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About Eugene weekly guard. (Eugene, Or.) 190?-1910 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 1910)
THE EUGENE WEEKLY GUAR PAID N FULL Novelized From Eugene Walters Great Play J<> i . By ■ ------ = John W. Harding Copyright. IVOR. by G W. billing ham Co. J 1 « cause Tie stands l>etw<-eii her afit! til«» fair paxlure land»." "Why, captain." smiled Emmn, "I'm happy enough. What more could I want than the peace I have?" "Are you sure, girl?” lie answered, • linking bls head doubtfully. "I don't know I don't know " "Certainly she'» happy." put In Beth And. na for getting rnarrl<-d again. I ahoUld think she's hnd enough of that to lust her all her life.” "It's your turn now, Beth." observed Emma. "Me? Oh. I shall never marry!" "It doesn’t follow iHs-ausc I have bit-n unfortunate that you should l»e," »aid Emma "It Is easy to conceive of perfect bapplneaa with tl>( fiffbt husband." "Of counts 1 mean I won't marry until the proper tiutn com«*» along. I EUGENE WAITER, should never links the mistake of Author u| "Paid In lull" and binding myself to such a man ns ns Estivai Way" that Is-ast. <>r even Jlmsy. !• r InstancE though I'm not <-<>tuparltig Jlmsy with --------------------------------------- him in any way " n»>i nod with wlH h. nil U'c irtic |i, - "What's the matter With Hmlth?" l>. Emma lm<l Imd a k , m *1 d»-.il to do ll<- bid anclii'i'd liliuself in the family grunted the cnptnln. "Well, you w ou d never think of him a» Ills oue » oom* tion with refiiienii-ut ns a lover He's so old and unroman- and home life Hut It li id Is-eu a tie Besides. Ills education’s terribly < amb us at>‘iiotlng, nuilnt.lined with distrust mid l urrying with It no re« I- defective " "And tn- lan't rich." added her moth pris-ity in th« shu|>« >>f busliitma or any er "When Betli ninrrles 1 'hope It otb<-r favors A fighter w bo had got will ls> to a ffrntlrmun In the ( hm I i I ou uollilng out of «•vlsti-ii'e without tight lug. e»«r oti the nli-rt to forestall un to keep her us she ought to Is- kept.” "1 wonder why Jlui»y docau't come rl|s-ct«d treat livrous blow. Ida liainl "He bud Oowu to Ills hip isuket, so to around any more," *ald Beth i "J¿ fu..-I’ «, ¡t «i rtlt- n acvoM s|u-ak. lit the slightest movement that hasn't l»-en here since Christmn»." Th< l/w «mst«*|M* "lie says he's t. > I m y." observed ap|H-ur<-«l to him t<> lie susplcbius. "Captain, you must be A* time wore on. however, hls dl» Mrs. Harris mtna'K < In wlilli he limi elotbed ber In bis v islons, but he r«-*mlv«-d to irnik«« trust li id vanished nud Mrs Harris mid working him to death " ohe finii atp-mpt to aoflrn UK u her daughters had I m *- oiuv a ne easily , "Nmltb'a u g<ssl man. a corking good no una of a lelter, alni lo* set sismi It to him 11» was lH-ltig civilised, lie man." replied the captain thoughtfully furi li w II li II ««« nn > piatir of ninny preferred Eiuma to the others, which "He's doing more work than any three ¡■igi-a, n inehalrainaile Jumbi«* of con Is saying Hint she was the iH-rsoti be There ain’t no necessity that 1 know of for him to work all night, though. triti ti a ol d< -pulrlug aupplli utlon. f«*r llktxi best on «-nrtb. but bls manner of show lug It hnd been repellent becauae If that's what he's doing.” tir sa, un master III II Emma ap|Ma:ired to be nlisolutely in misuudcystiMsi In the first place she tng Bui tir naa hlghly different t<> the turn the conversation bad baled him for Ills sup|>os«-«l injus tt. To inalo* tt thè mori1 tice to h«-r liuslsind. whereas, having had taken, though In truth she was blurrrtl tt lo-rr and th< rend llris'ks through from the start, listening greedily to Williams' enco <>f w al- r. Ili hi- g tlila he *b**pi'<*<) him amt would not help miums thè Idea tirai he "I»' you know." went on the captain. him even to make her lot easier When tenr» a» lic pentKtl renw akeii<*d distrust, l.attllug with nil “I've ofteu thought that a man like *lf tllla d'Hali't willingness to believe that Ids high Kmlth would I** just the right kind of f'ig w HI." he inni esllmate of lur bud I hh - ii uuuierlt<xl. n liusbatid for Emma " perii««*»! li f r th<- "Like Jlmsy?" Mrs Harris laugh»*! bu«l < uncl'd liiiu to try* her out releut It d's-ant 1'11 qui |e»s|y on tlie occn.duti of her appeal She did not know «vhctlier lie was ariottn-r • banco fr> for Brooks, n'oiie with him and nt joking <>r not. but thought lie was. her, care of Ills mer<-y In his r»*> is. she trul seen He addresacd I This time a sudden tltisli dyed Em e latter would Jllll-y S alili I.in » ma’s cheeks and deepened over her that u u inn r-"tlnnlloii It •re thil li rviicli«-< fa< e to tl. very ears No one noticed gard for her. through the ding «•Miri r «-amo back undi r •d. with the asine medliim. u bad learned to !