Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-16
THEY couNTERED AND DELIVERED STAGGERING BLOWS
he look up until his visitor had been

he look up until his visitor had been
standing for several moments just inside
the study door,, When finally he did
glance up from the Uttered desk he rose
hastily and advanced to the newcomer
with outstretohed hand.
"Phtl!' he said, cordially. TITS good to
see you. Sit down, man, and give an ac-
count of yourself. You've been a truant
here these two months. How are you, and
how's the lady2 You haven't come to ask
me to reduce the fee, have your" he end
ed, playfully.
The newcomer took the rectors hand
Imply; his eyes shifted uneasily before
the rector's buoyant gaze; his face wore
an expression of passive resignation. He
sank into an easy chair and tossed his
hat onto nearby couch.
i m done for" he announced in a color
less voice.
Nonsense! don't believe It," said the
rector. with sturdy conviction.
Financially" the other explained with
hopeless final1ty in his tone. Every
things gone. I'm pauper.'
Tell me about It, said the rector, SYM
pathetically.
For a moment the two men looked at
each other silently; the rector keenly. and
the other man questioningly. Neither man
was much over thirty, and both were broad
shouldered well built and good looking. Yet
there was a vast difference between them
The rector had a strong, kindly face But
for the eyes, it might have been the face of
saint. Those eyes however, were very
surface; they probed ones every weak spot i;
they detected every sham. The other man S
features were beautifully regular but the
mouth was weak; 1t suggested querulous-
ness; determination seemed to be fatally
lacking.
About that fee, Rod" he said, laughing
In hollow fashion, there won't be any for
the simple fact there won't he any wedding.
It's just as told you. I'm cleaned CUTOFF
the. boards"
The rector waited quietly for his guest to
continue.
II don't know why 1 came to tell you
all this he went on, unless it's because
I'm going away the last of the week, and
wanted you to understand why. / should
never have left Barton & Company. Rod?"
so | told you at the time said the rec
tor drily.
II know his guest said hastily, but j
didn't want that humdrum life, and / didn't
want to drag Gertrude into 1t when We
were married either. l wanted money, and
the things money will do for you. l thought
j knew the street pretty WE'LL was quite
successful with my flyers when / was at
Bartons, you know. 1 got along swim
mingly at the start. Then things changed.
That p & h. business last winter squeezed
me pretty hard, and copper broke just in
time to finish me up. 1t took just two
months to wipe out twelve years.
why don't you go back TO Barton s!
You're still valuable there" the rector sug-
gested.
''Oh hang It, man, / can't. l left there
with too much red fire-that dinner and the
toasts to the new power ON change, ana
all that sort of thing, you know. L met ola
Barton on the street only last week he
told me whenever / wanted TO come back
to let him know. i thanked him and In
formed him | was getting on famousiy. 1
had just 800 in the world then"
He paused and drummed nervously on the
arm of his chair
Il dropped the last of that Tuesday night
on "a crooked roulette wheel" he added.
The rector grunted his disgust.
What are you going to do now? he
asked sharply.
I'm going away the last of this week for
q fresh start"
Where and what?" was the rector's fiat
inquiry.
II don't know" the man replied YEARLY.
The rector looked through the study win
dows at the cloudless sky and the budding
branches of the trees. He felt the potential
force of nature at work out there. Opposite
him this hopeless. helpless human
atom. He felt his anger rising.
How much have you told Gertrude of all
this?' he asked at length.
Nothing" the man said uneasily II
can't tell her. somehow. She thought I'd
do such great things the street, you
know. / shall write her the whole miser-
able business when / get away, but can't
tell her now"
The rector sat up In his chair Before
visbly.
Phillip" the rector began sternly, and
then stopped.
II hope, Rod" the other man said with
weary dignity, you're not going to suggest
praying with me-"
Me- SAID the RECTOR emphatically. I'm
pot. The fact is, I'm striving to control
IN eVermestering desire to take you by the
collar and throw you Into the street"
Ihere was moments awkward silence;