By HENRY RUSSELL MILLER CRRARBSSARERN B8YNOPSIS. Mark Truitt, encouraged by heart, Unity Martin, leaves Bethel, his native town, to seek his fortune, Simon Truitt tells Mark that it long has his dream to see a steel plant at Bethel and asks the son to return and bulld one if he ever gets rich Mark applies to works, for a job and is sent to the con struction gang wims him a place as helper to Roman Andzrejzsk!, open-hearth furnaceman. He becomes a boarder in Roman's home and assists Plotr, Roman's son, in his studies Kazia, an adopted daughter, gratitude in such a manner as to arouse Mark's interest in her. Heavy work In the Intense heat of the furnace Mark to collapse and Kazia cares for him. Later Roman also Mark gets his job. Roman and tells Mark to find another lace Five years elapse during whic Mark has advanced to the foremanship while his labor-saving devices have made him invaluable to the company In the meantime Kazia has married one Whiting. Mark meets with an ac which dooms him to be a le for He returns to Bethel inten to there. He finds Unity to marry othef man and wins 1 back u urges him to return to his work city, Mark rises rapidly to wealth power in the steel business, but the so- cial ambitions of his wife make their mar ried life unhappy are secretly anxious to get hold of stock in the Iroquois Iron company, supposed to be worthless J othy Woodhouse seeks financial Mark ar ) latter resents ident life 18 § an in the from ock at a uinby to uinby company if he does not he lat CHAPTER XV—Continued. foresaw the end of a chapter spent himself: in body longer capable of long cation, he had fallen back upon invalid's last resort, drugs; in mind the creative faculty seemed dead, that very morning a young man in the mills had announced an important invention that was to have been Trulitt's num opus apd upon which brain had labored In he could no longer dream reward he had-—the dry umph he could not sense and he was the his sterile in soul And vain; for fact the Lune pros- future He of himself. Joint. >agsers-by were diverted from their own cares by the sight of a dressed man stamping his cane the pavement and muttering aloud: “An evil fate pursues me do as 1 do, desire as I desire and find content, and happy?” A thousand faces streamed past him, but out was a critic, The you world see; was not well at a corner where dammed each other, appeared that seemed oddly familiar. It was of an undistinguished homeliness, pasty pale, morose, matching the gen- eral shabbiness of its owner, Mark, confused by the dirty beard, did not recognize him The man had no doubts of Mark an evil glitter sprang the sullen eyes. "You!" Jy the hate that had lived through fifteen years Mark placed him “Plotr Andzrejzski'!” “Peter Anderson,” the rected him. “That's a good American name forgotten you had a preference.” Mark two one well brown man cor- “How are you, Peter Anderson?’ The hand was ignored. Anderson sneered, his homeliness be came almost grotesque age to keep alive” “How do you manage it?” “I'm a compositor on when there's any money for “The Outery?’ “You'll hear of it yet of our Cause.” Mark knew employed the capital suppose.” He smiled indulgently hope it's in funds sufficiently often.” “1 look it, don’t 17” The answer was so obvious Mark avoided it. “How,” he hastily, “is Roman?” an issue.” of but one cause But he's dead.” “Is that a Socialist parable? not a Socialist, so you'll have to ex- plain.” “His mind's gone. It began to go soon after you stole his job. But prob- ably you've forgotten that, too.” “Il have no recollection,” said Mark coldly, "of any such occurrence.” With a curt nod, he passed on. He had gone but a few steps when he halted and looked back. Peter, un- mindful of elbowing pedestrians, was still at the corner, glaring at him. Impulsively he turned and retraced his steps. “See here, Plotr,” he said. “Let us not use hard names, There are a good many things we'd never agree on. But we can agree on this—you're hard up. I've been luckier than you. What can 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 sus plelously. “I'm not in the habit" “lI don't care about your habits” Motr interrupted nungraciously Author of “THE MAN HIGHER UP.” “HIS RISE IO POWER," Ew. you want to do something, you can “Lend,” evidently, was a euphem- ism, “What will you do business, Of course, 1 will. 1 wish you'd asked me something harder. Come