■ c‘ ■ l>l»l and jlld^n I tn*«* word "Itcfuacd" i him at tils real value lit* ti t >ns nud I iiih I u riliug. Idles? in I .«»I« - re-i lved ut Li *t their thè rnvchq«- In Th.« word v. .«« a true luterprvtiitlou. A« for Williams, the pro if Unit he h.ul not l>«-«i> de* «died in her b*rtlfled hls faith ami made lilm really l.ippy. Il*- wa* getting old lit- li ill won hls hard fought, lifelong battle with tin« wor d mid was us rich n* he cared to be The devil wns disposed to turn tnouk. The yearning for affection, not f deiiiotislriitlv e. lull ex latent, winch enme with II«- approach of life’s sunset and ClI \FTF.lt XXIII. w lil* li vv.is not to l>e found elsewhere AAI T! MN. «hilly and wet. hnd was gratified there lie put on slip the pern, sinokm! Ills |»l|»c. had hls favorite « 1,1 ' unity enrly to town, among , cluilr. evpress«*! hls views In lila ait them Mr*. Harris mid her thorltatlva way mid llk««d to l>e con ,i tors Mrs ll.arrls had r«*«pilsl- stilled tlon«*«l Jlmsy Smith's services before But lie never censed to b»" Impressed • '„« «le*« l'iwlixl from the mountain» with the ustelltatlous proclivities nud There was n lot to do on their ar iiristo. rntlc airs of Mrs. Hanis and rival. Would In* mimi attending to lieth, though lie laughed Indulgently ul this and that for them, and would I* many of th«" mother's foibles. To bliu meet them? Jlmsy <luly attended t>> the two women represented th«- beau tùia und that, met them In Ills old monde uml were authorities on nil that genial wny. saw them lnstnlle«l In their IHirtnlned thereto. lie deeui««vi it u home, dilli*«! with them, us p«*r Mrs privilege to pla* c idle of Ills nutouio Harris' »«T*«lul»* und, although the biles ut th«* family's exclusive com winter ■ it well atlvanced, Imd nev«*r I maud, mid It was th«* most luxurious tieeri II ■ siine, except to maki« n I vehicle inouey could buy. That he did brief cn it Christina». ' nut give It outright was because be At etc ii of ttieae visits Emma ho' ’ knew their circumstances would not thrlllml nt sight of him and at til« ciiabla tliem to nialnluln It. •ound of hls voice. It was with timid Emmn wns different from tier moth By that she leu! cxtendNl her hand to er and sister She never gave herself "I'll nettle h'llf <t million dollars' worth him. I tl neither by pressur«* of hls airs. He felt himself nearer to her. on her for a urddlnq praaent” s’bisp nor by any sign of manner, ex .mil th«' more Intiiiiate they grew tlm tt. however, unless It was the captain, pression or Intonation had lie given more alivi b«'«aiu<‘ i*iwleiired to him. Indlcnt tv «>f reineinbran« «• that tlielr sin* hnd * hangetl mm li since site had but when he was leaning forward with secret .« is known to each other, lie left Brooks, a nplrltunllty Him lie bad Ills hands between his knees, as tie wns th«* sum«* qul«*t, kliully un« liang«v- ' not. of course, known In her In the old was then, hls bushy eyebrows bent in nb!e Jii isy. Bv h< r nloae was hls pro- l dnyn hnd iir reused th«’ « liar in of her thought, it w as Impossible to tell w here l-inge«! iilr enc«* umlerstood. Mrs. Il ir I h i -oiiallty. Inn In r sensible, umiffeet- he was looking "That's what I said." he emphasized, ti» mu! Beth finally attributi*»! It to a .il manner, her gontleiieas, wer«« nl- "lake Smith himself, for the sake of reluctance to in***-t continually on an ways the same More than once be argument. We're talking among our- equal footing Ills employer, Captain hail surprised a wistful, fariivvay look selves, so It don't iimtter, ns it wou't ÜCClillg expies*,!.Ill <»f AVIlllmus. who had taken Jlmsy'» place I III her eyes, il go nny further, Suppose Emilia 'd a* «X member of the family