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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 1914)
THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE. NEBRASKA. The Ambition By HENRY RUSSELL MILLER sswajgi'KaKS3ClKBira (Copyright, 1913, by Tho a SYNOPSI8. MaIc Truitt, encouraged by his sweet Jicart. Unity Martin, loaveH llcthel, his tiatlvo town, to seek hla fortune Blmon Truitt tolls Mark that It Ioiik Iiiih been M droam to seo n Hteel plant at ISothol mid asks the son to return anil build ono If he over cots rich. Mark applies to Thomas Henley, head of tho Qulnby Iron works, for a Job und Is sent to tho con traction cariK- Hli success In that work wins him a place, as helper to rioinan Andzrejzskl, open-licarth furnaceman. Ho. becomes n boarder In Roman' home nnd assists Plotr, Roman's ton. In his studlOB. Kazla, an adopted daughter, shows her Kratltudo In bucIi u manner as to arouso Mark's Intoreat In hor. Heavy work In the Intense heat of tho furnace causes Elc to collapse and Kazla cares for Later Roman also succumbs and k gets his Job, Roman resents this and tells Murk to find another hoarding place, Five years elapse during which Mark has advanced to tho foremanshlp, while his labor-saving devices have made lilm Invaluable to the company. In tho meuntlmo Kazla has married ono Jim TVIiltlng, Mark meets with an arcldont which dooms him to bo a cripple for life. He returns to Rothol IntonilliKT to stay thoro. Ho finds Unity about to marry nn pther man nnd wins her back. Unity urges him to roturn to his work In tho city. Mark rises rapidly to wealth and power In the steel business, but the so cial ambitions of his wlfo make their mar ried life unhappy. Tho bis; steel Interests fire secretly anxious to not hold of stock n tho Iroquois Iron company, supposed o be worthless. Timothy Woodhouso locks financial assistance from Mark and tho latter buys Woodhouse's Iroquois utock at , small figure. Henloy forces Qulnby to lot Mark have stock In the Qulnby company, through a threat that U ho does not ho will lose both of them. CHAPTER XV .Continued. It was tho less satisfying becauso ho foresaw tho end of a chapter. Ho had spont hlmBolf: In body ho was no longer capable of long Intense appli cation, ho had fallen back upon tho Invalid' last resort, drugs; in mlnd-r tho creative faculty noemod dead, that very morning a young man in tho mills had announced an important Invontlon that was to havo been Truitt's mag num opus and upon which his storilo brain had labored In vain; in soul bo could no longer dream. And for reward he had tho dry fact of a tri umph ho could not sense and tho pros pect of an empty, uselosa, discontented future. Ho woa a critic, you seo; but not of himself. The world wan out of Joint. Passers-by were divortcd from their own coj-aa hr tho nlch nf n. well. IK rcssod man stamping his cano on B VI ,.. ........l I -.., I .t a. wo yuvuuiuui. iuiu luuiioriiiK uiuuu; "An otII fato pursues mo. Other men do as I do, desire as I deslro and find content Why can't I bo contented and happy?" A thousand faces stroamod past him, unrecognized and unrecognizlng. Then, at a corner where two currents dammed each otlior, appeared ono that seemed oddly familiar. It was of an undistinguished homeliness, pasty pale, morose, matching woll the gen oral uhabblncsn of its owner. At first Mark, confusod by tho dirty brown board, did not recognizo him. Tho man had no doubts. At sight of Mark an ovil glitter sprang into tho sullen eyes. "You!" By the hate that had lived through fifteen yearn Mark placod him. "Plotr AndzrojiBki!" "Peter Anderson," tho man cor Jrocted him. , "That'a a good American name. I'd forgotten you had a proforenco." Mark smiled and hold out a friendly hand. ''How aro you, Peter Andorson?" Tho hand was ignored. Whon Potor Anderson sneered, his homellnoss bo canto almost grotesquo. "Since you're bo interested, I man ago to keop nllvo." "How do you manage it?" "I'm a cotnpoBttor on tho Outcry when there's any