along to the bank.” The bank was a few blocks away. Mark {mproved the time by asking the | details of Roman's circumstances. | Piotr, sullenness not lifted by the | prospect of money, answered shortly. | It was a pitiable story of descent—of the gradual dissipation of the savings still, that's your failure, through idleness and too much alcohol, of his mental powers, leaving | him and Hanka dependent upon Plotr's scanty and uncertain earnings “Where,” Mark asked, as they poe en- “Rose Alley.” “Rose Alley!” “My God!” i “What does your sort know of It?” “Quite enough. A few minutes street he stood man Mark stopped short, Come along later they again, Plotr the had asked in richer by were the the sum They strong ~-the and other conquered facing each who had who had just taken of the strong jut flicient the in was * grateful; a hundred dollars could not conquer his hatred ‘lI 8'po : me to thank “No. If And, see here, Plotr 1 want Ri ir : Hose ge,” he sneered, “you want you? vou need more nan and mothe Alley You want pocket, Plotr What have you s'pose we'd let 1 took huckled 11 aiice YO ‘h threw craft you to do with us? you help us? ckie of tri a chu “Did you think into The chuckle as though he pondered some ammoth je&t, “You issue of the Outcry! He and away Mark watched turned a corner. Poor devil!” Mark “He's mad not Mark's habit rs wandering the crowded streets In Introspective tion He now went to the appoint with his lawyer to keep left Henley It was a long and tedious consulta | having to do with a big real es deal in which Truitt had shown customary shrewdness He dis played little interest. More than once Shirley, the lawyer, had to his straying attention. Shirley was aston ished this; his client was notable for his concentration the matter in hand He would have been more deeply astonished, could he have looked the picture that lured upon Mark's thoughts. But then, for Erew ng you-~have just wheeled went halting shook his head it was to waste city medita ment which tion tate recall at on even No Surprise. Shirley, the name of Rose Alley would have ralsed to life no dead memories Shirley's astonishment, however, “It's a good deal,” he remarked, you.” Mark answered with a nod and | opened another subject. “I don’t sup- pose Timothy Woodhouse left much.” | “Practically nothing.” “How does our case stand?” “We'll win it.” “You're sure of that?" “Absolutely. His estate will never push it to trial” “Then settle it.” Shirley whistled his surprise. “Has | the philanthropic bee stung the whole | Quinby concern?’ he grinned. “1 | wouldn't do that, though. It would be an admission. As a lawyer, 1 couldn't sdvise—" | ‘for | “1 don't ask advice, Bettie it.” Shirley waved a concessive hand. | “It's your case, of course. For how much? They'll take any figure” | “For whatever you think fair, Not as a lawyer, however, Think of it,” Mark smiled wryly, “as a gentleman if the word means anything to you.” “It's your case,” Bhirley for so i you don't want the publicity clal reasons. That sort of talk Mark rose abruptly. he replied, with an Impatient “what people think, can 1? Fix it up A8 SOON as you can.” ended Mark's mind. The blacks, walted him reins, they were guided bridge, along rough-paved, tumble down streets, into a quarter such as their aristocratic feet had never trod Grime and decay were everywhere, It was 16 years since he had seen Rose alley, but he found the way ordered by telephone, row shallow court, and giving trap. A few children gized-—had been playing in the court With difficulty, for they had his tongue and were afraid of stranger, he learned from them which tenement Peter Anderson lived. He groped and stumbled up “For one thing,” she returned quietly, “the Matka loves her son, I'll minutes the two women talked nestly in thelr native tongue shook her head continuously "My Plotr Hke 1t.'"” Hanka interrupted, laying a hand on wouldn't ward the door. Kazia nodded. “She gays also,” she again, “that we'd better go for Plotr to come right.” “1 think,” Mark answered, “I'll stay, #gince I'm here, and have this out with Piotr.” It's most home, seemed to measure his physical frality me here once and drove me out. The gloom could color that surged into her cheeks, wasn't nice” “I'm same, “It but just I'll see sorry for them, since I've started, tread He found a it opened ingly under his he on For a full the threshold speechless, stood minute, at