an»! I inelam holy, mid Ills solicitude li-".d been married him? Is Ids heart all right'/ iniiised Semi tiling caused him to r<* Is he on the level? Vtsurp' I all hh prerog iti»«« I'd batik on him. To ’ l’ima the cnptnln w i« no Ion re* ■ train from ipiestlonli'g her, but In* did and that's more'n I'd say of any other nn obtect of fear and detestation. She coiishlerable pomh'rlug about it. man 1 know Is he capable? Brainy "What u shame It is that a girl like as they make 'em Is he good looking? I new Hint bin affection was purely pa «ritmi, and he knew Hint »In* under- Einiini Isn't married to some nice fel lie ain't bad looking, and with that alo» d him ns n<> one »lenii or living low worthy of her," 11« remark«*»! one smile of Ills he lias most good lookers «ver hnd or did She mnt.lfcnted li r evening, uttering Ills thoughts aloud. I've seen beat a mile. Beth says be nppre l itlon of Ills regard by n confi- I "There are some tilings that no man ain't isietlc and all that sort of thing. s*ei,. .* which wan to tin* oM fellow a l can understand, mid this 1« one of Mayl>e maybe, but what of that? coinf rt .in! huge delight. Not that 1 'em that she shoiihl be linmleiiffed to Also she says he ain't wlutt you'd call hls ilcllcht took a drtnonntrnth i* form; a dirty sinlnwag Ilk«* Brooks." educated. That may Is*. too, but when “Cnptaln." t-Jncuhited Mrs. Harris, he w aiits to he cun bring nil amount of that was not In Ills nature, ami Emmn svoul«l have been irrantlv astonished raising her limids, "you mustn't! You cold sense to bear that'll upset most eonld »lie have known whnt n boon to know it Is undersbusl that the per men's logic and give a bluff no chance, son's mime Is Dever to lie men lie'll go fur If he keeps ou, for all bis him her flank friendliness wns. The fact «as Hint Ills good »t«*«*sl to ■ t loiicd." slow ways, and let me tell you It ain't "I know " h«« said, "but you can’t the man who starts off at top speed F.inni.i had been the lirst striking ef ' alter facts bei ause, being disagreeable, feet of a softening pris-ess Hint hail that always wins the race." li.it you say may l>e all true, but Is-en going on very, very slowly, no 1 you »loii't want to remember 'em •lowly ns nut to Is* noticeable to any . Brooks l.s a dlsngroanble fact, a dnvneil these qualities haveu't made Jliusy extent, for leverai yenrs, which lie;.in I <llsngr«*eiibli« fact, nnd lie's Emma’s rich so far, and 1 doubt If they ever when In* ha«l lu-eu admitted to Hie husband Into the bnrgnln. Aa such will. A man can't have everything, **mired altpgaUhkk In* hut uuoxav as I've of leu told u>v sill«» gnnilly < |r«ir •■*0 K’MM'rnl *uuu' he aliQ A « D, THURSDAY, FEB 3, 1910 makes up for otn.o.» aud without It what? liure'a Emma, married for seven years, separated from her husband, can't get a divorce unless It'a of the Itakota sort, which I'd never consent to, basn t got a cant in the world and couldu t • o.lect a cent of alimony If »he hud the right to it b«*-nu»e the beaat'a a pauper " Xo arid If be were ga walthy as the grand Turk I'd starve to death be fore I'd torn b any money or anything •Ise Iwlongliig to him." co ramen ted E tn ma "Mrs Harrla." answered the cap tain, »Lb deep feeling "money, while It's a whole lot. ain't* everything, as I've found, though it'a taken me sixty five years to do It. It'a no fault of Emma's that she's |>oor, and I tell you that If she wa« to marry a man like Smith Id settle worth of laitln Au« rl'nn line stick on I r for a wedding present. 1 would, by Sam. nri'.i rn!" "You Harris. OMMJf. "Thia minóte "Well!" It wn* all she could find tr •"y about the reiteration But If the family wer - amaze] Wll Hams was evidently a'nr: .--<1 nt bar Ing allowed Ills feell-igs to g- t the bet ter of hls dl*cretl"ti In i i way. for be lai>»»-d Into gloomy silence and very soon dvpiirted ubruptly TIe'lL1Tdd«*red sn<t writhed tn sgffuy of torment, turning hls pitiful, »cream ing eyes upon Krnltb “Oh. Jlmsy, If ymi would only kill me and end ft all." he moaned "Oh If I only Usd tba courage to kill my self"' Smith, greatly agitated, looked at the miserable naa In perplexity. “I wish I could help yon, Joe.