monoy for an issuo." "Tho Outcry?" "You'll hoar of it yet. It's tho paper of our Cause." Mark know of but ono cauBo that employed tho capital. "Socialism, I suppose." Ho smiled Indulgently. "I feopo it's in funds sufficiently often." "I look it, don't I?" Tho answer was so obvious that Mark avoided it. "How," ho asked bjiBtily, "Is Roman?" , "Ho brnathcB and sleeps and eats. jBut he's doad." "Is that a Socialist parablo? I'm not a Socialist, so you'll haro to ex plain." "His mind's gone. It began to go atoon after you stole bis job. But prob ably you'vo forgotten that, too." "I havo no rocollootlon," sold Mark fioldly, "of any such occurrence." With I. curt nod, he passed on. Ho had gone but a few titepe when be halted and looked back. Peter, un mindful of elbowing pedestrians, was etill at tho cornor, glaring at hm. impulsively ho turned and retraced sals stops. "See here, Plotr," he Bald. "Let ub tot ubo hard names. There are a good many things we'd never agree on. But ie can agroe on this you'ro bard up, I've boen luckier than you. What oan I do to help you?" Plotr's lips formed a surly, "Noth ing." But the refusal did not fall. A look of transparent craft displaced malevolence. "Do you mean that?" he asked bub Viciously, "I'm not in the habit" "I don't care about your babltB," ViQtx Interrupted ungraciously. "If of Mark Truitt Author of TUBMAN IIIGHr.R. UP." "HIS RISE TO POWEIl," Etc Bobb3 - Mcrrill Company) you want to do something, you can lend mo a hundred dollars." "ixmd," evidently, was a euphem ism, "What will you do still, that's your business. Of course, I will. I wIbIi you'd asked mo Bomothlng harder. Como nlong to tho bank." Tho bank was a Tow blocks away. Mark improved tho tlmo by asking tho details of Roman's circumstances. Plotr, BUllcnncss not lifted by tho prospect of money, answered shortly. It was a pltlablo story of descent of tho gradual dissipation of tho savings of Roman's actlvo yearB and tho swift failure, through Idleness and too much alcohol, of his mental powers, leaving him and Hunka dependent upon Plotr's scanty and uncertain earnings. "Where," Mark asked, as they en tered tho bank, "do you llvo now?" "Roso Alley." "Roso Alloy!" Mark stopped short. "My God!" "What does your sort know of it?" "Quito enough. Como along." A few minutes later thoy wore In the street again, Plotr tho richer by tho sum he had asked. Thoy stood facing each other tiio strong man who had conquered and tho inefficient, ono of llfo's guerrillas, who had Just taken of tho strong man's largess. But tho inefficient was not gratotul; a hundred dollars could not conquor his hatred. "I B'poso," ho sneered, "you wa.it mo to than.k you?" "No. ' If you need more, como to mo. And, see horo, Plotr, I want you to get Roman and your mother away from Roso Alley." "You want !" Tho monoy in his pocket, Plotr throw craft to tho winds. "What havo you to do with us? Do ypu b'poso we'd let you help us?" "But you took " Plotr chuckled a chucklo of tri umphant malice. "Did you think it was for ub?" Tho chucklo grow into a laugh, as though ho pondored some mammoth Joot. "You you have Just paid for tho next issuo of tho Outcry!" Ho wheeled and wont haltingly away. Mark watched him until ho turned a corner. "Poor dovil!" Mark shook his lieud pityingly. "He's mad." It was not Mark's habit to waste procIouB hours wandering tho crowded city atroots in introspective medita tion. ' Ho now wont to tho appoint ment with his lawyer to keop which ho had left Henloy. It was a long and tedious consulta tion, having to do with a big real es tato deal in which Truitt had shown his customary Bhrowdness. Ho dis played llttlo interest. Moro than onco Shirloy, tho lawyer, had to recall his straying attention. Shirloy was aston ished at this; his client was notablo for his concentration on tho matter In hand. Ho would havo been ovon moro deeply astonished, could he havo looked upon the plcturo that lurod away Mark's thoughts. But then, for She Looked at Him Steadily, Showing