The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-09-22
TIE
| MINORITY
By FREDERICK TREVOR HILL
Author Of 1.-The Case and
Exceptions" Etc.
Copyright, lgaa, oy Frederick A. stokes a Coz
Continued

II causing StrlHe dIG sowing the
reeds of discomfort. BY Jove, she did
hat prettily. 1t was worthy of bet
FER game. And then the bargain
whatever it was, with the agitator Nc
Uannis, and his attempts with the fac
tory inspectors, probably to SOW the
peds of discomfort more widely. That
vas almost unnecessary, and scarcely
Is subtle at the other moves. All, yes,
tut that was probably McMannis' own
asst. She would have had no hand in
uch clumsy angling. But the friend
ship with Culver showed her touch
again. He was to steal the informa-
ion which would allow competition
10 seize whatever back-handed diplo-
macy failed to attract. And that was
he play which had finally landed him!
t was all part and parcel of one big
cheme to get control of his property
md rob him in one way or another
Well, the end was not yet, and those
who thought it was mistook their
nan!
He could remember a conversation
lad long ago-God! it must have been
Jges ago! And yet her voice spoke
he words, and hers was the face that
Interpreted them as she sat in the
aosey, fire-lit room asking and answer
ng questions.
What qualities would l choose
or woman were I limited to three?
Wy first thought would be sincerity,
act, and loyalty. | might want to
'evise that list on maturer considera-
don"
And for a man."
THE same. Sincerity, tact and 10y
atty"
What about courage?"
DO you mean moral or physical
Nourage? Moral courage is more a
equisite that a quality. One has to
have that in order to live at ALL"
Il was thinking of physical cour-
1ge."
Il should not name that among the
irst. There have been heroes who
we're towards, anG more heroic because
If their cowardice. Physical bravery
Fou think so?"
Could he have spoken the words he
lad written, face to face with her
whose voice was sounding through
hose questions and answers? If not,
he was a coward to have written
written them as he did. And. yet he
owed her even in that paroxyism of
cage, and while he stabbed with every
word, would love her if she confessed
With her own lips to every act he had
But she could not be guilty.
There must be some explanation, some
escape from the horrible, haunting
lacts.
She must not read that letter. If he
her now, she would not
open it, but she would have to be told
The reason.
He sat down at his desk and picked
Ip his pen.
He would write another letter now
But which would she open first? He
could send it by messenger and ask her
not to read the other. And tell her
the reason? No. that was impossible
She must not get that letter. She must
never know.
He wrote a formal note declining
her invitation, directed, and stamped
It. and crossing over to the window
again, gaZed into the night
nerce gust of wind drove the rain
in a sparkling shower against the
pane binding him for the instant, and
driving him from the glass. When he
peered out again, the skyline was
black as ink. the lights in the cross
had disappeared. He looked hurrled'
ly at his watch. IIalf-past eleven
With a stifled cry he dashed from the
room, down the stairs, past the sleep
ing Waterman, and out into the storm
swept street.
The Square was quite deserted, and
Washington Place fianked by its giant
resembled a long, black can
yon Gusts of wind every now and
again. drove the rain in a noisy spatteI
against the walls, and then all was
quiet, save for the rushing of water
in the cutters.
Occasionally the air would throb to
the sound of slow, heavy breathing, be-
coming more and more rapid, painting,
fading away, sinking TO a
hiss, and then bursting into a confu-
sion of mufiled sounds, as the lights
of an elevated train blinked across the
ST. -liLe 1uen silence once more; the
patter Of rain-drops; the gurglo an
overcharged sewer: the rattle and
Clang CT a belated street-car with its
file cr OF light at the end of the dark
canyon. and the steady drip, drip, drip
Of overGowinS caves,
The rain lad turne1'to a drizzle and
then 10 fcg Not a breath of wind
stirred, but a attentive listener could
have heard the dull sound of footsteps
moving toward the Square Nearer and
rearer they came, stopped, and came
or again, until a. length the figure Of
o man appeared ,mough the fog, bag
llung across his shoulder He paused
before the nail-EoX, his white rubber
coat glistening under the misty lamp
light. and lazily shifted mis- bag. He
-rpa,,ed n++arIv indifferent IN the rain