The San Francisco call., 1906-07-08
BY.
A. B. WARD

quietly You know 1 can't"
II don't see why not" returned tno
young man impatiently- Ihere
soul in town but expects ana
you to. less it's that damn
'0% ..Hurrv upr, called a voice from be-
II can't go. Dick" I can't" said
Vaughan. You wouldn't have any re-
spect for me II I did. shouldn't nave
any for myself. What. run away
! 1T amt running away" said DlcK-
IT'S being carried Off We're going TO
carry you ofr-you don't understand.
There amt any time to lose This IS
your last show. The thing VIII 20
through
Il know it," said Vaughan.
You know it and-oh. my God'
cried Dick
Hurry up!" called the voice from
below.
Dick made a stride toward the
prisoner "Parson," he said desper-
ately. you've got to go. there's no use
talkin'"
Vaughan drew back and faced him.
"Dick, IL you carry me away and pre-
vent-justice, as God lives. will come
| back!'
A whistle blew shriIly in the yard.
the signal OF danger.
There they are. nowr' exclaimed the
would-be rescuer and dashed from the
room. There were sounds indicating
the approach OF another party or
horsemen-shouts. the popping OF re-
volvers. then Dick and his company
galloped away. followed by the militia
Vaughan listened till the last hoof-
beat was sttlled, then resigned himself
to the Loneliness and the silence 1t
was not a bright night. but there were
stars, and the fires OF the Richmond
Mills lit up the space near and the
overhanging sky. At intervals ths
flame leaped up, receiving the ore, and
the country around the heavens were
dyed red with the light OF It.
Cast thy gold into the furnace"
sang the inner. remote. hidden self OF
the watcher. the inaccessible self that
sings and repeats phrases when the
outer self may be agonizing or palsied-
Cast thy gold into the furnacer'
The relentless. devouring flame
how cruel 1t vast The sacrihce-how
complete, how like his ownI
All. ii was cruel! With all the
crowding eloquence thrust back In him
and sealed. WITH all the eager. vital
izing sympathy'Nn him frozen, to be
hurled out. Just as he was beginning to
know what life meant TO these men
and women. just as he was learning
their actual needs-how abnormal, un-
natural. uncalled for IL seemed!
But-were words all, however eIo-
quent? Was sympathy all. however
warm and true? What of the nan7
What Of the man?
The man. he knew. had failed. There
was Just one more chance given him to
make good" to recognize iustfce 70
surrender the due. to paw the nenaItv
Better that. better thousand times tha
swift. sharp stroke! Silenced the voice
would have given no uncertain sound
suffered through. the life would leave a
meaningi
Here would be an appeal for Justice
/ Tor right living. stronger than anv plea
his lips could frame!
And 10 her, the woman who had been
heart OF his heart. life Of his life In
that brief moment of their mutual rec
\ osniuon, TO her also in no other way
/ could he make good" in no other wav
could he insure to her the preservation
OF what was pure and true and good
In their love. To stay, to live. TO Weld.
as would be nevitabIe-Inevttable
With every pulse In him he responded
20 the thought OF possessing her. OF
being possessed by her
But she would always feel that he
had sinned. in thought. that day-that
she had sinned because of HIM. No. no!
No. no.
Cast thy gold into the furnace
sang the inner self. That will T."
answered the outer self The gold OF
my purpose, however mistaken, the
gold OF my service, however imperfect
the gold of my love for her. however
alloyed. the gold OF my desire for thee.
o my Godr'
The flames rose and sank. struggled
and gave way, as the fire in the street.
had done on, the night Of the service
at Lou Pugh's.
Touch my lips with a live coal
from Off thine altar" he had prayed
then.
His lips. Now the pen.tr.t,nx
cleansing fire burned to his souli
Steps came and went. came and went
again. Outside. in the corridor, Mat
] Kyle, longing 20 serve. fearing to in
trude, in an agony OF sympathy, ap-
preached and retreated. AT last
Vaughan heard him and spoke.
/ Come IN. Mat" he called Come In.
good, kind friendr'
/ The sheriff entered. Tho experfeneea
/ OF the last week had told on him His
round. stolid face had lengthened.
sharpened. He had been quickened by
what he had witnessed and felt
Il didn't know but you miEht-vant
somethin'r" he faltered
What time is it?'' asked Vaughan.
After ten. 'Twarn't but half-pass
eight when the boys was here. g there
anything 1 can do? Anybody you
minute you said the word"
I'D rather you 10 shrive me than any
priest, Mat" Vaughan replied
The idea caught his fancy. It would
not be hard to talk to this kind. simple
hearted soul. He would like to leave a
message
'Sit down." he said to the sheriff
And let me say my last words TO Won {"
Mat sat down awkwardIy, his fat
hands on his knees. His heart was
humping away, like a steel hammer.
under his gaudy waistcoat; there was a
lump in his throat winch he could not
/ swallow. He would rather be put 10
the torture than 10 sit here and feel
like this. but II 'twould ease the ParsoD
any to talk, by beeswax. he would
stand IT,
They may ask you-afterward-
what I said" pursued Vaughan. II
won't burden your memory with a LOT
of words. 1t isn't necessary. I'll leave
only short message to those who will
| care enough to ask you what I said
Tell them this: 1t isn't what a man
says or does, but what he thinksY Tell
them. what man thinks"
Mat looked wise. He couldn't for ~