No Surprise. Shirley, tho nnmo of Roso Alloy would havo raUcd to llfo no dead memories, Shirley's astonlshmont, howovor, reached its climax at tho close of tho consultation. "It'B a good deal," he remarked, "for you." Mark answered with a nod and openod another subject. "I don't Bup poflo Timothy Woodhouso left much." "Practically nothing." "How does our case stand?" "Wo'll win It." "You'ro sure of that?" "Absolutely. His ostato will nover push It to trial." "Then settle It." Shirley whistled his surprise "Has tho philanthropic beo stung tho whole Qulnby concorn? ho grinned. "I wouldn't do that, though. It would be on, admission. As a lawyer, I couldn't advlao " "I don't oak advice. Sottlo It," Shirley waved a concosstva hand. "U'b your oaeo, of course. For how much? They'll tnko any flguro." "For whatover you think fair. Not i HfflHfei nil I Htt I uultii'iillH it 11' Si ns n lawyer, however. Think of It," Mnrk smiled wryly, "ns n gontloman if tho word means anything to you." "It's your case," Shirley repeated. "But my notion is, peoplo will think you don't want tho publicity for so cial reasons. That sort of talk " Mark roso abruptly, "I can't help," ho replied, with an impatient frown, "what peoplo think, can 17 Fix it up ns soon ns you can." But tho day's adventures wero. not ended. Tho ghost of Timothy Wood houso could not oust Rose Alloy from Mark's mind. Tho blacks, ordered by telophone, waited him. Swiftly, Mark holding tho reins, thoy wero guided ncross a bridge, along rough-paved, tumble down streets, Into a quarter such as their aristocratic feet had never trod. Orlmo and decay were everywhere. It wns 1C years bIuco ho had seen Roso alley, but ho found tho way as though ho had taken It but yesterday. IIo drow up at tho mouth of a nar row shallow court, and glvliig tho ruins to his mun, got down from tho trap. A few children dirty, sallow, under sized had been playing In tho court. With difficulty, for thoy had not his tonguo and wero afrnld of tho Btranger, ho learnod from them in which tonement Peter Anderson lived. Ho groped and stumbled up two illghts of stairs that groaned protest lngly under his tread. Ho found a door and knocked. It opened. . . , For a full minute, speechless, ho stared at tho woman who Btood on tho threshold. CHAPTER XVI. Glowing Embers. Tho flguro silhouetted in tho door way waB ono to mako men dream, full curved, strong with tho strength of women whose forbears havo always tolled, yet without heaviness; It waB the strength that lies In quality, not In bulk. Sho looked at him steadily, showing no surprise. And by that ho read that Bho had learned to take llfo, Its coin cidences and its climaxes as thoy came, calmly, without loss of poise. Sho spoko first, In a low oven voice that hinted even less than her mannor at Inner excitement. "I thought It was Plotr. Your step sounds Uko his." Thoy might havo been dally famil iars. "Yob," he flushed. "I am somewhat in his case." He almost missed tho swift glanco she cast toward his cane. But ho was grateful that sho had no comment for his Injury. In tho preBonco of her Bplondld perfections his own physical shortcoming seemed almost cause for shamo. "How do you do, Kazla?" ho said gravely. "I didn't expect to And you here." Ho hold out an uncertain hand. Sho took It, neither hastily nor reluctantly, for n brlof meaningless claBp. "I am horo sometimes. Will you como in?" Sho stood aside and he entered, try ing to ovorcomo his limp. It was the kitchen, which in Roso alley as ho remembered had to servo as living room as woll. It was clean, but baro; pitifully baro. By tho stove Btood a little faded woman, much stooped, her hair white and thin, hor pale lack-luster eyes for tho moment brightened by a startled question. Ho wont over to her and took hor hand. Sho shrank away from him. "It Ib Mark Truitt, Matka," said Kazla In Polish. "Don't you remem ber?"0 Hnnka said something in tho samo tongue. "Sho says," Kazla Interpreted, "thoy havo never forgotten." , Tholr