“ he how said "But thia time I don't you can be helped " "ft lan't possible. There'» nothing you could do. I'm done for It's my own fault.” he soblesl "I brought It all on myself I have l«e«*n weak—ok. weak -and » fool. And now It's corue t<> this. No; nolxsly's to blame but my self unless it's Emma " lie rose to go “Bli.ike hands with me, Jlmsy." he begg*s! "ft"» the hand of a thief, a < rlrnm„. > »•-.«!. but you were glud to take It In frb • Lip on <• when It was honest, and It'* the laat time I'll ever ask you to do a:> thing for me You'll never see nie a ".tin." Smith grasp* d l',‘* hand held out to him. and hls pre - uro was more elo quent of hls fc • ''.a i more word» could have bee a. lie could find no phrases adequate to espre-w them, so remained silent, but be slipped Into the wretched man'» pocket as Brooks pawed out of the door a bundle of banknotes that he had taken without » counting from a drawer. A high Know bad begun to full wind, blowing apparently from all rnAFTER XXIV quarter*, hardened tbr . i « and pro It. BROOKS would like to pelted them with atL to. -c.* into nee you. sir. I told him the faces of the peop’o 1.» t ’ie s'reels you were In. but he would Brooks bad no umbr< i r L d !:e not conn* up mid ask«*d me gloves, ar d the w ind cut to the bone ffi let you know h<* wn» downstairs " Yet he paid scant heed to hls dlscom "1<*ll him It'» nil right I'll see him." fort and amb!e<l away from Smith’» "You mean that lie’« to come up?"’ abode. He turned up hl» coat collar "Yea. If h«« d««*sn't mind ” 'and pulled hl» bat over hl» eye». More The landlady went out. gathering than once when he thought be wa> from the visitor'» unusual request an<l being followed he went sick with fear tier lionrder*« reply that then* had been Every minute he expected to feel » trouble lietween them Jlmsy push'-d haiul on hls shoulder. away th«* book he hail Iwen reading Why should be la< k the pluck to kUJ aiwlf? A fugitive from justice, nnd l»■ml(■d back In hl» « hair to await friendless and penniless, everything tils former friend's con.lug. Brooks »hufilod rather than walked that was worth while In life gone for In. He did n«it offer to shake bunds, ever, wlut bad lie to hojie from living? bur. with a »utslued "Hello. Jlinsy." The prison do<>r from wbb b he had seat«*) lilm»« If on the «si.-«' < f th«* arm shrunk with such dread before now * h.ilr Hint In former day» be ««cupl»*d was wide open to receive him, would ns hls own. Then lie *eem»*d to forget receive him a* inevitably as day would where he was. sank back, shrinking follow the night. He remembered hav Into Ills «ivercoHt. aud sat as though Ing read that a man shot through the messenger which htuiwtied. twisting Ills hat In hls bunds brain never felt the suuffixl out hls life. In the drawer of alowly and me«-haul. ally. hls bureau was a loaded revolver that Smith waa shuck«*«! nt the change in be had long kept there for self protec tils appearance Ills face was white tion In case of need. A movement of and thin, an«l the eye», which were al hls finger would end all. A feeling most ex|ire»slonl«*s«. were d«*ep »unk In almost of relief came with this thought the sockets. Tb«*r<* was stubble on hls and he quickened hls steps. There was chin; hls formerly neatly plastered only one thing to fear now—that he hair wn» dlsbevele»! would be caught before he could reach "Boy. you're III.” said Jlmsy with hLs room. As he trudged along he concern. me get n bracer fvr i found himself at the corner of the you." street In which the Harrises lived. lie rose and produced n decanter of Emma! IIow different she had l-eoti whisky, but his visitor declined, this from the other! She hnd not taken; time with a wan tllckerlng smile of ap she hnd given. T-ove had not l>een prv* lation. • dependent upon the bringing of gifts: "No. think». Jltnsy. I don't feel like It hnd Isvn lavished upon him. When It Ju«t now Eve l*c»*n drinking too he had been despondent she had com much <*f th«* stuff, mid I haven't eaten furled him; when things were going wrong she had encouraged him; when »Ince last night. I think " "For tienven'» »ake!" exclaim«*«! his head ached she had rested It on her bosom. And ft had come to this— Jlmsy. Brooks would have restrain«*! him that he bad lost her and. with her. but In* via« out of the door nntl bound all; that he was nn outcast at ber Ing downstair* throe steps nt n time door. An insane desire to see ber took poa- Brooks sank back Into th«* chair mid rel.