The Master Man
By Ruby M. Ayres
** l'ou can’t accuse me of shar
ing that idea, anyway," said
Michael quickly.
Patricia flushed.
“Oh, you!" she said. It’s only
pity that brings you here, I know
that—pity and a sort of duty.
Yon feel responsible for me, I
know—Mr. Philips told me so."
Michael looked angry.
“I object to that," he said.
^You’ve no earthly right to say
«uch a thing. I’ve tried to undo
any mistakes I have made in the
past and I Avas beginning to
think I had succeeded, and hoav
■fOlt-noAV you go and make an
—-an abominable statement like
that. Yon really are enough to
goad anyone beyond all endur
ance- Patricia."
To his dismay she broke doAvn
into tears.
“Why do you come here,
then?" she demanded sobbing.
“I didn’t ask you to come. I Avcnt
away and I should never have
troubled you aguin if you hadn’t
followed me. Why can’t you
leave me alone?"
“Good Heavens!" Michael
was distressed. "He paced the
length of the room, coming to a
standstill behind Patricia’s chair.
“Are you going to stop crying?"
he demanded.
“Mrs. Plannagan Avill think I
am ill-treating you."
“I don’t care what she
thinks!"
"Well, I do. Patricia!” He
waited a moment i then a little
determined smile crept into his
eyes. "Very well, if you will
behave like a baby you must ex
pect me to treat you like one,”
and, stooping, he raised her face,
all flushed and tear-stained as it
was, and kissed her.
There was a moment of ab
solute silqnce. Patricia sat quite
still; then she rose to her feet,
scattering the lapful of violets
all about and, turning, faced
him.
Michael was very flushed and
defiant.
"Well—have I offended past
forgiveness this time?” he asked.
"I’m not going to say I’m sorry,
anyway. 1 wish I’d done it be
fore. Well— are you angry?”
Patricia looked at him help
lessly. She wanted to be angry.
She was quite sure thaf she ought
to be angry, and yet somehow
for the life of her no emotion
would rise in her heart save n
little fluttering fear.
She stammered out at last:
"I’m angry with you for
sneering at my friends—you’ve
no right to do it—” She broke
off, realising the feebleness of
her reply. She stamped her
foot at him.
"Why don’t you pick these
flowers up, instead of standing
there staring at me?”
Michael laughed outright as
he went down on his knees to
obey.
"I never sneered at your
friends, anyway—unless you
mean the Shackles*” he said.
"And you are much better
without people like them. They
were sever fit for you to know.
Ym glad you’ve found them out
in time and dropped them.
They’ll be sorry for the way
they’ve treated you some day,
you mark my word,” he added
darkly.
i| He gathered the violets up
Up anyliow and put them on the
table. "Well, are we friends
again?” he asked, smilingly,
i "I suppose so—”
"And you’ll let me take you
trat to dinner to-night, to make
Up for th§ lunch we missed this
morning?”
"If you’re quite sure you
haven’t got another engage
ment.”
As a matter of fact, said
Michael coolly, “I have, but it
can go. I told Cliesney to come
round to my rooms this evening,
but he can wait.”
''‘You’re not very kind to Mr.
Chesnoy,” said Patricia slowly.
*‘I thought he was such a great
friend of yours.”
“So he is—in a way—but you
are not going to quarrel with me
for putting you before him!”
A little smile lit her tear-wet
eyes.
“I think you are a very dif
ficult person to quarrel with,”
•he said.
‘‘I'm glad you realise it. I
take a lot of rousing, but once
I’m really up—” He glared at
her with pertended fierceness.
She laughed.
‘‘I should like to see you
‘really up’,” she told him.
‘‘Would yout I don’t think
10
you would. Now, are you going
to put your hat on? I’ve had
enough of Mrs. Flannagan’s
front parlour for the present.”
Patricia picked up her hat and
coat hesitatingly.
“Well, what is it now?” Mich
ael asked, reading the reluctance
in her face.