eyes met again. . . . His turned nway quickly and wont to tho other occupant of the room. Ho Bat In the only armchair, a hugo mass of lnort flesh, head slouched forward and lingers playing alralossly with tho long unkompt beard that reached half-way to tho bulging waist. Mark laid a hand on his shoulder. Roman looked up. But Roman saw as the now-born babo sees. The graBp on his shoulder tightened. "Roman, don't you know mo? I'm Mark Mark Truitt, you romember." Tho shoulder stirred a llttlo undor tho tight grasp. Roman's head slouched forward again and ho began onco more hla almloss twisting of the long beard. "How long," Mark'B voico had bo como sharp, "has ho boon thlB way?" ."Almost three yearB." "And horo?" "A year longer." Kazia's oyos 'said: "What Is that to you?" "Why," ho demanded, "didn't you let mo know about It?" Sho smiled contemptuously, as It Boomed to him. "Wo must got them out of hero," ho wont on hastily,. "Wo can't. Plotr won't let ub." "Ho must," Mark declared curtly. "Ho will not," sho repeated. "I saw him today. Ho's crazy." "Ho Is. Ho'b a good compositor and could mako onough to keep them at least decently. But ho prefers to work for the Outcry for llttlo or noth ing. Generally It's nothing, He saya It's for tho causo." "But that's no roason why ho shouldn't let mo holp thorn." Sho shruggod her shoulders. "To Plotr It Is. I know, because I've tried." "Then," ho aald, "we'll tako them away and sottlo with Plotr afterward." Ho said It crisply, with tho nssurod air of fortuno's darlings who, having made their resolve, tako Ita consum mation for grantod. Her faint smllo showed again. "It isn't so simple ns that They won't go." "Thoy won't gol" Ho Btarod. "Why not?" "For ono thing," sho returned quietly, "tho Matka loves her son. I'll ask her." Sho turned to Hanka nnd for several minutos tho two women talked ear nestly In their native tongue. Hanka shook her head continuously. "Sho says," Kazla returnod to Mark, " 'My Plotr wouldn't like It.' " Hanka Interrupted, laying a hand on Kazia's arm and looking anxiously to ward tho door. Knzla nodded. "Sho says also," sho Interpreted again, "that wo'd better go, It's most tlmo for Plotr to como home.. She's right." "I think," Mark answored, "I'll stay, since I'm hore, and kayo this out with Plotr." "You'd hotter not." Hor Bwlft glanco Beemed to measure his physical frailty. "Plotr'B temper Is uncortaln. IIo found mo hero onco and drovo me out. It " Tho gloom could not quite hldo tho color that surged Into her cheeks. "It wasn't nice." I'm Horry for them, but just tho Banio, slnco I've started, I'll see this 'through and wait for Plotr." "No, you'd better not," alio repeated with cold emphasis. "You can provo your inflexibility in some other wny. Plotr Is apt to havo been drinking and if his temper 1b stirred up, ho'll make them suffer." Sho nodded toward Hanka nnd Roman. "Rehlly, you're qulto helpless In tho matter." "I seem to be." Ho laughed shortly, to conceal a disappointment as unde fined as tho emotion set Btlrrlng by tho sight of his old frlonds. "But, at least, I can leavo some money." But she shut him off from this, too. "No. What money thoy enn uso with out Plotr's knowing of it, I can fur nish." He limped Btlffiy toward the door, moro hurt than ho waB willing to ad mit to himself by tho rebuff and tho fnlluro of his Impulsive mission. Ho went quickly out into tho dark passnge, that ho might not havo to look longer, nnd thero awaited her. When sho came, he led tho way down tho rlckoty stairs and out Into the foul smelling court, lighted up now by a swaying arc lamp. "Ono would think," ho blurted out, "you wanted to stay thero." "Do you find that so wonderful?" "I'm glad you can't. It'B no place for such na you." "Many peoplo have lived here." "But not from choice. I know. I lived hero once myself, before " Ho hesitated a momont. "I loft It to live with Roman." She mado no reply. He stopped, facing her and blocking her egress. "You'ro thinking my going there was