1913, br The SYNOPSIS. Marie Truitt, encouraged by his sweet heart, Unity Martin, loaves Bethel. Ills natlvo town, to neck his fortuno. Simon Truitt tells Mark Hint It Ioiik has boon liln dream to sun a steel plant at Dethol And asks thu eon to icturn and build oneJf he over cots rloli. Mark applies to Thomas Henley, head of tho Qulnby Iron works, for a Job and Is sent to tho con tmctlon KniK. Ills success In that work iwlm him a place as helper to Roman .Andzrejzskl, open-hearth furnaceman Ho (becomes a. boarder In Roman's home and laaolsU l'lotr, Roman's aon, In his studies jKazIa, an adopted daughter, shows hor gratitude In such a manner ns to arouse Mark's Interest In her Heavy work In "the Intense, heat of tho furnace causes Mark to collapso and Kazla cares for him. Later Roman also succumbs and Mark pets his Job. Roman resents this and tells Mark to find anothor boarding placo. CHAPTER X. Wounded on tho Field. The accident was ouo that happened ofton. Occasionally, after a tap, water 'would bo turned Into tho cinder pit that tho cooling sing might hardon and 'bo broken without delay. Not seldom tho water would bo conveyed under tho crust, como Into contact with tho still molten slag and bo converted sud denly into steam. Then there would bo an explosion. Men might bo sort outily injured, or evon killed, which was very sad but ono of tho hazards of tho employment. It happened when .Mark bad been following his straight Toad ahoad for more than flvo years. Five years during which ho had won ucccsti, substantial it not brilliant! Tho lack of brilliancy might have been disputed by those fow who know that sundry labor-saving devices Installed In the Qulnby mills during this period wore of his invention Whon Henley heard of tho acci dent ho frowned; Honloy doicsted ac cidents, which spoke of inefficiency Bomowhcro. But when tho Informa tion was added that tho foroman of the open-hearth battery was among the injured, ho said: "Damn!" and In person at once called tho hospital and his own phyulcltui by tolophono and through these agoncios command toored tho best surgical skill and caro tor that valuablo workman. Tho doctors gathered in solemn conclave and did various things to Mark's shattered body. Thoy dogged his stops into jtha vory shadow of death and would not let him dlo. Thoy did that, knowing they condomnod him to a life of pain, and having tho so curlty of Thomas Honloy's word that -tholr bills should each and ovary ono of them bo paid. Whllo Mark still lingered In tho valo of mystery that leads to full knowl edgo, two man began tholr dally and nightly watches. One was a thin faded man who woro tho rusty black of tho country preachor. Tho other was nn awkwnrd, gray llttlo man who would sit motionless by tho hour, never taking his eyes from tho still Jorm undor tho white shoot. Mark did not dlo. Ills brokon body bogan slowly to mend. Ho passod out of lmmedlato danger; ho was oven al lowed to talk and to-bo talked to a llt tlo. Hut in tho manner of tho nurses, of his visitors from Dethel, oven of tho calloused doctors, wero a grava gen tleuess, an absence of tho oxultatlon to bo expected aftor triumph over death. Ho folt it. Ho put his question to his father. "'What aro thoy kooplng back from mo?" Simon's glance did not waver, nor did ho try to ovado with a soothing lie. "Yoll novor walk easy again Yo'll have to ubo a crutch, loaBtways c. cano, always." "It's my hip?" "Yes." "Is that all?" , "Yo woro hurt itinardly, Yo'll have Ito bo careful always. No rnoro work In tho mills." Mark closed hla eyes, uttorUig no complaint. But within was a turmoil of protest and rebellion. A cripple, a partial invalid for llfo! Half a cmau! So had oudod the dreamed cam. Ealgu of conquest. Tours of futile rngo oepod out through his closed eyelids. Ills recovery was Blow and vory painful; six years of driving ahead at Jiop spoed had left him but llttlo re serve vitality for tho emergency, Tho mood of rebellion died down from Bhoor exhaustion. Ho aocoptod his tDlsfortuno; but sullenly, with no swell ing horolc resolvo to dofy untoward circumstance. Thoro was no conscious desire to return to tho mills from which ho had boon banlshod. They woro too much tho objoct of hU smoldering resent jment just thon. Ho folt toward them lis tho betrayed toward tho traitor. "I think," ho said once to Simon and Illcbard Courtney, who had not yet Jeft tho city, "I'll go back to