The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-08-09

panicky exodus could scarcely have
been more headlong.
Kent stayed partly because q local
attorney for the railroad was as neces-
iRry In CASTOR the bereaved as In Gas
ton the strenuous; partly. also, be-
cause he was a student OF his kind,
and the broken city gave him labor
atory opportunities for the study Of
human nature at its worst.
lie marked the raising OF the black
flag as the CASTOR castaways, getting
sorrily adoat one by one. cleared their
decks for action. Some Bluebeard ad-
miral there will always be for such
stressful occasions, and David Kent,
standing aside and growing cynical
day by day. laid even chances on Hawk.
the ex-district attorney. on Major
Guilford, and on one Jasper G. Bucks,
sometime mayor OF CASTOR the rides
cent.
Afterward he was to learn that he
had moderated the gifts OF the former
mayor. Fer when the famine time was
fully come. asd there we're no more
argosies drifting GastUnward for the
buccaneers TO sack and scuttle. Il was
Jasper G. Bucks who called a con-
ference Of his fellow werwolves. set
forth his new cast for fortune, and
brought the junto. the child OF sheer
desperation heroely at bay, into be-
ing.
IL was In the autumn Of that first
cataclysmic year that Secretary Lor-
ing. travelling from Boston to the
state capital on mission for the Vest
ern Pacific, stopped over a train with
Kent. After rather dlspiriting din
ner In the deserted Mid-Continent
cafe. and some blowing OF the field OF
recollection in Kent's rooms in the
FarQuhar building. they took the de-
serted street in the golden twilight 10
walk TO the railway station
1t was a decent thing for you 10
do-stopping over a train with me.
Grantham," said the host, when the
FIVE squares intervening had been half
measured. Il have had all kinds Of
time out here In this Cod-forsaken
desert. but never until to-day any
iaAlhH aEhA 0oAhAhb AuAAAAnf hNAA
with a man l know and care for"
Kent had not spoken since they
had felt their way ont Of the dark
lower hall OF the Farquhar building.
Up - this point the talk had been
poll ;eShy reminiscent Of the men OF
their nrst university year. Of mutual
fr.sads in tAr far-away Gods coun-
try" 90 eastward. OF the Gastonian epic,
OF sll things save ouly two-the ex-
Hes east for fortune In the unianed
west. and one other.
That brings us n little nearer 20 the
things that be-and 10 your prospects.
DAVID" said the guest How are
you fixed here?"
Kent shrugged.
"Catton Is dead, az you see; too
de.1 70 bury"
why don't you get ont ~ Il. then?'
II shall some day perhaps. Up 10
date rhere has been no place 10 go 70,
aHd no good way 20 arrive. Like
sore thousands Of others. I've made an
ass cf myself here. Loring"
by coming. you mean? Oh. I don't
know about that You have had some
hard knocks. take Il. bit II you are
TIE came David Kent uIed 70 know.
they have made a bigger man Of you"
''Thmk so?"
'1'd bet on f. We have had the
instnn epic done out for US IN the
sewspapers. No man could live
through such an experience as you
must have had without growing a
few inches. Hello, What's this7"
A turned corner had brought them
IN front of lighted building in Texas
street with a struggling crowd gath
cred about the porticoed entrance. As
Loring spoke. there vas a rattle OF
snare drums followed by the dunn
dunn OF the bass, and a brass band
ramped out the opening measures OF
a campaign march.
1T Is a rally" said Kent. when they
had passed enough beyond the zone
Of brass-throated clamorings to make
the reply audible. Il told you that
the CASTOR wolf-pack had gone into
politics We are In the throes OF a
state election. and there Is 10 be a po-
litlcal speech-making at the opera
house tonight. with Bucks in the title
role. And there is fair measure Of
the deafness Of the town. When you
see people flock together like that to
hear a brass band play. II means one
Of two things: that the town hasn't
outgrown the country village stage.
or else It has passed that and all other
stages and Is well on its way to the
cemetery"
THAT Is one way OF putting H." To-
ring rejoined. "if things are as bad
as that, it's time you were moving on,
dom. you think?"
Il guess 50" was the lack-luster re-
Spouse, "Only ! don't know where 70
go. OF what TO do when I get there"
They were crossing the open square
in front Of the wide-eaved passenger
station. A thunderous tremolo, dom
mating the distant band music, thrilled
on the ssh air, and the extended
arm Of the station semaphore with its
two dangling lanterns wagged twice.
MY train" said Loring, quickeDing
HIS step.
NO" Kent corrected. at is a spe-
cial from the west, bringing Bucks