to the advantago of no ono but myself?" Why else should you havo gone there?" "That's almost cynical, isn't It? I might havo had sevoral other reasons but didn't. At least I did you no harm." "Neither harm nor good." "Ono doesn't llko to think of ono's self as reduced to oven a harmless nonentity. Still, most of tho virtues aro negatlvo, I believe. Though I'm vain enough to wish I could have been a positive influence in the making of tho woman you've become. It's rather remarkable, Kazla." "It Isn't remarkable or excuso for vanity." Sho had not winced, nor had her steady gaze wandered. But for Just an instant a fleeting somber shadow had rested In her eyes. "I must go," Bho said. Thoy walked In Bllenco to tho mouth of tho court At their approach Mark's man got down from tho trap, touching his hat. "Can't I set you homo?" Mark ven tured, not at all suro that she would accept. But sho affected no reluctance. Sho glanced at a llttlo watch sho wore. "I go to the Todd hospital, and 1'vo overstayed hero a llttlo." Ho helped her up to tho seat. Tho horses sprang forward, swung Into tho car tracks and quickly left tho tene ment neighborhood behind. For a tlmo Mark gnvo his attention to guiding tholr swift course around overtaken cars and tho slow lumbering teams that drow tho heavy traffic of the street Thoy wero on the bridge be fore olthor spoko. "You said, to tho hospital," ho be gan BUggestlvoly, "Do you " "I'm on a case thero." "You'ro a nurse, thon? I remember you had a knack for that sort of thing. Your huBband er I hadn't heard " "I haven't seen him for 12 years." "Kazla," ho asked gravely, "will you toll mo about yourself?" "Thero Is nothing to tell any moro than thoro Is about you." "That Is, you'ro not Interested In what has happened to mo. You'ro frank." "Becauso a chance baa thrown us togother for an hour 1b no reason for us to protend an Interest neither of us enn feel." "You may spoak for yourself, ploaBe. At least, wo can oil tho whools of cir cumstance by going through tho nollte formB. You could smile very gra ciously on my man Follx, but to me " Ho broke off with a short laugh. "His tory has a way of ropoatlng ltsolf. I remember saying something of tho sort to you onco boforo. Of course, you'vo forgotton." "I forgot nothing." "Ah!" Ho turned quickly to her again. "Thon I did do you harm." "I can't boo " "It follows," ho Intorruptod. "If I hnd done you no harm, you would re mombor charitably, not coldly or worso, and you would bo at least as cordial to mo as to my groom." "Now It 1b you," sho answered after a thoughtful pauBo, "who will not lot mo oil tho wheels. Probably what you say Ib right. I haven't thought much about Influences I haven't had tlmo." "I'm sorry. Which seems ill I can do about it. ' You and Plotr nnd Hanka seem In a conspiracy to teach mo that for regrottablo thlngB wo can pny only with regret. But I promised to savo you time." Darkness had fallen whon thoy drow up boforo tho hospital. Mark de scended painfully to help her down a rather superfluous courtesy, slnco sho was better ablo to alight alono than wns he. "You'ro In good tlmo. I hope?" "Oh, yes. Thank you for tho ride." They exchanged a conventional jiand clnsp. Sho moved toward tho steps leading to tho hospital door. IIo be gan to climb back Into tho trap. But tho restive horses started too soon, while ho was balanced on tho llttlo mounting step. Ills foot wns dislodged. Ho would have fallen, per haps been dragged, had Kazla not sprung forward, and catching tho reins, brought thoMiorses sharply to a stop. "You aro hurt?" "No," ho lied through set teeth, as ho pulled himself up to the seat. His ttjiLI'ijI "Ah!" He Turned Quickly to Her Again. "Then I Did You No Harm." hip, in fact, had received an excruci ating wrench. "I'm a llttlo awkward. This Is ono of tho things I can't get quite used to." 1 "I supposed It was only temporary." Ho shook his head briefly, as though tho topic were distasteful. "Another you probably won't be lieve this is an