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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 10, 1914)
THE SEMLWEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. . i I' - r. if . I i 1 K55 SKMaK?&CJrt3K iJKaKmja3EJiJK?JKmCTiKW The Ambition of Mark Truitt By HENRY RUSSELL MILLER (Copyright. 1913. by The u CHAPTER XXIV Continued. Togother ho and Mark dragged I'lotr to tho cab and forced him within. I'lotr, dazed by Mark's appearance re united but feebly. Boforo tho grim majesty of ap proaching doath oven Plotr's madness was abashed. Tho supremo conscious ness received back tho atom that, when Imprisoned In flesh, had been Roman. It was Kazla who saw. "Ho 1b dead." The Matka uttered a low moan, then bocamo silent again, resumed nor rigid gazing at tho not less still body. Plotr's bond passed over his oyes In a bewil dered gesture. Tho woman who kept tho door mado tho sign of tho cross and went quietly out. Kazla bent over to kiss Roman's forehead. Then Plotr canio out of his daze. Ho caught her roughly and drow bpr back. " "No I" "Plotr!" "You're not fit to touch him." Sho turned and wont slowly Into tho kitchen. Plotr followed. Ho confronted her and Mark, "You con go now, both of you." "Oh, Plotr, not now!" Kazla began pleadingly. "Tho Matka needs mo and" "Wo nood nothing from you. Wo woren't good enough for you onco. You loft us to bo a flno lady. Now wo don't want you." "But 1 camo back and you wouldn't lot mo stay." "Yes, whon you found that Jim, Whiting couldn't give you what you wanted. You thought you could use ob then as he did." Ho nodded to ward Mark. "How," IiIb teeth bared In an ugly accusing lcor, "how did tho Hunky girl got to bo such a flno lady?' "Do still!" Mark stopped closo to him, sternly. "Isn't thoro any decency In that cracked mind of yours? Ho tnomber sho camo to them," ho pointed toward tho little bodroom, "whon they Deeded somo ono. You wore out fill ing tho streets with your blackguardly rant And whoso money do you think bod to koop them nllvo bocauso you wouldn't do a man's work?" "A man's work!" Plotr laughed, a horrlblo startling cacklo. "To a cracked brain that Isn't to betray and gpugo nnd drlvo " Ho broko off. "Do you mean ll wa her monby?" "Who oIbo would have cared?" Plotr went back Into tho death room, clutched his mother by tho shouldor end shook hor cruelly. "Tell mo," ho cried In her tonguo, "havo you taken money from her that woman whon I told you what oho was?" Tho Matka shrank back from his, Vehomonco, "I had to to buy things to koop hlra alive." Plotr, releasing hor, stared, his mouth working quocrly. "Evon you'ro against mo." Ho went again slowly Into tho kitchon, taking up his hat from tho "What Have You Found, Roman? It Simple, There?" table. Ho did not stop until ho reached tho door. Thoro ho turned, facing Kazla. "You can havo her now. I'm Ing." go- "Ho'b crazy," Mark mutterod. "Don't mind, him." With an effort she recalled herself la tho situation. "You hnd bottor go pow. I must tako caro of tho Matka. Will you pleaso telophono to tho hos pital that I shan't bo back tonight?" "But I can't loavo you nlono horo, while Plotr's at largo. I'm going out to arrango for tomorrow. Then I'll ooino back here." "It may bo bost," sho agreod. Two hours later ho returned anil rapped lightly. Receiving no unswor, be tried tho door. It opened and ho entered quietly. Hanka lay on a narrow cot, In tho loop pf exhaustion. In a chair by tho table, head pillowed on ono arm, Kazla, too, slept. Sho stlrrod uneasily as he entered, then bocamo still. Ho tiptoed to anothor chair and bogan his lonely watch. The night seemed endloss. To sit motionless, looking at tho relaxed for lrn figure cko mde, became impoa- mil . Author of -THE MAN HIGHER UP." "HIS RISE TO POWER." Etc BobbrMerrill Company) slblo. Ho rose and crept silently into the room whero Homan lay. A slnglo candlo was burning low In Its socket. Hy Its faint flickering glow tho waxen face and folded hands seemed not dead, but only at peace. Mark looked long at him, as though Roman held the answer to his questions. Onco ho leaned ovor, whispering. "What havo you found, Roman? Is it simple there? Ib there a new birth In which mistakes can bo paid for? . . . I want to pay." CHAPTER XXV. Payment, It was two days after tho funeral. Mark had seen Kazla but for a few minutes, morely long enough to learn her now plans, and then Hanka had boon present. Kazla proposed to take care of Her, and that they might not havo to bo apart, to glvo up her flno