Bethel." "It will bo & good placo to rocupor- Ato," said the proacher, "But 1 moan to stay." "Wo shall bo glad to have you back." Thoughts of Bethol naturally rovlved the inomory of Unity Martin. Mark found a certain grlra humor In the xocollectlon. Ho had had his period of tragic re snoraa (or Karla. Ho bad not, how ever, let consclonco push to tho ox. tromo of disturbing tho fixed destiny just montlonod. Nor waa ho long In attaining a comparative peace of mind Author of -run man tunitPR up." "his rise TO POWER." Etc Bobbu - Merrill Company) In which ho could congratulate hlniBelf on having avoided a serious blunder. Not many months later ho by chanco mot Plotr, who conveyed tho news that Kazla had married Whiting. Plotr's manner of narration implied that, though Whiting was a poor refuge, Kazla had been fortunate to escape Mark. 11a seemed disappointed that his auditor showed no deep omotlon. Mark's lotters to Unity had contin ued, at erratic Intervals, Soon her re plies, too, began to dwindto In number and In length; thoy had novor had much to loao In tho way of Intensity. And thon ho sont a letter that alio fulled to answer at all, leaving tholr lovo affair susponded, so to speak, in the air. Ono of Simon's raro and mis spelled missives Informed Mark that she was, In tho phraso Bethel used, keeping company with ono Slocum, a prosperous young farmer of tho vicin ity. This may hardly bo rewarded as poetic retribution. It cauBod Mark a fow days' surface Indignation and a secrot relief; ono can not feel deeply tho loss of a shadow, oven though one has paid a price for her, Kazla married; Unity, having Jilted him, keeping company with plodding Bill Slocum! His tragedy had endod In shoer farco. Wo do well, ho con cluded, not to tako our drnmas too oorlouBly An amazing thing happened ono day. Thoro was the sound of a quick un familiar trend in tho corridor, the door was pUBhed briskly open and Into tho room stepped Thomas Henley. "How aro you, Truitt?" he Inquired, shaking hands. "I was going by, had a few minutes and ran up to find out for mysolf." "Well enough, 1 guess," Mark ro pllcd out of his amazement. "Oood!" said Henley. "Your father, I presume?" Ho noddod toward Simon. Mark mado tho necessary introduc tions. Simon said: "Pleased to meet ye," and flushed for his son, who had had to own up to the relationship. Toward the other visitor Henley glanced uncertainly a momont, thon held out a hand. "Ah! Doctor Courtney! Do you hap pen to remember mo?" Tho question, obviously, was in playful irony. "I happen to," answered Courtnoy, who did not Bharo Simon's shyness. "I remembor now, it was you who sent this young man to me. I," said Honloy graciously, "am In your dobt." Tho preacher's shadowy smllo ap pearod. "Is ho?" Henley laughed plcnnantly. "I fancy he Is. And I have a notion tho debt I'm Going Back Home." will grow. 1 am llnlshlng your Job, Doctor Courtnoy." Ho turned to Murk. Simon nnd Courtnqy pushed their chairs back from tho bedside, that tho great man might hold the stage. "Whon," Honloy asked, "do you ox pect to como back to ubV Mark winced nnd returned to tho suilennoss that was becoming his habit. "I'm going back homo." Tho pnuso and tho slight emphasis on tho lust word woro not lost on Hon loy; a BUBplcion as to tholr Import stirred. But: "Exactly right!" ho exclaimed heart ily, "Stay as long as necessary to get your strength together. You'ro too valuablo a man to tako chances. Your Job will wait for you. By tho way, about that now charging machluo you spoko of before the accident; I sup pose tho plans aron't where wo can lay our hands on thorn?" "No," answered Mark, "you cau't lay your hands on thorn. They're In my head." "An excellent place to keep 'em," Honloy agreed. "8upposo then, when you're fooling up to It, 1 Bond ouo of our engineers after you to go over tho planB with you? If there's anything in tho idea, wo ought to Install tho ma chinos boforo wlntor." "You can Bond him, If you want to. But I won't go over tho plaiiB with hlin." Mark discouraged tho sugges tion. llenloy atlffenod. "I'm not In tho business of stealing Inventions." '"""SyT fl "I'll see that you don't steal this," Mnrk responded ungraciously. "Bo causo, when you pay for It, you've got to pay for this, too." Ho put a hand on tho Injured hip. "That Is, if I over put tho Idea in shape." Henley waved a hand to Intimate that allowance must bo mado for an