existence that con tinually requires little cruelties of one. Big ones, too, sometimes." "You say requires?" "At least, encourages. But I," he smiled unpleasantly, "am subject to regrets. And equally unprofitable im pulses. Of course," with obvious Irony, "this Is very Interesting to you." Sho was standing between two bol ustrado lamps. In their bright glow ho saw her cool impersonal regard change, become questioning. And the dark shadow again as though sho had seen, and known to tho full the cruelties whoreof ho spoke. Her lips parted. But no words fell. With an odd little gesture of repression sho turned and slowly mounted tho stairs. At the top she paused for an Instant. "Good night," sho repeated. "And thank you again." Ho dined alone at his club that night Tho events of tho day had left him depressed and strangly restless and with a strong distaste for com panionship. CHAPTER XVII. Fanned Into Flame. "I'd better quit thinking of her," Mark told himself. A virtuous and a wiso resolution, forsooth! And ono strangely hard to keop. The thought of a woman of tho people, dwelling in a flno strong body whose splendid perfection tho toll of tho peoplo could not diminish, whose flamo It could not. quench nover withdrew entirely, at most re tired into ambush whence to spring out upon him at unguarded moments, with over Increasing potency to stir his Jaded Imagination. Attainment of tho partnership had indeed proved to bo tho climax of his caroer with tho Qulnby company. Fol lowod quickly tho long imminent col lapse. Thero was no specific ailment, savo a heavy stubborn cough and the constant ncho In his injured hip, which wero really symptoms. It was rather a general failuro of his powers. Ho was no longor ablo to whip flagging energies to tho day's tasks. Tho cool, clear, InciBlvo brain that could grasp a multitude of details and yet not lose sight of result nnd purpose had bo como cloudy, vacillating nnd wander ing, a poor tool for the direction of a hugo, intricately organized plant op orating under tremendous prossuro. Ho was subject to attacks of profound melancholy. Ho could not Bleep with out tho aid of drugs. Worst of all, tho will to endure, to mock pain and weakness, had broken. "What's tho matter with mo?" he demanded of his physician. "Burnt out," was the succinct roply. ' "What can I do?" "Nothing. And quit taking drugs." "But," habit protested, "I can't do nothing." "It's your llfo," Interrupted tho doc tor. "But you'vo consulted mo and I propose to earn the stiff fee I'll chargo you. Drop ovorythlng, go to tho coun try or to the end of tho earth per sonally, I'd advise tho ond of tho earth, becauso It's fnrthest away and newest to you. Forget work, play a while." Mark asked and received from tho directors a six months' vacation. But, although ho formulated no reason, ho did iiot at onco leavo tho city. When tho weather permitted he tilled In tho hours by driving through tho parkfc, Thoy wero long tedious hours, as drearily empty as ho hnd forecasted, Tho nights, when ho lay Bleepless, fighting an Incipient craving, wero longer and drearier Thus it was that ho had lelsuro to think of Kazla Whit ing, though at Bomo loss to explain why tho roappoarnuco of ono whom In his receded youth he had treated badly should command bo much of his in terest Nor did ho admit a design when his drives took him almost dally past tho Todd hospital. Nevertheless tho sight of that Institution was onough to evoke a faint thrill of excitement not to bo laid to Its barrack-llko architec ture, followed by a moro emphatic dis appointment as tho neighborhood was . loft behind. Ono afternoon Knzla, in company with another young woman, emerged from tho grounds as ho was passing and gavo him a cool Imper sonal nod. IIo guessed that It was her recreation hour and marked tho tlmo. Tho quick leaping Interest should havo been a wnmlng to him. Perhaps It was, for: "I'm making a fool of myself," ho growled. "What do I know of thlB woman?" On tho third day thereafter, at