The evening world. Newspaper, December 15, 1915, Page 17

Moperiets, 1900, by Albert Payson Terhune.) STNOPSIG OF PRACEDING CHAPTERS nhl dia aI ae a , The Evening World Daily Magazine, Wedn AAPA RAAARAAAORERRD LER ER RRO RBER FenCReREReEEE” IGHTER ee A Romance With a Strange Hero of the Battling Breed sv ~— BERT PAYSON TERHUNE #, Trt iit ‘What a beast you are, Conover!” exclaimed Caine, in revolt, assented Cale! ban fought his ne “That's right,” "he Pitakienor ot thet, “S,anl ‘x’ cheerfully. “But I've just, broke ‘ kent, Meier. Calne, hare Jini Worse one. Broke him body an headed by vue "BI * ene spirit, Not such a bad day’e work! Ma ares "s for “tay. he "ol HAPTER ts be merely pat a the ons CHAPTER V. wt Sritier tent ore ciamcte Caleb Conover lorms a crete ads erie Rampart ‘A fake report that Deniree te ill, ‘gabdiie the trick, returns to the Catal thie flat. then to pte oS 7 CHAPTER IV. fuontinued,) ‘ . The Battle. length, employing a wrest- ling device, Caine managed to drag the frenzied Fighter backward from behind, and f by a sudden wrench to throw him to one side. Still keeping behind Conover, out of reach of the hammer-fists, the slighter man euc- eteded in pinioning Caleb's arms by slipping his own hands and wrists be- tween the other's elbows and his body, Trussed up, helpless as he was, Caleb writhed and snarled like a Jeashed bulldog. In another moment he would have wrenched himself free by dint of main force had not Caine's voloe at last penetrated the red wrath-mists of his brain, “Conover!” his friend was shout- ing, for the tenth time, “if you Kill him Miss Sheviin’s name will be brought into the affair! Can't you that? If'—— movers iron-tense muscles re- J |. The orgasm of Beserk rage passed, leaving him spent and a thetic. Caine knew that sanity ad returned to the Fighter, and he released his grip on the mighty arms, Well!" he: observed, facing the @azed, panting man, and setting to ights his own tumbled clothing, ‘0 are @ nice specimen of human- tty to have at large in a civilized country! You might have killed him, You would have killed him, 1 believe, if BP hadn't come when I did. I got to thinking over what you said at the tate House and I was afraid some- thing like this would happen. So I Just in time, I think.” Caine, the battered, blee flour, Now he crossed to the wasl @tand and came back with a soaked towel. Talking as he worked over the unconecious figure, he added: “You were right to thrash him, He riehly deserved it. But, why the deuce did you keep on pummeling him while he was down? Does that strike you as sportamanlike?" “Sportsmaniike?” panted Conover, his big voice still shaking with ground-swells of the storm that had mastered him. “Sportsmanlike, hey? D'ye spose t came here for a measly athletic contest? I came here to lick nas curly, perfumed whelp, An’ I did “You hit him when he was down,” answered Caine, crossing again from the washstand and hing cold water in his face, "“And"— “Of course I hit him when he was down!" @norted Caleb. "W spose I was goin’ to do? up an’ brush off his clo’ “«" makes me sick to hear that old fossil rot about ‘not hittin’ a man when he's | down!’ What in thunders the use of-gettin’ him down if you ain't goin’ } to hit him? I didn't come here for @ friendly boxin’ bout. I came to a oft. An’ ho wasn't to be off by one little tap that'd knock over, That was just the start. 1 guess he'll know enough by now to fet Dey Sheviin’s name alone.” Caine made no answer, | deftly applying the simple prize-ring expedients for restoring beaten pugil- tete to their senses. Conover looked down at him in profound contempt, “Yes,” went on the Fighter, "L e'pose in your gold-shirt world folks ‘would say I was all kinds of a cad to keep on pushin’ that swine after T'4 bowled him off his legs. But them game folks will jump with both feet on’ a business man when there's a rumor that he's broke, They'll join @ run on a bank that's in trouble, ir saintly women'll take pious joy #m ghasin’ to hell some poor girl who's ‘a fool of herself, But they'd yoll up their eyes at the sight of me ’ Blacarda after he's keeled over. t’n blazes is the use of gettin’ a man down if you ain't goin’ to hit ? It's the A, B, C of business. bh , Caing, you make me tired His eyes fell on his own torn, bleeding knuckles, He gazed at them fn slow aurprise; then sauntered over te bathe them. The gluss above the wwashstand revealed to him a face y white, smeared with coal-dust smears and blood and swollen from @ blow on the mouth, ‘m an engagin’ lookin’ spectacle, all right,” he sollloquized, as he bent ta.wash, “Lucky I left my sult-case , at the hotel this morning, I'll need a Jot of dressin’ an’ massagin’ before I can go to see Dey." Blacarda groaned feeb! nig head, Ho's coming around} reported Caine. “Now I’m goin’ to telephone down for the hotel doctor, While he's on his way here you can think of @ome story to tell him that will ac- count for Blacarda’s condition. “TLL tell him the truth,” said Caleb, imply. “All except the part, about Dey. An’ T gucss Blacarda ain't likely to tell that, either, But what's the a doctor? The cur's gettin’ his senses back, “I think you fractured at least one of his ribs when your knee was jammed down on his chest,” answered Caine, “It feels so to me, Besides, unless his face is to be distorted and hideous for life it must have medical care at once.” Blacurda lifted his unrecognizable visage and opened the one eye which was not wholly hidden from view by Nis swollen flesh, Calne raised the injured man to a sitting posture and held a whiskey flask to the torn, dis- eolored lips. Through the hedge of emashed teeth and down the swelled ‘throat the stinging liquor glided, Bla- carda gulped it down, sat motionless for 4 moment, then groaned again and Jooken about hin “Well,” growled © Want ony more? ‘One long second Biacarda squinted + vacantly at his conqueror, — ‘Then, © with a shuddering scream of terror, he buried his mangled face tn Caine's ie and lay there, quivering and ra was and moved Caleb, "do you ha e John ALEB CONOVER was finish- ing @ solitary breakfast in hig room the morning after his return from the Capital. He had eaten heartily, even as he had slept well, and was neither outwardly nor inwardly the worse for Nis “wakeful day" at State House and engine-throttle, A slightly puffed un- der lip and a double set of discolored knuckles were his only mementoes of the attack upon Blacarda. In honor of his victories, the Fighter had allowed himself an extra half hour's sleep and a steak for break~ fast. It was nine o'clock, so he pushed back his chair from the deal table that had held his morning meal, He lighted a heavy cigar, rose, stretched himself in the lazy luxury of perfect strength, and prepared to go to the day's work. Conover, in the early years, when h was fighting tooth and nail toe lift moribund G. & X. Railroad to a paying basis, had had @ room and bath fitted up for his personal use directly to the rear of his private of- fice in the station. Here he had lived, his entire life centring about his toil, Here he still dwelt, now that euc- cess was his, The man whose wealth had already passed the million mark and was rocketing toward far Ingner figures Was simpler in his personms tastes and surroundings than was tne poorest brakeman on his road. au iron cot bed, a painted pine bureau With flawed mirror, an air-tight stove, a shelf with fourteen books, the deul table and two chairs formed the sum of his living room furniture. One of the station serubwomen kept the place n order, The few personal guests he had were received in the private office outside, One euch visttor, Conover had been informed ten minutes earlier, was even now awaiting him there, At least Caleb, reading the card, “Mr, Hawarden, Jr" judged the; enller to have come on @ personal matter of some sort rather than on railroad business, With mild curiosity as to what could have brought the son of De- siree's chaperone to see him, Conover Jounged in leisurely fashion to the office, On his appearance a tall, slender youth rose and greeted him with nervous cordiality, “Sit down,” grunted Conover, acowl- ing under the vigorous grip of the lad’s hand, “What can I do for you?” ‘The caller twisted his neck some- what uneasily in its amazing height of collar, fought back a gulp and fell to drawing his tan gloves through his