«p*u*d Into his condition of liebetuvl«* session of him. It grew, became over In n little * bile Snilth returneil. a powering, swept aside all the objec plate li<*ape»l high with sandwiches in tions of reason He was a dying man. on«* hand anti a b««wl of hot tsiulllon In and nothing was denied to the dying the other Brooks refuae»! the sm«l He retraced his steps and rang th** wlchea, but he to»ik the bowl, and, liell. The door opened, and he ascei d holding It In luith bnnds—which trem ed the well remembered stairs. Mrs Harris' flat whs on the first landing A ble»! sippt-d It» grateful content*«. "Jltnsy. you're awfully good," gemd." he maid w ho did not know him answered his ring sighed. "Is Mrs Brooks at home?" he asked "Oh. no—none of that." pmtestid The girl shook her head Smith, "Tell me what brought you "Mrs. Brooks? No; no one of that here. What can I do for you?" name 11« os here. This Is Mrs. Harris "I don't know why 1 came, after- apartments. . Mrs. Harris and Miss after the way I acted last time I"— Beth have gone out. Miss Emma is "Never mind that. I*et'« forget about In." Miss Emma! She had even discard 1 have no right here.! Jlmsy. ed hls name, th« n! The blow was I'm »lone for " hard. "How done for?" "I would like “I am. and you’ll kick me out, as 1 "Your card, sir, please " deserve, when you know Jlmsy. I've "Tell her Mr. Smith Is calling." done It again, I'm a thief a secoud The name had t!i»b«sl to him with time, and again for a woman." the conviction that she would not re Smith looked grave, but he said ceive him If lie gave his own. nothing He followed on the heels of the “What' You don't get up and kick maid. me? Well, well! I suppose It's JllSt "You needn’t bother." he said ■ nd like you. but I rather liotte»! you would brushed past her at the door of the You're the only man who wouldn't. parlor. But wait till you hear, 1 can tell It to Emma na ______ ___ ■ arranging some orna- yon because you can’t help me. No menta on the mantelpiece, For a n>o- I'm beyond helping.” ment she did not recognize him. Then I body can. "Better try a sandwich first." MIK she reeoll«*»!. with a Utt I«» cry. from th«* wild eye«!, disheveled specter who. gested Smith. "There’s no hurry "Thanks I think 1 will. ThaJ beef bat in hand, stood l*efer« her h "Yes, Emma, It's me, < r w ! tea did me good " He ate three sandwiches ravenously, left of me." he said "What brings y< u washing them down with water "There Isn't a whole lot to relate." he you get in?" she said "You van fill In the details for frighten»*«! eyes. "lhin't I*» afraid. You have n thing yourself I tried backing the ponies again; then I stole from the bank to fear from me." h«' assured her "I'm There was an examination of the books going on a long Journey—. ex. a long, at the bank four days ago. I didn't long journey, uti«! I've ci m«> to say turn up there that day. and I haven't gisalby. You'll never see me again been there since; but. of course, the I shall be uo more trouble to any game is up. 1 wandered about, drink body.” “There Is no need to come here, I Ing to try to forget my troubles till all my money was gone Then I sobered cannot rroelve you. You must go." "Emma. I know how bail I was to up. and here I am. This time there's no one to save me. ' The bank couldn't you. how”— "I cannot listen to your excus *s. It be fixed, even if I had the funds to Is useless to recall the past Fleast* j make my stealings good They'd get me wherever I hid myself, that's sure go!" "I have no wish to recall It. I ask They must be looking for me now only your forgiveness ask It as a dy I can't face It!" And. O God. i Ing man. You cannot refuse.” Tears rained down hls face—tedrs "You have been dead long years to no effort to hide or wipe me, and I have prayed God that I that he made I away. "I kno vv I was going headlong <?