The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1899-05-26


stances | consented to leave the house.
"Will he live?" was the first question
of Gerard.
THE doctor thinks So"
Then told my story from start t.,
finish. eliminating the murderous sug-
gestion Of the Greek. Gerard was in
tensely excited.
"Good Lord" he burst out, what an
escape the lad has had!"
| concluded with the flight of Deme
trius. and gave him the Greeks letter,
which he read rapidly and placed in his
pocketbook.
Well" he said, sharply, in the tone
of man who is puzzled but won't admit
it-"well, sir. what is your opinion
Mind. your honest opinion"
"Demetrus." SAID |. slowly, search
ing for suitable epithet and selecting
the one upon my tongues tip, 'is a
damned coward"
And your reasors?" he snapped.
His restless eyes sparkled as the ad-
jectiye sputtered from my lips.
lie turned tail to save his own hide.
The boy was taken to save appearances.
When Mark was in real danger-alone
on the sands with Burlington-Demet
rius was ndecently Indifferent. But
when the doctor apprehended violent
symptoms and our friend thought that
he might be exposed to them, why,
then"
lie wilted, eh?"
"Yes; the naked coward cbtruded it,
self"
"You don't know him. young man."
"Possibly not"
HE is no coward. have known De-
metrius for 30 years-a long time. ]
repeat. he is no coward"
] touched up the horses with the
flick of the whip, and the action be-
trayed me, for Gerard laughed.
"'rake it coolly," he said. Young
men, nine times out of ten, misconstrue
the motives which govern human ac-
tions. Remember that have made a
study, profitable study, of my fellow
creatures"
"All the same" said, doggedly, "he
| is a coward"
That's quite right. Stick to your
colors. my boy. By the way, I am sur
prised that you should have taken Bur-
lington to my house"
could not excuse myself without ac-
cusng Nancy, so held my peace.
However," he continued, thoughtful
ly. I'VE have the man where we can
watch him. You may yet earn that big
salary"
Il expect to-" retorted, bluntly.
was cursing myself for speaking out
so plainly. In damning the cowardice
of the Greek l had also, by inference,
damned the cowardice of my employer.
My tongue, as usual, had outstripped
my halting brain. I was still in my
salad days and a novice in the art of
dialogue.
II suppose" said Gerard, carelessly,
that you have fallen in love with
Nancy"
The question took me so completely
by surprise that my stupid face flushed
scarlet. | began to realize that this
man, whose bodily presence was SO con-
temptible, was, conversationally speak
| ing, uduullIS me III his tiIHlS.
81 don't blame you," continued Ge-
rard, in his most matter-of-fact tones.
"She is a pretty girl and very intelli-
gent. 1t would interest me to know
whether-er-she-"
mo; she doesn't"
THANK you. like to be posted. No
no; don't frown. I dare swear that
| cha will rH 1.-Two n
wish it had been no."
He had dropped his tone of banter and
spoke gloomily, in sour, raucous ac-
cents. This man had achieved much
that the world prizes. His keen brain
and extraordinary acumen had borne
him triumphant upon the top wave of
success. Now that he had brought his
heavily-freighted vessel into safe har-
borage, he had leisure to read the log
and estimate the wear and tear.
watched him as he leaned back wearily
against the well-padded cushions of
the buggy and made a small calcula-
ton. Divide wealth, as many millions
as you please, by health, subtract time,
and what is left? Answer, the man be-
side me, haggard, wizened, prematurely
gray.
So, after all. he had seen the COM
plication of my falling in love with
Nancy-had counted the probability as
gain, an extra rivet to bind me to his
service. What puppet had been!
"Im sorry the boy is from home" +"
he muttered. II should have enjoyed
seeing him. Demetrius is overcautious
"a fault on the right side
He asked me innumerable questions
about the lad, displaying his talent for
cross-eXamination. and with it his re-
markable love for his son. Mrs. Gerard,
it appeared. had been kind enough to
give me more credit than / deserved,
and her husband expressed his appreci-
alton of my efforts in characteristic
fashion.
You are not giving me value re-
ceived." he said, brusquely, but you've
done all asked, and more"
| wondered whether Mrs. Gerard in
her letters had mentioned my eXcur-
sion into Cupid's domain, and answered
the question in the negative.
I'm a generous man." Gerard con-
tinued, with that curious infection in
his voice which had remarked when he
had pressed upon me his rarest wines;