position nt tho hospital; sho thought she could obtain a now ono that would tako up only her days. Sho had, of course, to find a now apartment. AH day Hanka had been alone In the dismantled flat, thinking not of him who had gouo but of tho woman who had asBumod hor protection. Often hor head shook in troubled gesture. Hanka had not lost tho hnblt of Boeing and understanding many things from hor shadowy corner. Not out of grief for tho dead, sho know, had tho look that hauntod hor como Into Kazla's oyes. Tho dlunor waB ovor, tho dishes washed and put away; this being part of Hanka's sharo In tho now division of labor. Sho went into tho Ilttlo bed room whither Kazla had gone to dress. But at tho door she stopped, unnoticed, looking at tho flguro that lay motion less and faco downward on tho bod. Sho startod to steal away, then turned again and wont timidly to tho bedside. Sho laid a gentle hand on Kazla's hair. "Little Kazla," sho murmured, half frightened at hor boldness, "what la troubling you?" "Nothing, Mntka," camo tho muf fled answer. "Is It bocauso of mo? I don't want to bo a burden. I can go." "No, no! You, musn't leavo mo. I'm Just tired." "Heart tired. Is It bocauso of him your lover?" "I havo no lover." Knzln rose wearily, and going to tho mirror, began to tako down hor hair. Tho thick soft tresses fell tumbling around hor. Hanka, In troubled won dor, watched tho round arm that wloldod tho comb, tho smooth Arm shoulders. At Kazla's ago Hanka had already bogun to wither Into an un comollnosB that men passed by undo siring. Sho wont ovor to tho dressing woman and touched timidly tho Arm, still youthful flesh. "You nro llko your mothor." "What was sho llko?" "Sho was llko you." Kazla did not srallo. "Men saw hor and wnnted hor." Tho comb bocamo still. "Did sho did sho lovo my father?" "Such a lovo I havo novcr soon." It had been dark almost an hour whon tho boll rang. Hanka heard Kazla going to tho door and a startled oxclamatlon answeted by a mellifluous volco Hanka did not know. Tho vis itor waB admitted and taken Into tho sitting room. To tho kitchon camo tho murmur of Kazla's voice and his, chiefly his. Ho had been thero but a fow min utes whon IiIb volco changed. It bo camo eager, with an undertono that perturbed Hanka strangely. Onco Kazla uttered a low hurt cry. Hanka roso aud crept along tho little hall Sho crouched In tho darkness near tho sitting room door, listening in tently and wishing sho had not beon so Btupld nbout English. "Am I an ogre?" tho mellifluous volco was saying. "I do not lovo you." "It Is not a question of lovo. I am not old, but I havo lived long enough to prick that Illusion. Wo scientists It know what lovo Is." "I don't caro for you In any way," Kazla answered coldly. "Mr. Qulnby, you oughtn't to bo hero. A man In your position " "My dear lady, lot mo remind you that the Interost of a tnnn In my posi tion Is not to bo rejocted lightly. With a word I gave you tho bost position your profession offers a woman. With a word I can tako It away. I can ro llovo you of tho nocosslty of working at nil. I can make It imposaiblo for you to And work In UiIb city." "Throats " "My dear lady!" tho stranger's volco protested. "I would not do that I would harm no one. I tun a tender hearted man. I, too, suffer, If by chance others suffor through me." Tho volco. vibrnnt with emotion, would havo wrung tears of sympathy from a stono. But Hanka, as wo have seen, could not woop. "I nin only trying to show that Uiobo who onllst my Intoretit do not Iobo by It" "So you think I am for sale?" "Forglvo mo, my doar," said Qulnby, "but that Is gross. Say ratliur that, since you havo struck a responsive chord In my breast, it will bo my pleas ure to bo guardian of your welfare to lift you out of tho sordid strugglo for existence. Aud havo I not proved that? You lay In tho hollow of my hand. With a breath 1 could havo de ntroyed your reputation. But I kept Hllenco, I ndvanccd your interests, I held you tenderly In my heart. Wom an, you havo bewitched mo. I want you." Hanka understood at least his last words and sho understood his tone. Sho crept closer and through the crack of tho sitting room door saw Kazla oludo Qulnby's outstretched arms. At the eamo moment sho heard a hnltlng step on tho stairway. Sho opened tho outer door and went out to moot Mark Truitt, whlsporlng ex citedly to him In Polish. When ho, astonished by her appearance and omotlon, would havo spoken, sho clapped a hand over his mouth, and clutching him by a sleeve, drow