Invalid's humors. "Of course, wo ex pect you to be busIncBB-llke. Just whnt do you mean by that 'If'?" "I mean I'm through with tho mills." "Who," Henley's glanco swept Simon and KIchard Courtnoy sharply, "who has boon putting fool Ideas Into your head?" "You, for one, whon you como here becauso I'm a valuable man, not be cause I'm n man. Would you como to seo mo If I hadn't a new invention In mind7" "Nonsense! You're sick, that'B all." Henley smiled kindly but confidently. "1'vo scon men In your enso before. You think you won't como back. But you will. Why? Becauso you'ro a val uablo man I stick to that. You've a genius for mechanics, you know how to handle men and you've got a sense of organization. Most men would think themselves lucky If thoy. had any ono of thoso. What doos It mean? That you fit In here, of course. And when a man fits Into any kind of llfo, he can no more keep nway than molton steel can avoid tho shape of tho mold. And you'll llnd It so there's something about our business that gets into the bono and blood of a man." He looked at his watch and roso abruptly. "Glad you'ro getting along. Don't forget, your Job Is waiting for you." "But you don't seem to understand," Mark cried. "I'm done for. I'll have to go on a cano, maybo a crutch, all my life. And tho doctors say, no hard work at all." Henley could be very human, when ho choso. "Ah!" ho Bald genUy. "I had not heard that. I'm sorry. It makes a difference, of course." It is posslblo that Henley waB not thinking of Mark's commercial value, as ho stood looking soarchlngly dpwn at tho querulous patient. Unexpectedly ho loaned forward a llttlo. From his eyes a commanding Hash leaped. He put out a hand and caught ono of Mark's strongly. "Your brains don't need a crutch, do they? It isn't bruto strength that makes you valuablo we can buy that cheap. You said something nbout be ing a man. Now's your chanco to bo ono. What's a little thing llko a crutch or a doctor's prohibition? Tho meas ure of a man Is what ho ovorcomos. (Jo homo and rest, get your norve to gether. And when you'ro ready, lot mo know. I'll find a plnco for you." Ho was gone. And there was Mark, who had Just beon weakly If resent fully accepting defeat, athrlll llko a war-horse that has heard tho buglo call. CHAPTER XI. The Measure of a Man. When ho mot Unity again, he had been In Bethel for moro than two wooks. Ho had started out for tho morning turn on hlB crutches, to teat his re turning strength, and before he quto realized it tho village lay behind him. Ho swung along for some two hundred yards farther; then let himself care fully down on the roadside. Ho sat there for a long time, baring hlft head to tho summer Bunshlno. "This is very good indeed!" It would havo been almost flawless but for ono thinghe was rather lonely; ho folt the neod for some ono to share tho day with him. x He hnd his wish. Down the valley road appeared a buggy drawn by a lazy heavy-footed horse of the sort dis tinguished as "safe for women." From within tho buggy Mark caught tho gleam of a whlto shirtwaist and a sailor hut. Even before the vehicle drew near enough for recognition, ho know tho passenger for Unity. A slight tremor passed over him. To meet tho ombodlmont of a shadow by whom ono has been Jlltod or whom ono has Jilted? Is at least mildly ex citing. A slight tightening of the reins wne suttlclent to stop thnt horso. "Hello, Unity!" Mark folt that UiIb greeting fell short of tho dramatic proprieties. "Oh! How do you do?" sho an swered colorlessly. There Avas a moment of sllenco dur ing which, without seeming to do so, thoy luspected each other. Mark had a twlngo of disappoint ment. This was not the Unity he had loved bo boyishly and so brletly. Sho was na pretty as ever, In a way evon prettier; but ono could hardly have thought of her us splrltuello. Her face was fuller, Its color deeper, and there was a healthy roundness In tho lino of shouldor and breast, of tho ankle that protruded from under the dust robe. Not that she "Was fat! But her daintiness was gone. In tho item of dress sho would havo Buffered from comparison with the young ladles of his boarding house. Her hair was done carelessly. And vivacity had gono tho way of daintiness. She had tho all ot having settled Into tho habit of Bethel, of having accepted its narrow outlook. A faint vertical lino between hor eyes hinted that buo might not havo accepted it with complacency. Therefore he said: "You look tho same as ovor, Unity." Sho brightened a little. "You think so?" Thoro was something almost pitiful to him In the way sho caught at tho remark. She becarao splrltlosa again. "But, of course, that isn't truo." "But, of course, it is." Sho laughed unpleasantly. "You wouldn't think so, If you saw the way thoy treat me hero now." "Tho men? Surely not!" 