< wn might never see you again. I paid to hell knew what I was doing- r tw you in full for my freedom, Whv the certain punishment*-yet couldn't have yon come to trouble me? Go stop myself. And now I have reached please, and leave me in peace." "All right." he said sorrowfully, I the .mouiluof the olL" will go Goodbv Etr’”’" " M 5 ELEVEN her drlth iraywardndl»anuinCT^» With Iiowsd head he went toward I the door, abipjsd and turmsl to her ence. In the declining years of her with outstreii h«*d arms, pleading I* life when »be nc«*«!crt aid and he wan a young man he had kept hls ««ruing» hls eyes. ‘ E* a on« klan—my pardon and selfishly for hlmaelf, dtdlng out to ber a few dollars at Irregular Intervals, absu.ii.ioii bafi.re I ul and he was glad when she had ceased "No; vli, bo !" to be a burden by dying In a hospital. Mhe retri**«**d He had play-d hls cards well. Ingra lie followed li* r. tiated hlmaelf Into the favor of Mr to tak« I*» f* r • Harris, hls employer, and by good act give to feel on< *• ing ha<! won lite love of Emma Thia little f «rill t.i .*' * hnd been tb<* great map of bls caroar, fondly but It bu«1 availed him little, l ortuna. Kb** re-’J "Is r*iiri*o*e sn*t etirb'ked after smiling at him. had turned ber back, and life had tieen a failure ever a lace. At he «umrnM it all up and contena- piated hltnself aa n pariah, a hunted man at tu»>* nmld the wreck ot hope. Jove. Ilf«* Itself, dr en to ttoc alterna tive of .i crii: I i i ell or self dratrwe- tlon, n* he tr • d <1 over the way In which ho had liectj spurned and cast out by those who might have loved arid b«iri*»r«d him, tears rolled from hls eyes again "Y'ea,” he groan««!, rej«atlna Emma'» words. "*y*». I have tieeu paid In full, and I hare paid In full.” Then he grasped the revolver and fared himself nt the mirror again. This time.hls fltigers wore warm and supple. Otwe more he raised It to hls temple. Once mor> pale fear obtained, the ascendency. «*» *■* There was plenty of time. Why. «Ince be wan to die thnt night should he l«e in such a hurry? Mon who were dying or who were about to t«e speeiled Into et»«rnlty for transgree- »Ion of the eocnmnndment that placed a ban on murder generally prayed, or prayers were said for them He had not prayed »Ince he could remember. : What wouhl happen after hls leap Into the unfathomable void? He bad always derided the Idea that anything would happen. Still, be did not know. He went to Hie clothes closet, and from among some bool»«, mistily nov els. beap«*d In dlsonler on a shelf, he brought forth n Bible. It had be H'dliora« uuul Kim u enumhiwj t>mw longed to bls aunt, aud be had kept Mr« Harris, Beth and Captain v\ 1 It because it had looked well to have llama were just entering, und tliey one In evidence in the parlor and tw rushed in with the maid. | cause it was nicely bound in aoft Brooks turned to escape as Emma, al leather. He opened the book at bax- most hysterical with horror and fear a rd. its pages dlvld«*d at Ecclesiastes, uttered scream after scream. He ran and be began to read. Though the right into Williams, who recognized liquor wns fest clumling bis brain be him at once and dealt him a smashing became fascinated with the great im blow that sent him to the floor Then mortal masterpiece of pessimism, the the captain grasped the half stunned terrible monument of negation tn man and. pulling him to bis feet, held which humanity's everlasting wounds him while be Inquired what had bap- are laid bare and bl«*«*ding. pened. 1 have seen all the works that are done Emma, calmed by her mother and under the sun. and. behold. aU is vanity Wil- and vexation ot spirit. sister, tremblingly explained. That which is crooked cannot be made Hams looked at hl» prisoner, undecided straight, and that which 1» wanting can- what to do. Brooka did not open his not be numbered. I communed with mine own heart, aay- mouth. The captain walked him out on the landing and. threatening to kill Ing. Lo, I am come to great estate and have gotten more wisdom than all they him if be ever d s red to molest Emma that have been before me In Jerusalem-- yea. my heart had great experlen<-e of again, threw him down the stairs. CHAPTER XXV RVISED and dazed, aching all over and very weak. Brooks pl< ked hltrpelf up and made his way to the street. He had now reached the extreme of hopeless ness and desperation. Everybody, the whole world, was against him, except Jlmsy Smith, and he could do nothing for him. The only being who had loved bitn had shrunk from him with