him Into the hall. Sho pointed through tho crack. Again Qulnby reached toward Kazla and again she recoiled. "Don't don't touch mo." "Why do you rebuff mo? You're not an Ignorant child. You must have known what my Interest In tho hos pital and In you this year has meant You wouldn't havo taken my help un less you wcro willing to glvo mo what I want." "What Is it what is It you want?" "I want you to bo to me what you havo been to Truitt" "And If if I refuso?" "I havo never yet told that I caught Truitt and a sun-browned woman alono in an Ottawa hotel under circum stances I have no reason to lovo him. I havo rofrained from telling only for your Bake. I Why do you forco me to say this? I havo no wish to bo brutal to you. Seeing you has turned my head. But you will not surely you can not refuso." Sho dropped back Into a chair, cov ering her faco with her hands. When sho looked up, sho woro again tho strango rapt expression. "You said," sho whispered chok ingly, "you said you would pay." "Yes, yes!" ho cried eagerly. "You aro trying to rob Mark Truitt to forco hlra out of tho company. Will you glvo that up?" Still In tho eamo broken whisper. "Evon that You aro worth every thing." "And -will you glvo mo tlmo to send him away and nover let him know?" "It Is for you to make conditions. Ah I my dear " In triumph Qulnby steppod toward hor and bont ovor to tako her hand. "Don't do that!" said a volco behind him. Qulnby whirled. For a long silent mtnuto tho trio faced one another. Then Mark, whlto of faco, hands working convulsively, wont elowly to tho stupoflod Qulnby, who seemed turned to stone. Ho did not resist ovon whon Mark's hand leaped up and caught him cruelly by tho throat. Ho was- pressed back until hla back mot tho wall. Tho grip tightened. Qulnby's faco grow purple. Ho squirmed and tried to cry out but only a hoarso gurglo resulted. Kazla came to herself. Sho sprang to her feet and caught Mark's arm, breaking his grip. "Don't hurt him. Ho'b not worth it." Gently, without taking his oyes from Qulnby, Mark freed his arm from her clasp. But ho did not touch Qulnby again. Tho first murderous Impulse died. Ho turned contemptuously away from him. Qulnby, released from tho cruol hand nnd eyes, started across tho room. Mark whirled upbn him onco moro. "Stop!" Qulnby stopped. "This," ho eald weakly, "Is a trap." "Sot by yourself." Mark turned to Kazla with a helpless mirthless laugh. "What Is my cuo? Shall I kick him down stairs or spring his dirty trap?" "Lot him go," she answered list lessly. Mark shook IiIb bead. "Not without paying. Ho said," grimly, "ho was willing to pay." "I'm not afraid of you," Qulnby mut torod a foeblo defiance. "What can you say of mo that Isn't truo of you?" "Ah!" Mark drow a sharp whistling broath. Qulnby shrang back, his hands going protectively to his aching throat "Now you Bhall pay. You" Ho broke off with a gesture of disgust. "I find I've no stomach for blackmail Just now. I'll telophono Henley to como ovor. Ho'll know how to handlo this situation." Then Qulnby was Indeed fear-struck. Ho clutched Mark's arm tightly. "Don't toll him!" ho quavored. "We can sot tlo this ourselves. I didn't really In tend to forco you out of tho company, only to to frighten you a little." Mark Jorked his arm free. "So you'ro a coward as well as a fraud! But I know that boforo. This Is too sick onlng. You'd bottor go." Qulnby started again to go. "Walt!" Qulnby waited. "You seem to bo afraid of Honloy. You have reason. Tomorrow at ten thirty you hayo an engagement to moot him at his ofllco I havo just mado It for both of you. At eleven I will moot him. You know best whnt Honloy In his present mood will do If ho gats wind of your latest advonturo In phi lanthropy. Now go." Qulnby wont. Tho next morning, prompt on tho hour, ho kept his on gagomont with Heuloy. A weakness for epigrams has do nated moro than ono fair project After a discreet Interval long enough, as ho thought, for the lntormont of tho dead past Jeremiah Qulnby sought to rovlvo tho paleontologlcal i propaganda. Ho found that for onco tho public momory wns long-ntid laid moro stress on tho fntofoi twins of production than on Ichthyosauri and kindred monstors. Tho air wns dark oned with poisoned barbs of satlro and derision. Thoro foil great phi lanthropist, pierced to tho heart. That Is to say, Qulnby retired from the realm of beneficence nnd his rival reigned absoluto onco more. A heavy troubled silence was In the Ilttlo room. Kazla stood passively by tho table, waiting