'Sho shrugged her shoulders. "No. Tho women. They're so friendly now and thoy don't glggto behind my back. And whon thoy havon't anything clso to gossip about, thoy talk about how I'm settling Into an old maid." "Isn't that what tho rhetorics used to call hyporbolo? It should bo spar ingly used. Besides I hear you havo a beau." "Oh! him!" With another shrug. "Ho's afraid I'm not a good cook." "That's a nlco way to tnlk nbout a lover! Especially," ho laughed self consciously, "slnco you throw mo over for him." Ho almost missed tho acid look sho flashed at him. "It broko your heart, of course 1" "I'vo had plcasanter experiences," ho said dryly. "Why didn't you answer my last letter, Unity?" Her indifference might havo beon a llttlo too woll done. "For ono thing, oven I havo a llttlo pride. It was easy to seo you'd got tired of mo. Not that Pcared! Thoso boy-and-glrl af- He Waa Still Resting on His Grassy Bank When the Slow-Going Vehicle Reappeard. fairs always die a natural death. There was another girl, wasn't there?" "Why, I believe so. In fact, there waa. I gave her up for you." "And I gave you up. You must havo thought," again her unpleasant laugh rang, "you'd mado a poor bargain all round. Or had a lucky escape I" "I did," ho answored grimly, leaving hor to construe tho answer as sho chose. "That's an easy conundrum." Sho gathered up the reins. "Well, I muflt bo going. Wo'ro harvesting now and I havo to got back in tlmo to help get dinner. Good-by." Sho drove on, as casually as If thoy had beon neighbors In tho habit of meeting dally. . . . And this was their first meeting after six years. Ho leaned back on his grassy bank, having found, If not a companion, at least food for reflection. He was still resting on his grassy bank when, an hour later, tho Blow- going vehicle reappeared. With diffi culty for he had not yet become ox port Wtih his crutcheB-Mie roso and stood in the middle of the road. Tho horse, without urging, stopped with its nose against him. A more skilled ob server than Mark might have noticed that feomo villager's mirror and comb had been utilized to the advantage of Unity's hair and that her hat had been readjusted to its most becoming angle; and would havo drawn certain in ferences, Mark did not. Ho merely smiled at her over tho horse's head. . Sho Boomed rather impatient with his obstructlveness. "You'vo bought tho pike, then? I hadn't heard." Ho laughed and waved his hand air ily. "This morning tho world is mine. Do you know, wo havent shaken hands?" "Oh, haven't Ave?" Her tono at tached no Importance to tho omission. Nevertheless, whon ho stood aside, sho drove the horse forward a length and laid a limp hand in Mark's. "Also," ho continued, "you haven't said you're sorry that I was hurt." "Oh!" aho repeated, with perfunc torinoss unrelieved, "I'm sorry." Ho laughed again. "You needn't mind now. You'll havo plenty of chances before long." "Meaning?" "Tho road to your house 1b still open to tho public, Isn't It? I'm thinking of buying a new horse. Unity," ho re turned to gravity, "there isn't any rea son why wo shouldn't bo good friends, Is there?" "People will talk." Ho paraphrased a classic formula. "Unity," ho said oarnestly, "drat the people!" "You can say that. You don't have to stay here." "But I'm going to stay here." "Not for good?" "For good." -Why?" Mark laughed shortly. "When you're put- out of tho race, you don't want to stay where yon have to watch tho othors still running." She Inspected him again, moro closely. He thought ho was sincere. Hut ho did not know that desplto tho crutches and his drawn white face he had not tho resigned dispirited air of tho man who has accepted a perma nent seat on tho shelf. "Look as long as you want to," ho suggested at last. "In tho meantime will you set the dogs on mo when I drive down your way?" "Oh, well'" Sho tried unsuccess fully to return to indifference "If you really want to come! It's been a dull Bcason. I supposo it would bo a mercy to tho gossips to give Mielr tongues a chanco to clack once more." Sho drew tho reins taut "A real philanthropy," ho assented, grinning, as tho horso lumberlngly re sumed lta Journey. Mark swung slowly along homownrd. Ho smiled pityingly. He had read aright tho new Interest In Unity's faco that of tho condomned prisoner who has heard rumor of repriovo. Ho was sorry for hor. And pity wo havo It from tho poets Is love's poor relation. Mark regained a measure of strength. He discarded ono crutch and began each day to tako a few steps experi mentally with no support but a cane. Ho spent many beautiful idlo hours, alono or with Htchard Courtney, driv ing his now horso among tho hills. Sometimes often Unity was with him on those drives. Tongues clacked according to prophecy. But Maikf did not care. And Unity did not caro. Mark fell placidly and easily In lovo with Unity again. At least, tho whllo protesting, ho decided that it must bo love. But tho protest was halt-hearted. Ho wanted to love. "Aro ye goln' to stay hero in Bethol?" Simon broko a long sllenco to Inquire, ono rainy evening. "I don't know," Mark answered out of a brown study, off his guard. But ho added quickly: "Yes, I do know. I'm going to stay." "Then, what are yo goin to do?" "I don't need to do anything. I've got twenty thousand dollars. That'll last me in Bethel." Simon shook his head gravely. "Yo can't stand that. Ye'vo got to do somethin'. An' there's uothin' to do hero yet." "And never will be." "Mebby not. All the moro reason why that Mister Henley's right." "Would you have mo go back to the city?" "Yos." "You don't know what you're say ing," Mark began irritably. "I could novor take a pen pusher's Job. The mills are all I know. And that llfo you don't know It. It costs too much. It takes it out of you, drives you llko a slave. It I'm not fit for it now. It oh, let's not talk about it." But Simon had more than one of Mark's problems on his mind. "Aro ye," he went on, "goln" to marry Unity Martin?" "I don't know. I suppose so." "If yo don't find out purty soon," remarked Simon most surprisingly, "sho'H do your knowln' fur ye. I wouldn't." Mark stopped at a window, looking frowningly out at tho sheets of rain that dashed across the square of light. Simon must have felt deeply on tho subject, for ho repeated, "I wouldn't" "No," said Mark testily, "I suppose you wouldn't I don't know. But If I do It, It will bo with my eyes open." Which seems a most unlover-Uke say kig. Thoro was an evening whon he was alono with Unity on Squlro Martin's front porch. It was one of the soft languorous nights that sometimes como to Bethol In early September. Thoy talked little and that In low tones. Once ho leaned toward her. He had to peer closely to make out her look of content. "Do you know," ho remarked, "you ought to be glad I came back?" "Indeed! And why?" "Havo you looked In the mirror lately? When I first came you looked woll, cranky and as though you didn't care whether school kept or not." "Well, of all tho conceit! I sup pose you take all the credit." Thus she admitted certain Improvements. "And why not?" ho laughed lazily. "Whon you como right down to it, Unity, you never really', definitely threw mo over." "It Isn't too late." "Yes, It Is too late." She said nothing. But when he reached up to tako her hand he found it a tightly clenched llttlo ball. "Unity, do you remember tho drive we took that Sunday boforo I wont to tho city?" "I think I do." "Sho thinks sho does!" ho npostro- phlzed tho night "1 have a scheme. Tomorrow, right after dinner, I'm go ing to drlvo down hero for you. Unity, let's havo tho Sunday ovor again in every particular." Again she was silent "You don't agree?" "1 I'm not sure." "That you lovo mo?" She shook her head. "That I want to marry you." But when he drew her down and kissed her, she did not resist. "Walt," ho whispered fatuously, "until tomor row. Then you will bo convinced." Although what virtue tho morrow would hold ho did not say. Ho prob ably did not guess. Unity did not scruple to change tho current of another's life; sho saw no occasion for Bcruples. Sho thought she loved Mark. But sho did not believe his expressed resolve to stay in Betbol was, could bo, genuine; or, If genuine, that Us execution would bo good for him. And, principally -she knew ex actly what sho wanted. Next day they drovo over much the samo road thoy had taken soven years before. They chatted In lighter vein, with Intervals of eloquent