woman who the CHAPTER XVI. Glowing Embers. figure silhouetted was one to make men dream with The WAY rh the door 1 full in if curved strong the strength of women toiled, strength that in bulk She loo whose forbears have always yet without heavi : it was the quality, not showing no surprise 1¢ read that " 'o A OW iinted even less than her manner shit it gilt 1 even Vou I thou Was in his case " 2 swiit § He wimost mi i glance But he was for her she cast toward his cane had the no comment ’ Hresenee ; presence of grateful that iis injury splendid perfections his own physical shortcoming seemed almost cause for shame How do you gravely “1 didn’t here He held out an uncertain hand took it, neither hastily nor reluctantly, for a brief meaningless clasp here sometimes he sald find you do, Kazia? expe ct to She I am Will you come in?’ She stood aside and he entered, try- to overcome his limp. It was the which in Rose alley-—as he had to serve as living It was clean but bare; kitchen, emembered room as well pitifully bare, By the stood a faded woman, much stooped, her halr white thin, her pale lack-luster eyes for moment brightened by a startied He over to her and took her hand. She shrank away from him it is Kazia in ber?” Hanka said something in tongue She says,” Kazia interpreted, have never forgotten Their eyes met again His turned away quickly and went to the other occupant of the He sat in the only armchair, a huge mass of inert flesh, head slouched forward and fingers playing aimlessly with the long unkempt glove little and the question went Matka,” said remem Truitt Don't Mark Polish you the same they room beard that reached half-way to the bulging waist. Mark laid a hand on his shoulder Roman looked But Roman saw as the new-born up babe ReO8 The grasp on his shoulder tightened Roman, don’t kpow me? I'm Mark-—Mark Truitt, you remember.” The shoulder stirred a little under the tight grasp, Roman's head slouched forward again and he began once more his almless twisting of the long beard “How long,” Mark's had be come sharp, “has he been this way?” Almost three years.” “And here?” “A year longer.’ Kazia's eyes said to you?’ “Why,” he demanded, let me know about it?” She smiled-—contemptuously, as it seemed to him. “We must get them out of here,” went on hastily, “We can't. Plotr won't let us.” “He must,” Mark declared curtly. “He will not,” she repeated, “l saw him today. He's crazy.” "He 1s. you voice “What is that “didn’t you he “No, you'd better not,” she repeated with cold emphasis, “You can prove your inflexibility in some other way Plotr is apt to have been drinking and if his temper is stirred up, he'll make suffer” 8he nodded toward and Roman Really, you're in the matter.” He laughed shortly, them Hanka quite helpless “1 seem to be” the emotion set stirring by of his old friends ‘But, at money.” fined as the sight least, | But can leave some she shut him off from this, too What money they can use with- of it, 1 can fur- nish.” He If hurt than he was by the impulsive toward the door, willing to ad rebuff and mission mped stiffly himself the re of his dark have went into the that 3 5 IE 2 quickly out passage na i he tht not to awaited her led the and ’ sie Came, Lie look 1OnEer way down 1} ¢ ¥ e foul ckety stairs and out into court, lighted up now by amp 1d think wWouic arc nted to i: ind Ww fing Yi here Know myself, before- ople have lived rom choice I He nt I left it to live He her egress going there Ay tage ¥ O but advantage of n« ut She made stopped, repiy » facing her an locking You're to the shir Was one Te myself Wh have yr IY a there? else should you gone it? reasor That's almost cynical, isn might have had several other but didn’t At least 1 did harm Neither harm nor good like to think of one's self even a harmless Still, of the virtues negative Though | enough to wish I could have been influence in the making of it's rather I iS you no One doesn't if reduced tw ns nonentity most are I belleve m vain a positive the woman you've become remarkable, Kazia™ It isn't remarkabie—or excuse vanity.’ » had not winced, nor y gaze wandered. But for instant a fleeting somber shadow rested in her eyes I must go,” sald They walked in silence to the mouth of the court At their approach Mark's man got down from the trap, touching his hat Can't ured, for had x just an had Sh her ¥ stead she [ set home?” Mark ven at all sure that she would But she affected no reluctance glanced at a little watch I go to the Todd hospital, and overstayed here a little” you not accept She she wore I've He helped her up to the seat. The horses sprang forward, swung into the car tracks and quickly left the went neighborhood behind. For a time Mark gave his attention guiding their swift course around overtaken and the slow lumbering teams drew the heavy traffic ¢f the They were on the bridge be fore either spoke You said, to the hospital Ean suggestively “Do you “I'm on a case there” “You're a nurse, then? | remember vou had a knack for that sort of thing Your husband-—er--] hadn't heard-- I haven't seen him for 12 years.’ “Kazin.” he asked gravely, “will tene. to CArs at reet he be- at least decently. Generally it's noQiing. He says “But that's no reason why he She shrugged her shoulders. “To “Then,” he sald, “we'll take them away and settle with Plotr afterward.” He sald it crigply, with the assured made thelr resolve, take its consum- mation for granted. Her faint smile showed again, “It isn't so simple as that, won't go.” “They won't go!” He stared, "Why not?” They “There is nothing to tell than there is about you" “That is, you're not what has happened to frank.” “Because a chance together for an hour is no reason for any more interested me, in You're us can feel” “You may speak for yourself, please. forms. You could smile very clously on my man Felix, but to me tory has a way of repeating itself, | remamber saying something of the sort to you once before. you've forgotten.” “1 forget-—nothing."” “Ah!” He turned quickly to her again. “Then 1 did do you harm.” “1 can't see" “It follows,” he interrupted. ' “If 1 had done you no harm, you would re member charitably, not coldly or worse, and you would be at least as cordial to me as to my groom.” “Now it is you,” she answered after a thoughtful pause, “who will not let me oil the wheels, Probably what you say is right. 1 haven't thought much about influences—1 haven't had time.” » A ————————— A ———— “I'm sorry. Which seems all | can do about it, seem In a conspiracy to teach me that for regrettable things only with regret, jut save you time.” we Can up before the hospital Mark | scended painfully to help her down a rather superfluous courtesy, since she was better able to alight alone | than was he, “You're in good time, I hope?” "oh, yes de- Thank you for the ride” {| clasp. She moved toward the leading to the hospital door gan to climb back into the trap But the restive horses started soon, while he was balanced on little mounting step His foot dislodged. He would have fallen, per haps dragged, had Kazia not sprung forward, and catching the reins, brought the horses sharply to a | stop You “en “ «x0, sleps He be too the Was been are hurt? he lied through set | he pulled himself up to the teeth, as His Beat “AR Again. He Turned Quickly “Then | Did You No | uip, in fact, had receis ating = am if fists € unproiitav) with ob rqualily Of course, this is interesting was standing ustrade very She Detween lamps. In he saw her cool change, become dark again had YW cruelt todd Hu parted But question shadow and ies whereof he seen Kn spoke no words fell gesture odd little r turned and slowly mounted itd of re pression she the stairs instant And At the top she paused for an Good night,” she repeated thank again He dined night him depressed YOu club that the day had left strangly distaste alone & his events of and ng " ine restless fry ney ET Or con a sir CHAPTER XVII. Fanned into Flame. “T'd better quit thinking himself and solution, And strangely hard hought—of =a 1 dwelling in a splendid people could not dimin could not entirely, at most re ambush whence to spring him at unguarded moments, with increasing stir his jaded imagination Attainment of the partnership had indeed proved to be the climax of his career with the Quinby company. Fol lowed quickly the long imminent col lapse, There was no specific allment, save a heavy stubborn cough and the constant ache in his injured hip, which were really symptoms. It was rather a general fallure of his powers. He was no longer able to whip flagging energies to the day's tasks. The cool, clear, incisive brain that could grasp of her” Mark told A virtuous a wise re forsooth' The tT siti iy people Ine io nan of strong perfection Keep wo the fine the ish quench body whose toil of the whose flame It never withdrew