By HENRY RUSSELL MILLER Author of "THE MAN HIGHER UP,” “HIS RISE TO POWER," Etc. ° CHAPTER XXIV—Continued. Together he and Mark dragged Piotr to the cab and forced him within Piotr, dazed by Mark's appearance, re- sisted but feebly. Before the grim majesty cf ap proaching death even Piotr's madness was abashed., The supreme conscious ness received back the atom that, when imprisoned in flesh, had been Roman. It was Kazla who saw. “He is dead.” became silent again, resumed her rigid gazing at the not less still body. Plotr's hand passed over his eyes in a bewil dered gesture, The woman who kept the door made the sign of the cross and went quietly out. Kazia bent over to kise Roman's forehead. Then Piotr came out of his daze. He caught her roughly and drew her back. “Nol” *Piotri" “You're not fit to touch him.” 8he turned and went slowly into the kitchen, Piotr followed. He confronted her and Mark. can go now, both of you.” “Oh, Piotr, not now!” Kazia began pleadingly. “The Matka needs me and—" “We need nothing from you. We weren't good enough for you once. You left us to be a fine lady. Now we don't want you.” “But I came back and you wouldn't fet me stay.” “Yes, when you found that Jim Whiting couldn't give you what you wanted. You thought you could use as then—as he did.” He nodded to ward Mark, “How,” his teeth bared in an ugly accusing leer, “how did the Hunky girl get to be such a fine lady? “Be still!” Mark stepped close to him, sternly. “len't there any decency in that cracked mind of yours? Re- “You peeded some one. You were rant. And whose money do you think wouldn't do a man’s work?” “A man's work!” forrible startling cackle. “To a cracked brain that fsn't to betray and gouge and drive—" He broke off. mean it was her money?” “Who else would have cared?” Plotr went back into the death room, clutched his mother by the and shook her cruelly. “Tell Gel me." money from her—that woman I told you what ehe was?” The Matka shrank back vehemence, to keep him alive.’ Piotr, releasing her, mouth working queerly against me.” He went again kitchen, taking up his hat slowly Into the from the hb i 17 ||| “What Have You Found, Roman? It Simple, There?” i sav table, He did not stop until he reached the door. There he turned, facing Kazla “You can have her now. ing.” “He's crazy,” Mark muttered. “Don’t mind him.” With an effort she recalled herself to the situation. “You had better go now. I must take care of the Matka. Will you please telephone to the hos- pital that I shan’t be back tonight?” “But I can’t leave you alone here, while Plotr's at large. I'm going out to arrange for tomorrow, Then I'M oome back here.” “It may be best,” she agreed. Two hours later he returned ang rapped lightly. Recelving no answer, he tried the door, it opened and he entered quietly. Hanka lay on a narrow cot, In the sleep of exhaustion. In a chair by the table, head pillowed on one arm, Kazia, too, slept. She stirred uneasily as he entered, then became still, He tiptoed to another chair and began his lonely wateh. The night seemed endless. To sit motionless, looking at the relaxed for. orp Ggure she made, became impos I'm go sible, the room where Roman lay. candle was burning low in its socket. face folded seemed not dead, but only at peace. Mark looked long at him, as though Roman held the answer to his questions. leaned over, whispering. “What have you found, it simple there? in which mistakes . . 1 want to pay." and hands Roman? can be pald for? CHAPTER XXV,. Payment, days after the seen funeral Kazia but for a few It was two Mark had new plans, and then been present. Kazla proposed to take care of her, and that they might not have to be apart, to give up her fine position at the hospital; she thought she could obtain a new one that would take up only her days. She had, of course, to find a new apartment. All day Hanka had been alone in the dismantled flat, thinking not of him who had gone but of the woman who had assumed her protection Often her head shook in troubled gesture. Hanka had not lost the habit of seeing and understanding many things from her shadowy corner. that? You lay In the hollow of my hand. With a breath I could have de- stroyed your reputation. But I kept silence, 1 advanced your interests, | held you tenderly in my heart. Wom- an, you have bewitched me. I want you." Hanka understood at least words and she understood his last his tone of the sitting room door saw Kazla elude Quinby's outstretched arms. At the same moment she heard a halting step on the stairway opened the outer door and went Mark Truitt, whispering him in Polish, When astonished by her appearance emotion, would have spoken, clapped a hand over his mouth, and clutching him by a sleeve, drew him into the hall. She pointed through the “Xx he, and she to meet citedly to that haunted her come into eyes, The Was over, washed and put away; thie being part Hanka's in the labor went dinner the of share new ¥ of She into the little bed room whither Kazia had gone to dress But at