for Mark to speak. After u long whllo ho raised his eyes to hers. "Knzla, you poor romantic fool! Did you think any amount of money was worth that oven If ho hnd kept hlfl word? When I think what oh, how could you think of it!" "I wanted," she answered In a queer lifeless voice, as If benumbed by this crisis Into which they had stumbled, "I wanted to do ono thing for you and your happy city." "My happy city I What happiness could It have had, built on that? And I hadn't you given mo enough?" "I gavo you only love." "Only I" "It was all I had to glvo. It wasn't enough." "I wish I could have given as much aa you." Tho wistful worde slipped out. Ho stopped closer to her. "Kazla, thlB has got to ond." "Yes." "You must marry mo tomorrow." Life, and with It pain, flickered once more. "You are trying to glvo somothlng now. But I'm glad you said that." "I'm asking you to grVe something more. You will?" "Why do you ask It?" "Because I've hurt you enough. I did hurt you whon I lot you led you to sin, ovon though wo kopt it a secret from tho world. I want to mako you happy you said yourself wo'vo broken a law. I want happiness and I can't havo It, knowing that for all 1'vo taken from you I've given nothing." Sho tried to smile; tho sight of It cut to his heart. "Every reason but the ono. But I'm glad you wouldu't llo to mo now." Tho smile faded. "You see. I can't." "Kazla, dear," ho ploaded, "wo started wrong let's begin over again. Let's give lovo a new birth." His volco rang with a longing she could not understand, but ho could not touch her. She shook her head spir itlessly. "There can bo no now birth so long as thero 1b memory. You could never forgot that I that I am not clean." "Do you think mo bo small as to hold my own fault against you? It is my sin, too." He stepped closer, reach ing out hlB arms to tako her. "Como, dear, your poor Ilttlo reasons aren't enough." Sho 6hrank away from his clasp, trembling. Into tho tired whlto faco camo a look of fear and despair. Sho glanced this way and that, as though sho sought an escape. Her hands wont to her faco. Then sho forced them down and hor oyes to his. "I thought I thought you under stood. . . . I I wasn't clean boforo wo sinned. Tho doctor who helped mo, I " Sho could say no moro. Suspicion had not prepared him for this. Ho etared foolishly at her, show ing how ho recoiled from tho fact her broken words had revealed. He did not then think it strango that the shamo of a woman ho did not love should stab so deeply. "Kazla, how could you how could you I" After a while ho forgot his own pain n little in pity for the silent stricken woman. Again hla arms reached out for hor and would not be denied. "It must make no difference." H1b Bternnese was all for himself. "What am I to blamo you? You sold your body to live. I gave my soul to feel others squirming under my feet You hurt only yourself. I've hurt every ono I touched. I hurt you. If I hadn't beon a coward years ago when wo llrst loved, you would nover have been tompted. Your sin is only a part of mine. It is you who havo moBt to forgive." Slowly sho raised her head to look at him. "And you," camo a brokon incredulous whiepor, "and you would marry mo oven now?" "All tho moro now!" For an Instant a faint pitiable hope, defying knowiedgo, shone In her oyes. "Havo I been mistaken? Only lovo could Ignore ah! don't llo to mo now. It wouldn't be kindness. Ib it just pay -Vr lovo?" Ho tried to look away from hor nnd could not Her oyos held his, seeking through thorn to hunt out tho laHt truth hidden In his soul. With a rough convulslvo movement ho drow hor head down on hie shoulder. "How can I know what It Is? It must bo love, slnco I need you and want to mako you happy. If It Isn't now, surely love will como when we start right. Kazla, don't refuse me this chance to mako up to you a Ilttlo of tho harm I've done you." Her answer was a stifled sob. He felt her body relax; hor head rested heavily on hie shoulder. She roloascd herself. Ho did not try to hold hor. They faced each other In a heavy throbbing silence. His soul quivered with tho cruelty of it; it would havo been Infinitely easier for him If sho had been tho unfaithful one. Ills words echoed mockingly in his ears, torturing him with their hopeless futility. "You will not?" "You couldn't say it nnd I don't want pay." Tho sight of her had becomo moro than ho could ondure. Ho turned away and dropped Into a chair, letting his head fall to the table. Aftor a little ho felt hor hand gently smoothing his hair. And sqnn sho bo gan to speak In a volco unBtondy at first but gathering strength ns sho went on. "You mustn't reproach yourself. I know you'd lovo mo If you could. And you mustn't think I refuso just for your sako. I'd do what you want slnco you waut It bo much only It would be misery for mo alwaye. You wouldn't want that . . . And this It seemB I've alwayB known It would come. It was a chanco I took for a fow months' happiness. 