Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-05

his lips. Hooper and I might have been nom
existent for all the heed he paid to
No. L am not said Karl.
Then you will travel with me to France to-
morrow"
That would be useless Steinda1 | can para
lyze your arm, root you immovable to the ground"
All, but that would make you indeed coward.
Yet, take the chance l will fight you with my
hands tied, if need be. My teeth will serve
q cannot fight you,' said Karl slowly II
refuse to murder you, and certainly shall not let
you murder me- No, Stendal, you must live.
am sorry to be so hard you, but you really must
continue to exist"
Is that your final answer"
"Absolutely''
"Do you assign cause?"
"For you, punishment, and it may be retribution,
to be followed perhaps by the emergence of soul
from your bloated body. For me, suffering too in
a form you cannot understand"
Il decline your terms, murmured Steinda1
moistening his lips again and advancing a pace.
Col said Karl sternly, and to my utter sur
prise the other man turned and left the room. We
heard him walk steadily down the corridor and
caught the click of his boots he stepped on a
marble staircase 1t Hooper who broke the
queer silence which fell on us.
You seem to have taken the measure of Stein
dals backbone at any rate, he commented.
"Where l am concerned he is no longer a free
subject" said Karl YEARLY.
Tell me, interposed, why you deal so harshly
with you have actually met before
tonight"
Because l loathe such creature. He repre-
sents the pig in He has brought horror and
abasement to hundreds. Now he must wallow in
the only degradation that makes him contemplate
in his own esteem. But forgive me if l leave you
You and Hooper can find much to discuss, and l
must be alone"
He stood upright and drew hand across his
eyes | seemed to perceive slackenng of the
muscles of his finely nodded frame which almost
a symptom of complete enervation. 1t was new
and unaccountable alarm which mpeled me to say:
Twill you go home Karl, and promise me to
try and sleep?'
Il am going home" he replied. Good
night"
Clearly he did not desire any courteous
1eave-taking in the vestibule. did not offer
to accompany him. When | knew that he
~ had descended the stairs, thus avoiding the
@ ~ elevator and its possible publicity l rejoined
Hooper
"a He was smoking, and his gaze was fixed on
II the ceiling. l was in no mood for talk just
ia then. More by force of habit than otherwise
| rang for waiter and ordered whisky and
soda. The mere presence of the man, with his
- servie affability and his laden tray, was a
s tonic in itself. He brought me back from
r illnitable depths to the workaday world.
DO you partake?" l asked Hooper.
Yep"
The cigar wedged between his teeth rendered
the final labial the easier manner of speech.
l found his presence soothing too. l poured
out a small quantity of spirit, and while the
waiter uncorking bottle of soda-water
looked out of the window. 1t was a glorious
summer evening when last | the streets.
Now the faring lights were reflected in waver-
ing zigzags road and pavements, while the
shining capes of bus-drivers and cabmen caught
the eye moving pyramids.
Good heavensl" | cried, it is raining"
There was a loud report. The attendant
~