fingers, Caleb noted that the hands were slim, the fingers long and taper- ing. He slso noted that the boy, despite his almost efleminate delicacy of contour and feature, waa square of jaw and steady of eye, The Fichter was, from these signs of the Rrotherheod of Strength, amused rother than frritated at the other's nervousness, He even felt a vague desire to set Hawarden at his ease, “Pirst time you an’ me have come ain't it?” he asked, leas . sir,” answered Hawarden, pleasantly. “I know you by sight— and of course by reputation—but It’ hardly likely you'd have noticed me. My parents have had the pleasure of meeting you.” Pleasure, hey?" queried Caleb, "That's what they called it?" Hawarden flushed painfully, as at some not wholly glad memory, 'm on a horribly cheeky errand, besan the youth, “and, to tell you the truth, I'm scared stiff, I came to speak to you on a rather delicate aub- Jec “Tl never saw the ‘delicate subject’ that wasn’t the better for being dragged out into the fresh air, Get to the point, son, I’m busy.” “Tam here, sir.” said the boy, with «a lnbored formality that spoke of much rehearsal, “to speak to you of Miss Desiree Shevlin. You are her guardian, I understand.” job's glare of utter and displeased astonishment checked the speaker for Dut, swallowing dly, he continued his set speech: ¢ the honor—the undeserved honor, sir—to request your leave to isk Miss Shevlin to be my wie. It was out! Hawarden relaxed the knuckle-whitening grip of his flats. Ifts forehead grew moist, Bo did his palms. Nor did Caleb's attitude lessen the awkwardness of the moment, With open mouth the Fighter sat taring at his guest. At last he found r -just a few of them, 1, I'l) be damned!" he sput- tered. “It seems to me,” said Hawarden, tnking new hold of his sliding cour- age—"it seems to me @ more honor- able thing to ask your consent—as Miss Shevlin's guardian—before dar- ing to offer myself to her.” on!” observed Caleb, profoundly, ou had @ little more sense you'd The boy got to his feet, “It is your right, 1 suppose," he an- swered, atiff_y, “{o insult me, You an older man than |, and I come you as an applicant for’ you read all that in a book,” snort- ed Caleb. “Cut tt out and get down to sense, No one’s Insultin® you and ho one's stampin’ on your ouddin’ dignity. You can't wonder I was took aback when you sprung that mine on me, I ain't up in the bylaws an’ con- titootion of pilite s’clety, If it's the usual thing to come over with a line of talk like you just got out of your aystom—Why, I'm sorry if. 1 rough, There! Now, sit down and talk ” ustom to asic askin’ her? But I guess it ev'rybody did it there wouldn't be a terrible lot of work for the marriage license clerks, An’—why, you're just a kid!’ he broke out, What in blanes ive you babblin’ about marryin' for? “Lo shall twenty-two next month!" answered the boy, proudly, “L think Lam entitled to be treated as a man, Not a"—— “Oh, all right! all right!” chuckled 1 was the same way, Used WE CAN'T GIVE THAT BROKEN VASE To ARS SMART i RASTUS, PACK, THIS ERY CAREFULLY, UT EVERY PIECE ’IN AND SEND IT To MRS SNART MR JOHN SAYS IT A VASE PORSOU 'S HE SAYs IT MUST HAVE BEEN BROKEN IN THE SHIPPING? 5 to tiokle me to death at twenty to be called ‘Old Man.’ N: I'd give five dollars to any one who'd call me ‘My Boy.’ So you think I ought to treat you like @ grown man, hey? All right!” He was enjoying the scene hugely. He liked the boy’s pluck. Fighter- like, he was minded to test it to the full. As a possible husband for De- siree, he did not give Hawarden a thought, As a momentary means of amusement to himself, he was willing to prolong the interview, “We'll s'pose you're a man, then,” he continued, “An' you want to marry my ward. Your fam'ly’s as good as hers, Maybe better, as you folks count such things, So much for th: Now, what's your income? There, don't look like I'd made a face at you! The question's in order, Maybe you think money don't count in matri- mony? Well, it does, Respectability ain't on the Free List. Not by a long shot. A fam'ly costs three times as much to keep as a chorus girl, What's your income? Speak up!” “I hardly know, exactly,” faltered Hawarden. “When I was in college my father allowed me $1,500 a year, He atill keeps it up, But as I'm liv- 3! ing at home now, it costs me less to get on. Then, after I finish the law school next year I'll be making a good salary myself very soon, With Miss Why don't you stick to that instead of messin’ around with the law?" “I way the tenth story I'd sent them,” confessed Hawarden, hero- foally. “And it was the first one they took, That's the trouble with litera~ ture. It"—— “So, as things stand now,” pursued Caleb, “you've no real mone; No “Look down there!” ordered Con- sure prospects, An’ you want to over, pointing out, “More'n a hun- marry Dey Sheviin, You want her to dred men in that yard, ain't there? share your nothin’-a-year, 0! he pirty-faced men with stooped shoul- grated, "maybe you think it'd be nice ders an’ solled clothes, Not @ one of to live on her cash?” ‘em that’s got a fam'ly resemblance “LT think nothing of the sort!" flared to Romeo, What are they doin’? Hawarden, scariet with anger, "it Workin’! Every mother’s son of ‘em not stand that sort of talk even from workin’ harder than you or any of her guardian, 1 wouldn't touch @ your fam'ly ever worked or ever could penny of any woman's money if I work. How'd their faces get dirty an’ we starving! I"—- stoopid an’ their shoulders bent over? “That aounds kind of Mke « book, BY workin’. An’ who are they work- too,” commented Caleb, “But you mean it, I'm glad you do, I think 1 kind of like you, So instead of throwin’ you downstairs, I'm goin’ to waste a whole minute talkin’ to you, You're a nice kid, You come here bristlin’ with book learnin’ an’ ideea of honor an’ you make your ttle speech to the stony-hearted guardian ‘n’ stand ready to say ‘God bless you, for thei kind words!’ or ‘You've busted two young hearts!" No, you needn't squirm, It's so, But you can rub both those remarka off the slate, Neither of ‘em'll be needed, You've “I'd surely make my @ year at most! I'd pleaded the boy, way quickly, th work—l'd work #o hard for her! Caleb leaned to one side and threw open the window by desk, With the warm, soft alr of spring rushed in the steam sibilance and clangor of the ratlway yards, in’ for? For themeelves? Not them, Each one of 'em's workin’ for some woman, An’ most of ‘em for a bunch Worki “all day an’ ev'ry da: or wear out an’ An’ workin’ too. at washboard or acrub-brush to eke out the men- folks’ an’ brats’ livin’, Work! Work! Work! All their lives, But I don’t nee any of ‘em gatherin’ In front of the footlights an’ singin’ a chorus about how happy they are, or how their hard work has made their wives Sheviin to work fo the good sense to fall in love with Tich an’ lazy. Are you any bettera OT lain," 1 ¢ ’ they are? Can you work uny harder “you're earhin nothin’ igen indie ict that ever happened, for Desiree than they are workin’ for Rut what have you got to offer her? Besides your valuable self, I mean? You're askin’ for the greatest thing tn all this world. Do you give any- the elatternly, slab-sided, down-at- heel women at hom Don't you s'pose every one of Lhose men once his wife a lady an’ @ golden outlook of earnin’ a little jess in a year or two,” “{ have my allowance,” protested Hawarden, “end"—- y ian ak thing In exchange? Not you, You Pinned to m $16 “We'll cut gut the ‘allowance’ part,” want her—her with her pretty ways, yo Rone oraye Bie Seu 20 bere ee said Caled. “That's fuse what your an’ clever brain an’ gorgeous little {Over son; ani gots beter Ate, father pays as part of his fine for face. An" you can't even sulport her. willin’ to do your dooty by workin’ bringin’ you Into the world. You can't even say: ‘I've got ten y 0 ” Inble to pet sore on you any time an’ dollars a week of my own. I'll give *F,Denlree. Hell full of workers, atop playin’ the alloorin’ role of Hu- it all to her. You've no money—no _ “It all seema so horrible—so gross man Meal Ticket. What'll you do prospects. An’ you want her to ex- 7,80, Metertall” muttered the boy. then?” change herself for that. Her that “But—but you're right, alr, I can sce “You don't quite understand,” pro- could marry a« Mt ROW, BELL)" millionaire If 8h "ig stretched hie hands out before him in an Impulsive gesture of de- spat) StiN," finished Cate ought to be, hey? Mos But most things are. Now look here! I've wasted a lot of time on’ a lot of bad tastin’ truths over you, I don’t Know why I did It, except that I al- ways like to jaw after I'vahad big fight on, It kind of lets off steam. Here's the answer in a nutshell: I'm Misa Sheviln's guardian, What Miws Shevlin wants, she's goin’ to have, if 1 have to buy the White House for tested Hawa “In a year from now I shall be earning my own living and shall not be dependent on my father, There 1s good money in law and"—— “Phere ia! assented Caleb, “I've put a lot of it there, myself, trom time to time, But blamed few law- yers manage to get It out, The rest 0 to Work on street cars or’——~ “[ shal] make my way,” averred the 1nd, stoutly, “and even if I don't suc- coed at the law T always have my Iterary work to fall back on.” me ted t m-—l'm willing that the engage- ment should be a long one,” hesitated the boy, battling futilely against the vulgar truth of Caleb's words, "tL wouldn't ask her to marry me ti I was able to support her—to support her well." “An! in the mean time, over, with merciless mean time, she's to have the p! of alttin’ ‘by, eatin’ her waltin’—wattin" year—losin' good chances—| reed Con- o—"in the ent ee tracked at parties ar n, because 1 My literary . , at at parties an’ so on, because her, If she wants you she can have fy literary work, Twas Yale cor- ghey engaged an’ no- longer in the you, If she don't 1H rospondent for the Star all the te T-murriage market—waltin' year after consent I could give wouldn't amount was at college. And more of My BtOr- Ce ee eT Me i drottiness an’ fea are being accepted all the time by fer youth sor Lg Hulton cnerentone apers and magazines, And,” seok- thatou'll a: AR Reiger to a hoot in Hades. Pers‘nally, I nink you'd better wait till you grow p an’ got a job before you talk ‘bout ng mightily to aubdue the thrill of q wife? You don't mean to be ‘ It's h fra Not sublime pride in his voice and to drooke: rout Me marryin’, But it'e her affair, No ak in A tuattar-ahefact tone aa he crooked: roulre only Just foolish, ming, If ehe wants you she oan have played his trump card, “last month I had a seven page story in Scribner's.” “where,” curtous, “In Scribner|s," repeated Hawarden, But look the thing In the eyes tell me: I4 it square?! it an honest bargain you offer? Aren't you c in’ the one girl in the world you ought to do most for? “But with suoh an you, Put it up to her, It's past mo. ‘An’ now trot along. You've taken more of my time than you could pay for in a dozen seven-page atories Don't stop to thank me, Chase.” “tut I do thank you @ thousand asked Caleb, genuinely plained the bo eighty dollars for it" he @ pitiful clutch at his vanishing geif- | rospect, Caleb's eye brightened. Fla looked | at Hawarden with a new Interest | “Kighty dollars?” he — repeated, “How long’d it take you to write tt out?’ The True Yuletide Spirit never brought out so beautifully in any other story as in A CHRISTMAS CAROL By Charles Dickens vid be read or reread by Evening World is going to This classi season, Ro Th Christmas wee Read it for your own sake and for the sake of those whose Chri mas you may be led to make happier by reading it. ery one at the present rint {t complete during bout three days, I think,” an awered the boy, puzzied at the ques- | tion, Not so bad. Hundred an’ “tem! @xty dollare a week, with Sunday off, times!" exclaimed Hawarde: hands with boyish vehemne: boy, in perfect innocence, n It was in the morning fhe ©! na he was jumping on Sapital, yesterday afternoon, when his foot kilpped on the dragged honk: tee nearly half a bloc! were broken and his body ix covered opened letters before him. ‘The papers say hia face is battered almost beyond tion." you heard? papers, with bruises, they I thanktin’ me a, I told you, you about your business, Ughted youth, acrous to his deak chatr, be holdin’ a levee of the ar’stocracy this morntn’ atiff aa ever, ruddy patoh on where consumptt surrender fa with a nod neat, “| hope I have not broken tn upon very Important work,” began Stand- tah, glancing at the mountain of lét- gtep brought Conover nearer to her, the courtly, Caleb always found so jarring, “per mit me to congratulate you on your Arareek gates, fe t powerful an influence low men. I" |taln of an unwon esday. December.1 HY NOT PTL © AND SHE CATR ~ s L THIN (IT WAS BROREN INTHE SHIPPING HOW EACH BRok \ECE HAPPENS “y E WRAPPED AND TED UP SEPARATELY —I'm awfully obliged to you. “What's that? snapped Cal “About Mr, Biacarda?” asked It see ving stre the t car, uy steps along, face downward, “Too badt" You can run an’ tell {4 if you want to, N M Waving out the ‘A clerk entered with a card, “Send him tn,” Reuben Standish, gaunt, gray was ushered private office, Tho old man’s was a monotone of « r k flaunted a Ing espectal? “Wiret of all,” ¢ old-world wt bo a great thir Calen, want 48 you can It appeared that Mr, Standish want- ed much, thou n he did not tain stocks wher y gina! b. when Joes all this kind w When nity. I came I was afraid I'd meet some favors to me, I am not obliged to such fate as poor Mr, Blacarda.” b, all reniality wiped out from his voice “Have: and he w Two of his ribs recogni~ remarked Conover, dry- “Folks ought to be careful how try to Jump onto heavy-movin’ », don't go It's up ‘to her, as st likely, she'll send So long!" bewildered, de- Caleb threw himself back in his leather chair and fished from a case tho ever-present cigar, Con- overs mouth set in a grim smile as he glanced at it. he said, moving "TL seem to into the for a bone Caled greated him and motioned him to a to wield fo over one's fel it hilltop makin’ neem to vated tn thet to help me eee +9 |mirthiess laugh of the man who ts |Insulted and dare not resent the af- |front, who compromises with tram- | pled self-respect by grinning where he should curse. | “Good Joke, ain't 1t? agreed Caleb, reading the broken aristocrat like an open page, “So much for my first reason for helping you out. My see- ond reason is because I want to do you @ neighborly turn. We are nelgh- t we, Standish? [ think pund to dinner with you some Of course!” cried day evenin’ of this weok suit you?” asked Caleb, break- ing in on the loosely strung speech guest. “Friday?” echoed Standish, taken aback, “Why—why—my family are to be at home that evening’ White spots leaped into view at either side of Caleb's close-shut ips, and something lurid @amed far ack in his eyes, Had Blacarda—in \hie hospital een that look he might hi fered relapse, Stan near: dd the expression passed unnoticed, “L know your fam'ly’s to be home that night,” said Cono: in” curt. ously muffied voice. “ a dinner party you're pd An’ a mustcle afterward. 'welve guests to the dinner, ‘Hout two hundred to the musicla. I'm comin’ to both, You don't object, [_s'pose?” “Not at all! Nonsense!" fumed adish, in fearful straits, “But*— “Then, that's settled,” decided Con- over, “Thanks,” He bent over the oheckbook, pen in hand. Standish, at his wit's end, made one more attempt to drag him- self free of the dilemma. “T know you Won't be offended,” he faltered, with another dry cough, ‘if I frankly—frankness ie always best, I think—that_ I"—— “Look here, Mr, Standish,” said the Fighter, “don’t ever make the blun- |der of thinkin’ @ man can't under- |atand you Just because you can’t un- derstand him, Lf you'd sald te of your own crowd: ‘I can't invi you to my house because my fam'ly’s goin’ to be there, because you ain't fit to meet my women'—if that to one of them he'd a’ been your enemy for Hfe, You wouldn't ‘a’ dared insult him #0, But you said it to me because you tl ht © [wouldn't understand. Well, I do. Shut up! I know what you want me to say, an’ I don't want to hear tt. I'm not comin’ to your heuse for love of you; but i'm comint just Ure maine —1I guess I've bought my right to, If of course! to your dinner an’ the mustole, You ought to be grateful that I don't in- «iat on singin’ there, I'm goin’ on Friday, an’ you're word around that sure of tt, I'l date this check ahead to next Saturday,” A \ast remnant of man! up within the consumptive president's withered soul. “rm not to be bulldozed, Mr, Con- 1" he satd, with @ certain dig- “Because you extend business m © admit @ man of your character to my home, And I shall not, As for the loan"—— “As for the loan,” replied Conover, shrugging hig shoulders and tossing heckbook back in the drawer, “I'm not obliged to stave off ruin from a man that thinks I'm not fit to enter his home, That's all, Good day. Ife slammed abut the desk drawer and began to look over some of the the for Tho old man had risen to hie feet, hia eyes fixed on the closed drawer like those of @ starved dog on a chunk of meat, His mouth-corners twitehed and humiliation forced an unwonted motature into hin ey things. Sometiines there's apt to be van, Conover," he began, tenta- 4 murprige for the jumper. Now cleat "dood day!” retorted Caleb, with- out rising Ma eyes from the papers he was sorting. “Mr, Conover!" coughed Standieh, in despair, “I'll—T'll be very glad wf you'll dine with us on Friday night.” Conover opened the drawer, tonsed the check across the table and went on with his work. “Tl be there,” he @runted. CHAPTER VI. In the House of Rimmon. JONOVEIR swung down the hill toward the valley in whore contre twinkled the Mehta of the Arareek Country Club, It was on the evening n@- of the day he had received Standish and Hawarden, A girl in a white dress was walk- ing a short distance ahead of him as he neared the clubhouse, Each long 4 tera and papers on the desk. At hae Gad, WhikeA 4 the or All, BY Wore _tmmartant’’ nave couple wore in no haste, but seemed . Aweritice boy do it while I loafed, bent on enjoying the beauty of the might in leisurely fashion before aded Standish, In reaching their destination, As Caleb manner that @ fow rods from the the man hatled him, came alongsid great victory at the Capitol yeatsr- It was Cajne, Conover, barely re- Any, TT tie ceroutad entirely membertng himeelf tn time to imi- Hiarke sour own personal endeavors. tate the other's salute, pulled off his bat and slouched toward the two. “Miss Standish,” said Caine, after vquit sreeting the Fighter, “may I present Mr, Conover?” The girl held out her hand shyly, Make It aa Short Galop, as he took tt, looked down at her with considerable interest, He was curious to eee what manner of be able to condense his wishes to the woman the fastidious Caine had @o degree rated ehiee Bom. long idolized, and to whom, In face Weel | tye other's of much rumored family opposition, nfaaion, ned with only per- he had recently become engaged. potory atte to a recital of ne The lights of the open clubhouse Aaron Burr trans, lua the danger #0F shone full upon Letty Standish, of a "run;" with Sheed to the @nd Caleb's first curiosity changed 1 depression as to somothing Like astonishment, Bhe n Mr Standi#h'® was @ plump little creature, with @ the pretty, slack face, “Looks Uke a measly rabbit!" thought Conover, in amused con- tempt. "“An’ that's what Amat Nich- clas Caine's been workin’ all his lite to win, is it? Gee! but it's queer “An' that gives me a license to do what kinks 4 sane man’s brain'll take ft again? suggested Caleb. Standish laughed, The whore a Woman's conce) \d pititul, Outwilpdly he was ietening with 5, 1915 UUMPLETE RUVEL IN THE EVENING WORLD for CHRISTMAS WEEK A CHRISTMAS CAROL ‘ll one of her igbted—except in the eyes— m, ‘ou'd said in,’ iter man’s good enough to from I think. Do you know bad he's good enougn a soe h As’ “No, mata waid Caleb, “He'e a Yeternoon I'm goin’ to get an invite ik ae Bet wwal lates tf Fem Tight while Im there, Just to make hall stony immobility to Letty’s timid bay 4 id oor a a 11 the ‘or lack of a gallery guests who had come to hear the speeches sat in the double ranks of which lined the large dining room, Conover and the two others during & momentary lull between speeches. Letty was greeted cor- + dially by such psopie as she passed z on her way to her seat. Caleb, cort, found himself object of more courtesy than had ever before been his portion at the Ara- reek, 5 better-lookin’ than 1 oA ih though: , mused Conover, she's a good dresser, Mi face ain't real'y #o fovlish, Si a at Dey so much may have for other girls, Everybody Standish feoms giad to see this gon; an’ some of their has slopped over onto me, ra a wife like that I'd strut right into the gold-shirt crowd an’ they'd hang a ‘Welcome, Little Stranger!’ for me, If Dey can get into it set by marryin’ one of ‘em, I the same rule ought to work Till talk it over some time Caine, He ought to know,” A ripple of hand-clapping roused Caleb from his disjointed reflections, and he Joined with vigor in - Ing the # he had not hi “What an easy speaker Mr, Vroom ia!" said Letty. “Don't you avy men, Mr, Conover? Don't yor it must be wonderful to a speech without being frigh' to death? To stand up before go many beople and just talk to them as tf" —— Kasleat thing in the world!” an- nounced Caleb, dully irritated ‘at her Praise, “Any one can do tt, All # man needa is to say to himself: Tm a blame sight better, cleverer, man than any of this talkin’ do: to," Then he won't be afraid of ‘em. Because he di ‘em, That's the had when I've got @ speech to make, lota easier to stand up in an \- face suit an’ talk lke Vroom dito @ friendly crowd than to try and per- suade one ichy grocer to handle ur special brand of washin' soda. here’a where reel el’quence comes “Year joined Latty, with mer wavering little smile. “ clever to put it in such an ori Ci I never thought of that be- $ 3 : 4 : Their present wearer seemed lost in their voluminous folds.” Yet, even thus hampered, he dodged hie pursuers with ap agility litte short of incredible in so old a man, In his flight he came into contact with one of the slender pillars near the toastmaster's chair. Wrapping both arms about this, he slid to thy floor and crouched there, still ae ing to the pillar, making ho 5 simian faces over his shoulder at the trio beside the pantry door, “Seward!” deciaimed the toastmas- ter, “what does this mean?” “I—[—am extremely sorry, Mr. Dillingham!" answered th ward, venturing forward, “I'm sure I apol- ogize most sincerely. I wouldn’ have had such a thing happen for worlds. We were short of men in the kite! to-night, sir. That—that old panhandler over there, sir,” point~ ing an abhorring finger at the retu- ee, “came around looking for an odd b, So I set him to washing dishes. te said he'd stopped off a train on his way from the We: some of the wines, wasn't looking. He’ state, sir. hen one of men caught him pocketing some forks and I told two of the waiters to search him and send for the police. They grabbed him, but he slipped away and ran in here. So I"-—~ “That will do! That wil dot’ thundered the toastmaster, \- fi ing, after diverg trials, in bi in upon the narrative. “Remove him. Atonce! And as quietly as you 5 [am more sorry than Ioan say." be went on urbanely, addressing guests, “that such @ disgraceful soene should have"—— A howl from the man on the floor eut short the apology. Two servants 9 had approached to do the toast- master’s bidding, As the first of them seized him by the shoulder the little man screamed like a mad cat, Lock- 4 ing his legs about the pillar, he turned upon his assailants with flats and teeth, Sighting with the deadly, oaek lentific fury of a cornered wild : ne. ql “Oh, the sacred Arareek!" mut- tered Caine, leaning across toward Conover, But Caleb did not hear, Almost alone of all those tn the room, he had shown no excitement. . “Leave me be!" the latter was manding in a squealing hiccough, the cessation of attack left him breath for words, “Leave me be, can't yes? Fine lot-—swellsh you are, ss to pick on one poor old man what } never harmed none of you! Lemme ‘lone!" ag Dillingham, with thoughts of diplomacy, edged closer. “T! that feller called ir D— pan- handler! ‘Sale. I'm honesh, 'spec- tible workin’ man, Fought for m' country In 8-8-Shivil War, Got m' hon'rable discharge. Fought for im’ country while the most of you wi in—tn—y'r cradles, I'm drunk, too he confided, squinting nerved Dillingham, wouldn't a’ stolen thoshe a“ Perfec'ly shquare when I'm sho! 4 Perf'ly, Learned t’ drink while I was d—d'fendin’ m’ country, “If I had had my—my—righteh,” ie he bellowed, shrilly, glaring about | him, “I'd be ridin’ in my carry m’own carr’ge! Yesh! Thash right, Own carr’ge, Got a boy whoshe rieh ‘ —rich man, Whatsh'e do for me? Noshin't’all! Don't know Pm live, Till I struck Granite tnight, T didn’t know he'sh ‘live. Firsh time been here jn twenty yearsh, shent m't’ jatl lasht time, da Poor ol’ Bau! Con'ver!” (To Be Continued.) 0 ae