tho samo hour, ho passed the hospital. This tlmo Kazla appeared alone. Sho gavo him again tho cool Impersonal nod and would havo passed on. But ho drew tho horses up sharply and called: "Kazla!" Sho paused, hesitated a momcct, thon went over to tho curb. "Will you drlvo with mo for a while?" "I ought to walk," she answered. "Please, Kazla." It did not seomf absurd to him that ho pleaded. Sho hesitated again, then "Yes," sho said. Ho would havo alighted to holp her to tho seat, but sho forestalled him. "Don't get out." And sho was be side him. Ho touched the horses with his whip and thoy sprang forward. "You aren't well," sho said abruptly. And ho, ascribing to that fact her unexpected compliance, wns at tho mo ment almost glad of his disability. "Is it obvious? I believo I'm not. In fact, my doctor has ordered me to get out and play I find it very hard work. That's why that's ono reason why I uBked you. I needed company. Tho circumstance," ho smiled, "ought to appeal to you professionally." "Nurses aro notoriously hard hearted." "Yes? Then I can't work on your sympathies. On tho whole, I'd rather havo It so. You'll havo to admit It took courage to ask you to play with me, because you'll admit again you weren't exactly cordial tho last tlmo." "What did you expect?" "But I expected nothing," ho r torted. "I didn't know you would bo at Roman's. Why, I hadn't even heard of you for I've been counting It up 14 years. That Isn't gross flattery, la' It? But, of course, you aren't the sort of woman that likes flattery. Aro you?" "Then you'ro not so sure, after all? But I do like It." "I must remember that." Ho chuckled. "Playing becomes distinctly easier. Isn't It lucky I happened along by tho hospltnl just when I did?" "But I thought" She almosf smiled. "I thought It was a habit" "So you've seen me? Now you men. tion it, I may as well confess that this Isn't luck, but the result of a very clever plot. I've been driving past tho hospital almost every day In tha sneaking hope that just this would occur." "You say, a sneaking hope '." "You see," ho confided, "I'm easily frightened. How cduld I know that I'd iind you so so beautifully human? Aro you preparing to snub mo for that?" "I am considering it." Tho smllo was unmistakable now. "But I won't because today is ono of tho days when I can't help being beautifully human. I'm so healthy that sometimes I just havo to tako a vacation from myself." "And I'm so unhealthy that, though I'd like to, I can't glvo Truitt tho slip for oven an hour. He's a persistent "beggar as you may have noticed tho last fow weeks." , They laughed. It was a clear afternoon, beautiful , with tho mellow radiance of autumn sunshine. But tho wind that swept sky and air clean was crisp and pene trating. To her, superbly healthy, It gavo only a rare lingo of color that enhanced her charm, gave tho last needed softening touch. Ills wasted body, despite tho heavy overcoat ho wore, could not resist the chill breath. But, though he know he would prob ably pay later for tho exposure, ho would not by so much as a minute cur tall tho hour. "I haven't had so pleasant It's a puny word, but let that go so pleas ant n tlmo In years," ho declared. "I see," sho laughed, "you havo taken mo at my word." "But I mean It," ho protested. "I'd llko you to believe that I meau It" Ho became grave. "Slnco that day at Roman's I've been thinking a good deal of what wo said about my having harmed you. If regrots but there's nothing so use less. That sort of thing Isn't easily forgiven, Ib It?" "Oh, very easily." "You aro thinking that I glvo too much significance to our llttlo affair. I do not" "No, I mean I havo never blamed you. Of, course, wo wero too young for It to havo any lasting slgniilcance. And, if I remember aright, I invited It nnd bo put you in what must havo seemod a very tragic quandary at the time." Tho most critical ear could have discerned nothing ungenulno in her rippling laugh. (TO UE CONTINUED.) A - 'f 7 J--C 4 Z&'J fVX '1 Jh