the door she stopped looking at the fi less and do She started to steal away ur unnoticed ire that lay mo face wnward on the bed , then turned timidly to the bedside ie hand on Kazia's hair Lazia,” she murmured, half at you?" her boldne “what BS, ing ff + tre ’ - 4 ve ng, Matka,” came the muf fled answer is it beacause of me 7 I don't wi gO musnt ieave to be a burden I can “No, no! You just tired.” Ju LUE me. I' “Heart tired Is It because of him ‘l have no lover." wearily LAzZia rose and going to the @ r hair al a } take down h esses fell tum a, in troubled round + the won arm that firm Kazia'e age Hanka had to men passed by smooth At wither into an un comeliness that unde She and outhful flesh went over to the dressing touched t was she li} was “She Kazia did not and wanted her” like you." saw her i RE aw smile Men } i became still my father? The con i ’ i a il she love Such a love I have nover seen.” It had dark almost an the rang Hanka heard Kazia going to the door and a startled exclamation answered by a mellifiuous ice Hanka did not know. The vis ag admitted and taken To kitchen been hour when bell the Again Quinby reached toward Kazia and again she recoiled, “Don’'t—don’'t touch me.” “Why do you rebuff me? an ignorant child You must have known what my Interest in the hos- pital and in you this year has meant, You wouldn't have taken my help un- less you were willing to give me what I want." “What is {t—what is it you want?” “l want you to be to me what you have been to Truitt” “And if—if 1 refuse?” “1 have never vet told that I caught Truitt and a sun-browned woman alone in an Ottawa hotel under circum stances—1 have no reason to love him I have refrained from telling only for your sake, I—-Why do you force me to say this? I have no wish to be You're not head But not-—surely can not refuse.’ She dropped back into a chalr, 1er face with her hands looked up, she wore again strange rapt expression, “You sald,” she whispered “you sald-—you would pay.” “Yes, he cried eagerly “You force you will . you cCOov- the yes!" to him out of the c« ‘iil you—glive that up?” broken whisper. that You 11 vy sane “Even Ing E And will you away t is for ' dear triumph an y bent hand i other, Mark, wi » of face, hands s 1 IE convuisively, leaped the thros until his grip tightened purple He ry out, but ] gurgle resulted came to herself and back The ’ = face grew squirmed and tried to «¢ only Kazia her feet caught Mark's arm He utes there but voice changed undertone strangely. Kazia uttered a low hurt ery. and crept along the crouched in the sitting room door, listening and wishing she had not English. m | an ogre?” voice was saying. “1 do not love you." “It is not a question of love. 1 am not old, but I have lived long enough to prick that illusion. We scientists know what love is.” “lI don't care for you In any way,” Kazia answered coldly. “Mr. Quinby, you oughtin't to be here, A man in your position" “My dear lady, let me remind you that the interest of a man in my posi- tion Is not to be rejected lightly, With a word I gave you the best position your profession offers a woman. With a word | can take it away. I can re lleve you of the necessity of working at all, I can make it imposaible for you to find work in this city.” “Threats “My dear lady!” the stranger's volce protested. “I would not do that. 1 would harm no one. | am a tender. hearted man. 1, too, suffer, if by chance others suffer through me.” The voice, vibrant with emotion, would have wrung tears of sympathy from a stone. But Hanka, as we have seen, could not weep. “I am only trying to show that those who enlist my Interest do not lose by it." “80 you think I am for sale?” “Forgive me, my dear,” sald Quinby, “but that is gross. Say rather that, since you have struck a responsive chord in my breast, it will be my pleas. ure to be guardian of your welfare, to lift you out of the sordid struggle for existence, And have | not proved been his eager, had a few min when be- It with an Hanka came perturbed rose She little hall Don't hurt bim He's not worth Gently Ouinby Jui freed his arm did first Mark clasp jut he again The Atad dled. He turned conte to ich Quinb murderous not impulse mptuously away rom him, Quinby, and Af orto SIATK released from the cruel ! started across whirled eves the room upon him once more “Stop!” nby stopped, is a trap.” y yourself.” Mark turned zia with a helpless mirthless laugh my Shall 1 kick him or spring his dirty trap?” go,” she answered "What is cue? down stairs ‘It him a list Mark shook his bead, “Not w ng He sald,” grimly, illing pay.” I'm not afraid of you,” Quinby mut feeble defiance “What you say of me that isn’t true of you? “Ah!” Mark drew a sharp whistling breath “he was to ‘Now you shall pay. You-—" He broke oft with a gesture of disguet. “I find I've no stomach for blackmail just I'll telephone over ' Then Quinby was indeed fear struck tell him!" he quavered. “We can set- tie this ourselves. [1 didn’t really in. tend to force you out of the company, only