1'vo had my happiness. . . . You haven't harmed me I bog you to bellovo you haven't harmed me." "Knzla" But tho hoarso cry died away. Thero was nothing to say. His humiliation was complete. Magdalen that oho was, H Felt Her Body Relax Her Head Rested .Heavily on His Shoulder. hi- looked up to her from depths of telf-abasement sho could never know. The voice was growing unsteady again. "When I think how it might havo ended If you hadn't como to night ! I'm glad you camo to save mo from that . . . And now I think you had better go. . . ." CHAPTER XXVI. The Penitent It was a rod sunrise, that Sabbath morning, and the ruddy glow lingered in the eastern sky long after the sun had swung clear above the hills. A slanting shaft found his window and fell upon him as ho dreamed. He stirred restively. Ho awoko slowly, reluctantly, drift ing toward consciousness through a goldon haze that vibrated with far away dwindling harmonies. "Whero havo I heard that before?" After a Ilttlo ho remembered a youth, full of dreams and credulous, Joyously facing his great adventure. "And tomorrow I set out on a now adventure. It was a long way from thero to here. ... I wonder, would any man, given the choice, travel his road a second time?" Ho rose and went to tho window. Two years had passed, crowded with effort crowned with achievement From the window whero ho stood, still seeking to recover the lost harmonies, ho could sco tho beginning of IiIb happy city, all ready for tho great ex periment Ho bathed and dresBed in the now bathroom that was hlB ono concession to the luxurlousness of tho old llfo and descended to tho kitchen. Tho pleasant odor of frying ham met his nostrils; thore was a hotel In Bethel now at which the Truitts generally had their meals, but somotlmes, of a leisurely Sabbath morning, Simon still served as cook. But the bent old man at the south window had forgotten breakfast. For little Mark watched him without salutation. "Good morning, father," he eald at last. "Good morning, Mark." Simon turned reluctantly from the window. "I was Jest thlnkln' It'll be 20 years tomorrow ye wont away an' now there's that." "Yes. Your dream has como true. If you llvo until tomorrow night you'll havo seen it all steel made in Bethel." Breakfast ready, they sat down and began the moal in silence. Mark ate lightly, absently. Ever slnco Mark had returned, Simon had been vaguely sensible of a suffering to which somo solacing word might be said. But the word would not come to his unschooled lips. "I wish," Simon thought, "I could glvo him something." It was a real suffering Simon sensed, no day without Its hour of payment no hour so heavy aa on that Sabbath morning. From across the town came a mel low clamor, tho volco of tho now church bell calling tho faithful. The clamor ceased and after an in terval resumed for a few last taps be fore he roso and went Into the house for his hat and cane. When he omorged again he found Simon sitting on tho front 3toop. "Goln to church?" "I guess I'd bettor." "Yes. Courtney likes ye to. Do yo," Simon asked suddenly, "still be llovo what he preaches?" Mark hesitated a moment "I sup poso I never did. I'd llko to, but I can't It Uikes a certain quality of mind, I suppose or early habit I can't quite see " Thero was that In Mark's tono which mado Simon look up quickly. "I can't seo the logic of letting another's suffering pay for our sins." "Yoil bo late." Simon suggested. Doctor Hedges, driving along tho valley road, drow up at tho station until tho eloven o'clock train, having discharged Its Bethel passengers, sped onward. Tho passongors were two, a man and a woman, strangers to tho doctor nnd therefore alien to Bethel. Tho woman stood on the otherwise de serted platform, looking uncertainly around her. Tho man mado direct! for tho doctor. "Do you," ho domnndod, "know whero Mark Trult lives?' "Why, yea." Tho doctor bestowed a friendly smilo on tho stranger. "I guess I do." "Can you show mo how to find It?" "Yes." Hedges glanced toward tho woman; sho was entering tho station. "I can do better. 