tired into out upon ever potency to gight of result and purpose had be | ing, a poor tool for the direction of erating under tremeadous pressure He was subject to attacks of profound He could not sleep with- Worst of all, { melancholy | out the aid of drugs weakness, had broken, “What's the matter with me?” | demanded of his physisian, “What can 1 do?” “Nothing “Hut,” habit protested, “1 can't do | nothing.” “It’s your life,” Interrupted the doe tor. "But you've consulted me and 1 propose to earn the stiff fee I'll charge you. Drop everything, go to the coun try or to the end of the earth--per sonally, I'd advise the end of the earth, because it's farthest away and newest to you, Forget work, play a while.” Mark asked and received from the directors a six monthe’ vacation. But, although he formulated no reason, he did not at once leave the city. When hours by driving through the parks. They were long tedious hours, as drearily empty as he had forecasted. The nights, when he lay sleepless, fighting an incipient craving, were longer and drearier, Thus it was that he had leisure to think of Kazia Whit though some explain why the reappearance of one whom in his receded youth he had treated badly should command terest Nor did when his drives took him almost daily past the Todd hospital the sight of that was enough to evoke a faint excitement not be laid to barrack-like architec ture, followed by a smn phatic dis appointment as the neighborhood was left behind afternoon Kazia, in company with another young woman emerged from the grounds as he was passing and gave him a imper sonal nod, He guessed that it was her recreation hour and marked the time The quick leaping interest should have warning at loss to #0 much of bis in- he admit a design Nevertheless institution thrill of its more ¢ One cool been a to him Perhaps it was, for I'm growled woman?’ On making a fool of myself,” he know of this 1A .. 3 1 yy» ial Go | the third day thereafter, at the same hour, he passed the hos his tim Rave nod e Kazia appeared alone him again the cool | and woul he drew called passed the “Kazia! She paused hesitated then went over to the Will you drive while? I ought to walk, Kazia. that Please absurd he to him i be even heard uniting it flattery, is t the sort Are up gross you aren flatte likes ry remember that Playing becomes distin Jsn't it nus chuckled easier the bospital just i thought smiled ] thought lucky by So you've seen me? tion it, 1 as well confess that isn't luck, but the result of a very clever plot past hospital alm the that ould may this been every ve Qriviog day In i this w the wl sneaking hope occur You “You just ¥ no say, a sneaking pee he confided, uman T= RO ‘ me for you T smile it I won't, the days when l help being beautifully buman. m so healthy that sometimes I just have to take a vacation from myself s0 unhealthy that though can’t give Truitt the slip hour. He's a persistent may have noticed the he Was i® « ne nt De i because today t I'¢ i for even an beggar jast few weeks They laughed It was a clear with the mellow radiance of autumn sunshine But wind that swept sky and alr clean was crisp and pene trating. To her, superbly healthy It gave only a rare tinge of color that enhanced her charm, gave the last needed softening touch, His wasted body, despite the heavy overcoat he wore, could not resist the chill breath. But, though he knew he would prob- later for the exposure, he would not by so much as a minute cur tail the hour. “1 haven't had so pleasant—it's a puny word, but let that go—so pleas ant a time in years,” he declared “1 see” the laughed, “you have taken me at my word.” “But I mean it.” he protested as you beautiful afternoon, the “Td He became grave, “Since that day at Roman's [I've been thinking a good deal of what wo sald-—about my having harmed you. If regrets—but there's nothing so use- less. That sort of thing isn't easily forgiven, ia ft?” “Oh, very easily.” “You are thinking that 1 give too much significance to our little affair. 1 do not-—" “No, 1 mean 1 have never blamed you, Of course, we were too young for it to have any lasting significance. And, If I remember aright, 1 invited ft—and so put you in what must have seemed a very tragic quandary at the time.” The most critical ear could have discerned nothing ungenuine in her rippling laugh. (TO BE CONBINUEDY
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