sllenco. On a tllltop vhonco thoy could see only other hills nnd tho sinking sun thoy ate tho lunch put up by tho thoughtful Susan. Then thoy waited to watch tho sunsot "Unity, what must 1 do to convlnco you?" "Nothing," sho murmured. He considered his happiness. And aftor a while sho said: "Tell me about your llfo In thu city. You've never said much about It." Innocent demand! Not In vain Is tho trap set in the sight of a young man In ove. Ho began to describe tbo mills to her. And as ho went on, Into his words cropt tho unconscious elo quence of a real enthusiasm. His faco becamo eager. Before ho had ended, he waB on hla fcot declaiming to her, who wns a very nttcntivo audience Ho saw what ho described. "Ah!" sho breathed, as ho reachel a period. "What a life! And yo could leave It?" "Yoc forget," ho reminded her, "I was put out of It" v Sho leaned forward suddenly, rest Iiik her hand on tho ono that held tho .cano. "Mark, why don't you go b'ack to It?" Ho Jerked his hand frco, as If ho had felt a twlngo of pain. "Don't suggest that, Unity!" ho cried. "There's that othor side. It's hard and cruel and narrowing, ft eats up all tho beBt of you. Sometimes it kills you. It makes you a machine, not your own man. I used to fed It when I was there, sometimes terribly. Horo 1 seo It from a distance and I understand better. It's just one hellish scramble, that life " Ho stopped abruptly, with an impatient gesture. "If 1 go back, Unity, you won't " But how could ho phrase his fear jr Interpret tho hot surging that drowned It? She sighed happily. He was soon to learn. A man and a woman entered Into tho most trying of human relations. Both wero young, but both had har dened In the pursuit of selfish desire. Neither had tho lovo that finds lta chief joy in yielding. CHAPTER XII. A Man and His Wife. In tho down-town offices of the Qulnby company and In tho particular room which may bo called tho head quarters of tho Qulnby army, two men. wero sitting lato one winter afternoon. Tho ono was Henley himself, now chairman of tho company, a bit stouter than when we first mot him twelvo years ago, his arrogance a llttlo less evident In manner albeit time had not altered tho fact. Tho other was a. youngish man whoso thin bony faco and hands and streaks of premature gray hair spoko of physical frailty. It was common knowledge in tho Quinby company that no ono waa moro welcome In Henley's office than, tho young superintendent whom the master's influence had put In com mand of tho big now open-hearth, plant. It was ovon suspected thai Henley hnd taken Truitt In with hlnr In his speculations. At the end of a long discussion ox company affairs Henley pressed a but ton. His secretary appeared from tht adjoining office. "Bring in the light and heat as count" Tho secretary returned with tho ac count of the latest successful specula tlon. Henley gave It a rapid glancf and handed It to Mark. The latto studied It carefully, questioned certali items, questioned the explanation an finally accepted them. Henley smlle At the Door a Crippled Beggar Ao costed Them. again. He know men who would have hesitated to question his accounts. Everything he knew of Truitt ho liked. "Mako out Mr. Truitt's check." ha directed tho secretary, who withdrew and promptly returned. Henley signed the check and deliv ered It to Mark. The latter receipted tho accompanying voucher. "I've another thing in mind," Hon loy suggested. "Care to go in?" Mark hesitated, his brow suddenly wrinkling. "I think not," he said at laBt. Tho note of irritation did not escape Henley. "I've my eye on a new house." "I thought you wero pretty com fortably fixed." Mark shrugged hla shoulders. "It seoms tho neighborhood leaves some thing to be desired." "Yos? I seo," Henley indicated Mark's heavy furred overcoat, "you'ro driving out. You can take me homo unless you'ro" In a hurry to reach that delinquent neighborhood?" A quarter of an hour later the two men emerged from tho corridor of the Quinby building. At tho door a crip pled beggar accosted thorn. Henley Ignored him. Mark slyly gave him a coin. A beautifully matched team of blacks harnessed to a light sleigh awaited him. Evidently Mark had not forgot ten his early knowledge of horse flesh. Only n man whom fortune had kissed could havo afforded such horses. For Mark with his, "leg and a halT they were hnrdly an extravagante, almost a necessity. (TO BE CONTINUED J