1 can tako you thoro." "If you will." And tho strangor promptly entered tho buggy. Tho doctor clucked to his horse and turned hospitably, with conversational intent to his guest But tho lattor forestalled him. "Llvo horo?" "Between whiles." "Ha!" Tho Btranger smiled, a brief wintry smllo. "Doctor, 1 boo. Do you know Truitt?" "Woll," Hedges spat rumlnatlvely. "that's a pretty risky thing to Bay of any man, but I guess " "What do they think of him hero?" "They think he'n a great man and it's his own" "Ho'o a great mechanic," said tho guest shortly. "I," drawled tho doctor, "know moro about men than mechanics, but " "What do you think of him?" tho guest interrupted again. Tho doctor, hoping to complete at least ono sentence, quickened his drawl. "He's a man who's either Job lng himself or finding himself, I'm not sure " "Meaning?" "You wouldn't," chuckled tho doc tor, "havo tlmo for tho explanation." Ho drew up before tho Ilttlo cottage. "Ho lives here." "Hardly!" the visitor retorted. "I take tho three o'clock train. Much obliged." Ho sprang, moro briskly than his rotundity promised, out of the buggy. Tho doctor drove away still chuck ling. Tho chucklo would not havo died oven had ho known his passenger to bo nono other than that Henloy whoso star, flashing with comet-llko swiftness and brilliancy above tho hor izon of speculation, had In two years achieved full planetary dignity and Im portance. But the doctor was not a student of Wall street astronomy. "Humph!" Tho luminary surveyed tho weather-beaten little cottage with Its unkempt yard and near-by smithy. "So he lives here. Affectation, of course!" He strode up tho path and saluted the old man on the stoop. "Mr. Truitt lives hero, I bellovo?" "I'm Simon Truitt But I reckon yo want Mark, Mr. Henloy." "Ha! You know mo. His father, I suppose?" "Yes. I saw yo once, years ago, when ho was in the hospital." "I remember," said Henley, who had forgotten that incident completely. "Ib Truitt about?" "He's at church." "Church! Surely not a habit?" "Ho goes gcner'ly, since ho come back." "Hmm! Somothlng new for Truitt." Henloy frowned. "And my tlmo's short I suppose I may as well savo some of It by going over the plant now. Thero's no objection, I supposo?" "No; I," Simon ventured uncer tainly, "I was jest about to go over myself." "I'll bo glad of yoifr company," Hen loy graciously replied. "Shall wo start?" An hour later Henloy emerged from the shadowy finishing mill, blinking hard In the midday's sunshine and try ing to revise his estimate of the situa tion. He followed Simon out on a tiny capo that jutted Into tho river, whence they could seo other evidences of Truitt's lucidity tho hospital, tho bank, tho store, tho cluster of homes gleaming whlto on tho hillside. And Henley saw not as tho experts had seen, happy If thoy perceived all that had been reduced to fact but with the oyes of one whoso greatness was to sco wha,t might be, what could bo. And as he looked part, at least, of Truitt's dream was unfolded before him. The valley a teeming, throbbing citadel of industry. Tho city clamber ing over the slopes, capturing tho heights, reclaiming other slopes from tho forest, until in length and breadth, In numbers-and Importance, it rivaled that other fastness whero ho, tho mas ter, had been known only as a lieuten ant. Tho creator In him, not yet killed, but only obscured by the mad ness of exploitation, thrilled at tho sight "Ho sees big, ho muttered. "Ho sees big. I didn't think It was in him." Ho stood on tho point, scanning thoughtfully tho noblo valley, forget ting hie silent companion. "He's picked out a great site. . . ." And then to Henley came a vision of his own. That city and citadel his, creature of his genius and might, doing his bid ding, yielding him homage and trib ute, carrying forth his famo to tho paling of lesser men's roputatlons, cap ital of an empire his empire. "By God!" ho breathed aloud. "By God! . . And It's possible how did the builders of cities overlook this placo? ... It would bo better thnn doing fnkers tricks with stocks and bonds." (TO BE CONTINUED.) Gumdrops. An old mnn In Indianapolis, who has lost all his teeth, takes his "toothless ness" philosophically. It Is difficult for him to articulate as ho did In tho days of hla youth, and ho admits that gums aro not qulto as useful as teeth when It comes to talking. In fact his sole dependence on his gums In his old days has led him to refer to his mlBfortuno cheorfully hy calling his words "gumdrops," HW ' .A3B' I IMMH