dread, refused him the sacrament of a last kiss, besought in charity. He hardly knew how he got there, but Le reached home without molesta tion and mounted by the stairway un- perceived to his room. Once inside he locked the door and turned on the light. It was at least gratefully warm there, end be was at last safe from t utches of the law Escape lay at bis hand. In a moment all would be over. Nothing had been dlsturliod during his absence. The revolver was still tn the drawer where he had left It. He took it and. gazing at himself In the b* -' au glass, raised the firearm to bis right temple. He was appalled as be looked at the ghastly, haggard face before him and the eyes, fear haunt ed. that stared out of their dark and deeply sunken rims like the optics of an owl. The revolver shook in his numbed hand, and he could scarce bend his finger on the trigger. What was his hurry? Why not wait until he had warmed his hand and make the deed surer? If the police -ame for him death was at his beck and would cheat them at an instant's notice. His craven spirit inspired him with the desire to live a little longer. He laid the revolver on the table and rubbed his bands to set the blood circulating. Then he held them over the heat radiator. He remembered that in the clothes closet was a full bottle of whisky. The stuff would soon warm him. He took off his over coat to hang it up In the closet and felt In a pocket for his handkerchief. His hand encountered the roll of bills Smith hid slipped In there. For a no- ment a gleam of hope flashed its cheer ing ray as he contemplated the money. Here was enough to enable him to get a way. b it his despondency refused the comfort What wns the use? To at tempt escape now would be to fall into the hands of the police sleuths who must lie on the lookout for him. He surmised* that the weather had driven the watchers to take shelter and had enabled him to slip Into the house un noticed or unrecognized. No. he had done with life and all Its worries aud disappointments. Better death than the consequences of living. He would I have to die at some time or other any I ■ how. He poured out a large glass of I whisky and swallowed it The fiery stuff warmed him all over. He sat down to think, and his thoughts took the shape of a review of his life. He had never been any good to himself or anybody else—never. Brought up by a maiden aunt, who had taken him In when ns a young boy be had lost his widowed mother. h<4- had yyiaid wisdom and knowledge. And 1 gave my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I per ceived that this also Is vexation of sptrtt. For In much wisdom Is much grief, and he that Increaseth knowledge increasetb sorrow. "That's right.” he assented, “thara dead right. Nothing’s worth while; nothing matters.” What hath man of all hls labor and ot the vexation of hls heart wherein he hath labored under the san? For ail his days are sorrows and hls travail grief—yea. hls heart taketh not res*. In the night. This is also vanity. The verses succeeded each other with their rocapitulatlou of th«* futility >f earthly things. Hls head became 1. I 1 • I There was the eraxh fit a rcpoit heavy an<1 the letters Indistinct. He began to have dittlculty In grasping th» meaning of the words. That which befalleth the sons of men b>*falleth beasts, even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth. so dieth the other; they hnv» sli one breath, so that » man hath no pre-eminence above a ixiast. Alt is vanity. All go unto one pl ce. all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who knov.eth the spirit of man that goeth upward anil the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth? A knock nt the door roused him from bis somnolence, and lie l<*»ked up with bleami. bloodshot ryes. Hi* staggered to hls feet, smiling va cantly. am! hls groping hand lurched toward the revolver. There was the crash of u report. The apartment house manager who had seen the light in the wlmiow. apprising him of th» tenant's presewe, ami had knocked to Inquire about the overdue rent, ran vhoutl'ig for help. When tlmr forced the flour th*> found BrooKe sprawling acroea the ta- bl»* beside the overturned ll<|U<> o"'w. Ho was dead, with a bullet in hie brain.