to—to frighten you a little.” a coward as well as a fraud! But 1 knew that before. This is too sick ening. You'd better go.” Quinby started again to go. “Wait!” Quinby waited. “You seem to be afraid of Henley You have reason. Tomorrow at ten- thirty you have an engagement to meet him at his office--1 have just made it for both of you. At eleven I will meet hin. You know best what Henley in his present mood will do If he gets wind of your latest adventure in phi lanthropy. Now go.” Quinby went. The next morning, prompt on the hour, he kept his en- gagement with Henley, A weakness for epigrams has de feated more than one fair project. After a discreet interval-—long enough, as he thought, for the interment of the dead past—Jeremiah Quinby sought to revive the paleontological propaganda. He found that for once the public memory was long and laid more stress on the fateful twins of production than on ichthyosauri and kindred monsters. The air was dark ened with poisoned barbs of satire and derision. There fell a great phi lanthropist, plerced to the heart. That is tc say, Quinby retired from the realm of beneficence and his rival reigned ubsolute once more, A heavy troubled silence was in the little room. Kazia stood passively by the table, waiting for Mark to speak. After a long while he raised his eyes to hers. “Kazia, you poor romantic fool! Did think any amount of money was worth that-—even if he had kept hie word? When 1 think oh, how could you think of it!” you what would be misery for me always. You wouldn't want that. . . . And thie—it seems I've always known ft come. It was a chance | took for a few months’ happiness. 1've had my happiness. . . . You haven't harmed me-—1 beg you to belleve you haven't harmed me.” “Kazia—" was nothing to say. was complete, Magdalen that she was. "I wanted,” she answered in a queer crigis into which they had “1 wanted to do one thing and your happy city.” | “My happy city! What happiness | could it have had, built on that? And | I—hadn't you given me enough?” “l gave you only love.” “Only~—!" “It was all 1 had to give. enough.” for you ns The out. He stepped closer to her, “Kazia, this has got to end.” “Yes.” “You must marry me tomorrow.” you.” wistful more, “You are trying to now, But I'm glad yow said that’ “I'm asking you to give something more. You will?" “Why do you ask it?" “Because I've hurt you enough. 1 did hurt you when I let you—led you to sin, even though we kept {t a secret from the world. happy I want happiness—and I can't Rested Heavily on His Shoulder. from you I've given nothing. She tried to smile: his heart. “Every But I'm glad lie to me now.” The smile can't.” 2 Kazia, the reason wouldn't faded one, you dear,” he pleaded, let's begin over again birth wrong love a new + could not understand could not i, but he er, She shook her head ir Bp 1 ben Binal against you? » stepped closer, reach take her Lome, le reasons aren't ehrank trembling came a look of fear and glanced sought away from ¥ : i © { nto th ired white face despair. She this way though ghe An eACAp Then to her Cons ie iACe "1 stood thous thous} ht] A The doctor who wasn't sinned helped me, I" She could say 0 more had not Suspicion her, sl ng how he recolled from the fact He th * Dat words then thi shame of a hould stad so Kazia, revealed strange he did how how hia his » he forgot pity for Again his arms reached out and would not be denied must own pain the silent stricken her Her pf | no difference.’ His “What sold make to to | You m l r : your I gave ing yourself, 1 hurt coward years ago body ive to feel unde I've you yo mls t only ched 1 loved, you would never have been tempted. Your sin mine forgive.’ Slowly she raised her head to look at him “And came incredulous whisper, “and you me now? you," would even the more now!" mistaken? ah! don’t be kindness, “Have 1 been could ignore It wouldn't or love? He tried to look away from her and could not through them to hunt truth hidden in his soul. With a rough convulsive movement he drew her head down on hie shoulder. “How can 1 know what it is? It must be love, since I need you and want to make you happy. If it isn't now, surely love will come when we start right, Kazia, don’t refuse me this chance to make up to you a little Only love lie to me now Is it just pay out the last Her answer was a stifled sob. He felt her body relax; her head rested heavily on his shoulder. She released herself. He did not try to hold her. They faced each other in a heavy throbbing silence. His soul quivered with the cruelty of it; it would have been infinitely easier for him if she had been the unfaithful one. His words echoed mockingly in his ears, torturing him with their hopeless futility. “You will not?” “You couldn't say it-—and I don't want pay.” The sight of her had become more than he could endure. He turned away and dropped into a chair, letting his head fall to the table. After a little he felt her hand gently emoothing his hair. And soon she be- gan to speak in a volce unsteady at first but gathering strength as she went on, “You mustn't reproach yourself. 