She raised her eyes with sort
of abashed pride.
“Are you taking me out just
because you think it’s kind—
because you think it’s your
duty?”
“I am not.”
“Why. then?”
He took a step towards her,
opened his lips as if to speak,
then closed them and laughed.
“I’m not sure that it will be
good for you to have that ques
tion answered to-day.”
Patricia raised her head a lit
tle.
“Then I am not at all sure that
it will be good for me to have
dinner with you,” she said, with
a touch of her old arrogance.
“Very well,” said Michael
coolly. “Just as you like.”
But as she was turning from
the room he followed and caught
her by her shoulders.
“Oh, woman of little faith,”
he said in mock anger. “How
am I to make you believe that,
spite of your abominable tem
V>-r, I don’t quite hate the sight
bi you.”
For a moment Patricia kept
her head rigidly averted, then
suddenly she turned and smiled
at him with* disarming friendli
ness.
“I’m afraid the dinner is go
ing to cost you an awful lot,
Michael,” she said ruefully.
“I’m dreadfully hungry.”
“I’m delighted to hear it,”
said Michael.
“Delighted also that for once
in your life you are going to let
me spend some money on you.”
But afterwards, as he waited
while she got ready, he realised
that the thing which had most
pleased him was the little in
advertent use she had made of
his Chrisian name.
Michael! Somehow, wpoken
by Patricia, it had quite a dif
ferent sound.
CHAPTER Vlll
The dinner was a success; the
room was bright and cheery,
and there was a not too-obtru
sive band.
‘Do you remember this thing
they are playing?” Michael ask
ed suddenly.
Dinntr was over, and he and
Patricia were taking coffee in
the lounge of the big restaurant.
He looked at her with smiling
eyes as he asked his question.
Patricia listened for a mo
men, then she shook her head.
“Well, what is it now?”
Michael asked, reading the re
luctance in her face.
She raised her eyes with a
sort of abashed pride.
“Arfe you taking me out just
because you think it’s kind_
because you think it’s vour
duty?”
“I am not.”
“Why, then?”
He took a step towards her,
opened his lips as if to speak,
then closed them and laughed.
“I’m not sure that it will be
good for you to have that ques
tion answered, today.”
Patricia raifced her head a
little.*
“Then I am not at all sure
that it will be good for me to
have dinner with you,” she said,
with a touch of her old arro
gance.
Very well.” said Michael
coolly. “Just as you like.”
But as she was turning from
the room he followed and caught
her by her shoulders.
“Oh. woman of little faith,”
he said in mock anger. “How
am I to make you believe that,
in spite of your abominable
temper, I don’t quite hate the
sight of you.”
For a moment Patricia kept
her head rigidly averted, then
suddenly she turned and smiled
at him with disarming friendli
ness.
“I’m afraid the dinner is go
ing to cost you an awful lot,
Michael,” she said ruefully.
“I’m dreadfuly hungry.”
“I’m delighted to hear it,”
said Michael. “Delighted also
that for once in your life you
are going to let me spend some
money on you.”
But afP rWards, as he waited
while she got ready, he realized
that the thing which had most
pleased him was the little inad
vertent use she had made of his
Christian name.
Michael! Somehow, spoken
by Patricia, it had had quite a
different sound.
CHAPTER VIII.
The dinner was a success; the
room was bright and cheery,
and there was a not too obtru
sive band.
“Do you remember this thing
they are playing?” Michael
asked suddenly.
Dinner was over, and he and
Patricia were taking coffee in
the lounge of the big restaurant.
He looked at her with smiling
eyes as he asked his question.
Patricia listened for a mo
ment, then she shook her head.
“They were playing it on the
river that day the news came
of my father’s death,” Michael
said. “Don’t you remember it?
Some silly nonsense about a coon
and a moon and being off with
tne om love-”
“Oh, yes, of course. It seems
a long time ago,” she said, smil
ing faintly.
“Not quite three months,"he
reminded her.
“Three months is an eter
nity." she declared. “When I
look back and think of you as
you were then—how rude you
were to me--" She caught
her lip between her teeth.
“You deserved it," said
Michael calmly. The color rushed
to her face.
“You thought I was a detest
iis)le person," nue accused hiiA.
“I thought you had been
abominably spoiled," he an
swered.
She raised her eyes quickly.
“I suppose yok knew who I
was—even then?”
“I had a pretty good idea.”
“ Why didn’t you tell me?"
“Why should I? It wasn’t my
business. I never expected
things to happen as they did
happen-"
“Neither did I.” There was a
faint sadness in Patricia’s voice.
Michael watched her curious
ly
“You would like to go back
to those days?” he asked.
“I don’t know-” She
leaned back in the big chair, and
beat time with her foot to the
haunting ragtime of the bard.
Suddenly she sat up again,
frowning.
“Mr. Rolf!"
Michael took the cigaret from
between his lips.
“You called me Michael this
afternoon,” he said calmly.
“I didn’t!"
Their eyes met.
“i assure you that you did,"
he answered. “However, it may
have been a mistake. WelH'
what is it?"
Patricia spread her hands
vaguely.
“All this—doesn’t settle the
question of my future. I can’t
go on living without money and
letting you take me out.”
“Why not? It seems quite an
admirable arrangement.”
She frowned.
“I am quite serious.”
“So am I.” He sat up and
threw his cigaret away. “Well,
what do you want to do?”
“I must work.”
“You’re no more fit to work
than I am to—ride in a peram
bulator.”
She laughed.
“I can make myself fit. Other
women have done.”
“Other women are not you,”
he insisted.. “However, if you
really want something to do I’ll
make you an offer here and now
—come back to Clayton Wold
as my wife!”
He did not look at Patricia as
he spoke. His eyes were fixed
across the lounge on a group of
people standing there laughing
and chatting. He spoke quite
coolly and without visible emo
tion, but a third person might
have noticed the tension about
his lips and the strained expres
sion of his eyes.
Patricia sat staring at him
with wide eyes. Then suddenly
she said blankly. “Why?”
He slightly shrugged his
shoulders. “Why not? You
were willing to marry Chesney
for a home, and I can give you
a far better home than he could
have done. You like Clayton
Wold, and I suppose you don’t
quite hate me or you wouldn’t
be here tonight.”
“And you think that’s—rea
son enough—for marrying
you?”
“It would have been reason
enough for marrying Chesney,
wouldn’t it?”
Patricia did not auswer; she
could not understand herself.
She was trembling, and she
kept her hands clasped in her
lap to hide the fact.
“Of course—you’re not «erf
ous-” she said.
“I am—I was never more se
rious in my life,” said MicbneL
“It seems to be an admirable
idea. We both like Clayton
Wold—and there’ll be enough
money for us to go our separate
ways—if we want to. Personal'
ly I can’t see one reason against
it.”
“Except,” said Patricia, not
very steadily, “that you don’t
care for me.”
Michael laughed rather rue
fully.
“Do people always care for
the people they marry?” he
asked. “Somehow I should have
thought you were too progres
sive to have raised a point like
that, Patricia.”
“Would you? Perhaps I
should have been at one time.
Lately I seem to have altered.|
Three months ago I should have,
mougni anyone quite mad who;
suggested my living with Mrs.'
Smith—even for a day—and yet
lately, since I’ve been s® un
happy—it has been she I have
thought of more than anyone
else. Perhaps it’s only when
trouble comes that we begin to
find ourselves and our real
friends. ’ ’
“Which isn’t an answer to
my question,” said Michael,
“I think it is,” she answered
seriously. “Or at least I titink
I mean it to be. Anyway,
whether you are serious or if
you are only in fun, I can’t do it,
thank you.”
“Why not?”
She shook her head, a painful
streak of color in her face.
“For one thing, it isn’t so
very long since I told you, not
knowing who you were, that 1
meant to try and marry you for
your money. I am sure you
have not forgotten it.”
“No, I remember it quite
well.”
“Then—then . . . Well, you
know that I don’t love you.”
Michael turned his head away.
“In that we should start on
equal terms,” he said. “Baaause
you say that I don’t love you
either.”
Patricia rose.
“We won’t talk about if any
way,” she naid rather con
strainedly. ”1 wish you hadn’t
said anything about it; and—
and I think I should like to go
home.”
“I’ll send for a taxi.”
They drove array silently.
Patricia was tired- and her head
ached; there was a curious little
sense of loss in her heart, too.
Why hadn’t she accepted thjg
man when he asked her to
marry him? As she sat back in
the corner with closed eyes she
could think of nothing but Clay
ton Wold, and the lofty, beauti
ful rooms and wide ga'rdens.
He had asked her to go back
to it as his wife, and she had
refused. What madness had
possessed her? She looked across
at him angrily. Three months
ago—a month ago—she would
have been only too glad of the
offer, what was the reason that
restrained herf
“He-doesn’t love me.” The
reason seemed to grow in her
mind without bidding of any
kind.
As he had said, why need that
make any difference? She had
been prepared to marry Ches
ney, not loving him. In what
way was this case so dissimilar?
The taxi stopped at Mrs. Flan
nagin’s, and Michael got out.
He gave his hand to Patricia and
followed her op the steps.
The bare, ugly sitting room,
was filled with the scent of vio-i
lets as they entered, and some-j
thing in their eloquent sweet-;
ness brought a choking feeling
to Patricia’s throat.
During the evening she had
felt as if a hand had lifted her
back into the past and wiped
out these ugly weeks of her life,
and now, tyith the opening of
this door, she was thrust back
into it once more—a Cinderella
bereft of her glass slippers.
And yet—the violets had giv
en her a sweet welcome.
Michael stooped to poke the
fire into a blaze. He looked
rather pale, and his lips were
set.
(Continued Next Week.)
At 7 o’clock last night Germany
was still quiet, with Dr. Gessler,
minister of defense, in charge of
everything as military dictator. No
outbreak so far. None will come un
less German workmen want It. They
are til trained soldiers. Communists
or others would need a powerful force
to deal With a trained army of several
millions that Gessler could call out
on short notice. How long will the
workmen, trained by the Social
democratic party in thinking, trained
by the kaiser as soldiers, hold out
on nine cents a day 7
More than 90 per cent of a blanket
of new snow Is sometimes made up of
air. _
BUCK PRIVATES
RUB ELBOWS
WITH GENERALS
Legion Convention Opens
With Blare of Bands—
First Session Held
BY JOHN A. KENNEDY.
Universal Service Correspondent.
San Francico, Cal., Oct. 15.—San
\Francisco Monday raised the white
flag of surrender to the Yankees who
won the world’s series of 1917 on the
battle fields of France, and the fifth
annual convention of the American
; Legion got under way.
Mayor Rolph turned the city over
to the nation’s defenders, National
Commander Alvin Owsley made a
homerun” by pledging the legion to
"constructive social, civic and frat
ernal service,” and the Golden Gate
city opened wide its hospitable civic
center to the 150,000 visitors who
throng this flagdraped city for the
festival reunion.
A blaring band from Texas burst
Into the convention auditorium and
at is head was a cow girl from the
Lone Star state, astride "the old gray
mare.” The Texas delegation fol
lowed, bearing Commander Owsley
on their shoulders. He was placed
on the platform, the usual prayer and
patriotic service were held and the
serious business of the convention
was taken up.
Tell Vices of “loway.”
The meetings will close Saturday.
Buck privates and generals, high
government officials and hod carriers
mingled in the good natured crowd
which milled about the streets dur
ing the day. A dozen bands from as
many states told of the virtues of
their home commonweaths and the
vices of "Iaway.” Luther Burbank
dispelled the new national theory
regarding the shortage of bananas,
and the north and south fought over
the genealogy of Daniel Boone. But
the convention started its business
sessions nowwithstanding.
There were cheers for Owsley and
for other legion leaders and Senator
Hiram Johnson was given a tremend
ous ovation when he pleaded with the
boys for the perpetuation, in peace,
of the same impelling motive and
principles that actuated them during
the war.
In other halls about the city vari
ous divisional and regimental units
of the former service men planned
for their annual meetings as did the
American Legion auxiliary and the
La Societe Dos 40 Hommes et Chev
auz, the "mystic shrine” of the legion
who also convene here Tuesday.
To Condemn Klan.
Monday night as the first day’s
proceedings were being brought to
a close convention committees wrest
led with issues and policies ad
vocated to place the legioa on a more
practical basis.
Foremost among the moves before
the convention will be three affecting
the nation and its citizens.
First, the American Legion will go
on record condemning the Ku Klux
Klan. This was decided at a resolu
tions committee meeting as news was
brought forward that the issue could
not be "straddled.” The convention
Itself will not formulate any basis
for warfare against the "invisible
empire,” however.
Second, the convention will re
pudiate the plea of Commander
Owsley that a conference on limita
tion of air armament be called. The
wording of this resolution will be
worked out Tuesday.
Endorse Bonus Plan
Reisteration of its plea for enact
ment of a soldier bonus will be in
cluded in a resolution before the com
mittee Monday night. The conven
tion will endorse this principle but
with some opposition.
Restriction of immigration, de
manded by Secretary of Labor Davis,
before the convention, will be asked
by the former service men.
Selection of a national commander
for next year received very little at
tention from delegates Monday but
the various political factions are ex
pected to resume their activity early
Tuesday. Thompson of Pennsyl
vania, Drain of District of Columbus
and Quinn of California seem to be
the leading candidates.
Last minute arrivals included Spe
cial trains from Iowa, Southern
California, Wisconsin, Nebraska,
District of Columbia and Oregon.
Tuesday the annual parade of the
legion, augmented by every marine,
naval and army outfit in this section
will be a feature attraction.
Filipino Elevated From
Laborer to Lawyer
Universal Service
Washington, Oct._ 16.—From sugar
plantation laborer to lawyer is the
proud record of Maximino M. San
Diego, a Filipino youth, who was ad
mitted to practice before the supreme
court of the district Monday.
San Dego worked his way from
the Philippines, graduated from Low
ell high school at San Francisco,
studied six months at the Universi
ty of California and then came to
Washington, where he entered the
night classes of National University
Law school. In the day time he
[ worked in a cafeteria.
-■ » i
German Stores Plundered
by Crowds of Unemployed
Berlin, Oct. 15.—(U. P.)—Unem
ploymed stormed the public markets
of Leipzig Monday morning and
marched in great crowds throughout
the city, breaking into stores where
ver they could get past the cordons
of police.
Many stores have bolted and bar
red their doors in an attempt to pro
tect their dwindling supplies from
the plunderers.
All available police have 1 een call
ed out to disperse the crowds.
MAYOR THOMASON
PRAISES TANLAC
Judge George Washington Thom
ason, Mayor of Tarrant City, Ala-, and
one of the most highly respected citi
zens of the state, is still another man
of prominence and unimpeachable in
tegrity to give his unqualified en
dorsement to Tanlac.
“Chronic Indigestion brought me to
the verge of a general break-down
three years ago and nothing seemed
to afford much relief,” said Judge
Thomason. “I could hardly eat
enough to keep going, and became so
weak and nervous I could hardly at
tend to my duties.
“Finally I started on Tanlac and six
bottles fixed me up so fine that. I felt
ten years younger, and my good health
■still remains with me.”
Tanlac is sold by all good druggists.
Takejio substitute. Over 40 million
bottles sold.—Advertisement.
CORNS
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