1 know you'd love me If you could. And you mustn't think I refuse just for her from she he looked selfl-abasement The | again, up to could never know Yoice was ing unstea “When 1 if you hadn't I'm glad you came that { you had better Erow th have ended come to | night! to save me fron " go CHAPTER XXVI. The Penitent dventure there to here any man, given road a nd He Two years had € fort, BOC0 vA x v * mda and nt to the window yw ded rose passed, cor with Crow: From the 100 window t peeking to re Or wer the lost he could the beglinni { happy city, all ready for periment He bathed and dressed bathroom that to the was his one luxuriousness of the old nded to the kitche: if frying ham met b in Beth the Truitts generail ’ and desce pieasant nostrils; odor « there was a hotel sometimes elsurely Sabbath morning, Sim served as cook bent old ad it the man at n breakfast watched him the sout Fos without w ha tle Mark ation morning, u § wind« TROL a iit salut “Good fathar iALLer, ne last “Good turned I was jest thinkin’ * or | Omorrow went Mark.” from the it'll be 2 away-—an' morning, reiuctantiy ye there's that’ “Yes. Your dream has come true have seen it all—ateel made in Bethel Breakfast ready, they sat down and began the meal in silence. Mark ate lightly, absently Ever since Mark had returned, euffering to which some solacing word might be said. But the word would not come to his unschooled lips “1 wish,” Simon thought, “I give him something.” It was a real suffering Simon sensed, no day without its hour of payment, no hour so heavy as on that Sabbath morning. From across the town came a mel low clamor, the volce of the new church bell calling the faithful. The clamor ceased and after an in terval resumed for a few last tape be fore he rose and went into the house for his hat and cane. When he emerged again he found Simon sitting on the front stoop. “Golin’' to church ?™ “I guess I'd better” “Yea. Courtney likes ye to. Do ve,” Bimon seked suddenly, “still be- Heve what he preaches?” Mark hesitated a moment. “I sup pose 1 never did. I'd like to, but 1 It takes a certain quality of mind, 1 suppose-—or early habit. 1 can't quite see" There was that in Mark's tone which made Simon look up quickly. “I can't see the logic of letting another's suffering pay for our sina” “Ye'll be late,” Simon suggested, Doctor Hedges, driving along the valley road, drew up at the station until tie eleven o'clock train, having discharged its Bethel passengers, sped onward, The passengers were two, a man and a woman, strangers to the doctor and therefore alien to Bethel could your sake. I'd do what you want since you want it so much-—only It . The woman #tood on the otherwise de. sorted piatform, looking uncantainly around her. The mau made directly for the doctor. “Do you,” he demanded, where Mark Truit jives? “Why, yes The doctor bestowed a friendly smile on gtranger. “I “know " the {ar an you show gt™ to find toward me how “Yen.” Hedges ced the tion, glar woman; she was entering the sta ’ “1 ean do better. 1 can PTT ii take you there And the The docts + doctor mechani nk of again doctor, hoping nterrupted he at his to complete one sentence, quickened “He's a man who's ing himself or finding 10t sure Mean “You ing?” x i1 re wouldn L the doc- explanation.” the li cottage. ae jl chuckled ir for the drew up before ttle “He lives here” yi Much briskly ’ flew!” } wr ¢ £ Hardly the vieltor retorted the three o'clock train obliged.” He sprang, his rotundity buggy Aesetr nes experts ived all act-—but ves of one whose greatness see what might hat could least, before throbbing ty clamber ing « capturing the heights, reclaiming other slopes from until in length and breadth, in numbers and importance, it rivaled that other fastness where he, the mas- ter, had been known only as a lieuten- The creator in him, not yet but only obscured by the mad- exploitation, thrilled at the nd as he looked ruitt's dream was The valley a teeming, industry. The « the ve slopes, ant. kilied, ness of sight “He sees big," he muttered “He sees big. 1 didn't think it was in him.™ He stood on the point, scanning thoughtfully the noble valley, forget. ting his silent companion “He's picked out a great site S 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 fame to the paling of lesser men's reputations, cap- ital of an empire--his empire, “By God!” he breathed aloud. “Ry God! . . And it's possible—~how did the bullders of cities overlook this place? . « + It would be better than doing faker's tricks with stocks and bonds.” (TO BE CONTINUED) Gumdrope. An old man in Indianapolis, who has lost all his teeth, takes his “toothless ness” philosophically. It Is difficult for him to articulate as he did In the days of his youth, and he admits that gums are not quite 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 misfortune cheerfully by calling his words “gumdrops *
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers