The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-04-23

into 4 few moments OF Uuhappy Obliy-
ian and then Srins ut you with Grass
satisfaction when you cheer him-not
for himself or because his Maine means
anything, but simply for what lac la,
done.
This darlington comes ont Of no
where" Desbro continued. II grace
less, coarse tibered clod, with Il giants
strength and the broad ideas Of goat.
hungry for nOtoriety of the sort his
great muscles can command. and you
pampcr his cheap cravings with unc-
ton. You sit in the stands and shout
yourselves hOarse while he is battcring
some poor fellow in the arena. and you
will go further You will desire the
capture of this athletic lion in spite of
the fact that he is "a social impossi-
bility, and you will be crowding around
trying to put your fraternity pins on
his coat. Bah.
y talked with che man, looked int
his great. oXlike cyeS-dead, devoid of
the spark Of real life
The unfinished sentence broke abrupt
> :.
Desbro's startled glance TO the door
way, whore turning his cane in his
hands and staring Mt the speaker with
an expression wholly indcscribablc
stood Burlington For Il moment there
was the dead silence of utter embar-
rassmcnt; then one by one the mon
turned to the tables. while darlington
cleared his throat ana spoke,
Il came to see if possibly | hadn't
misunderstood YOU" he said, turnin.
to Dcsbro. That name you mention
ed was Norton wasn't it,"
Dcsbro, redder than any man had
ever seen him, nodded without speak
ing.
Il thought possibly ] hadn't under
STOOD darlington explained, backing
awkwardly out of the door. and | did
know man named Horton"
\ few moments later Dcsbro passed
the door of the billiard room, wearing
the raincoat and SLOUGH hat which he
invariably wore on the evening walks
which We're as much part Of his eX-
istence as his meals.
No man pretended to know the object
of these nightly walks of Desbros. To
all inquiries he responded that they
gave him chance To thinl, without in
terruption."
At the gate DcSbrp paused 10 light n
cigarette and the fare of the match
us he shielded it from the Snappy Oc-
tobcr wind brought his thin features
into prominence against the darkness.
Babbimglou. standing under n tree not
4 dozen yards away turned as the sui
phur Sputtcrcd and saw His great
hand clinchcd instinctivcly into a fist
and he had already taken step for
ward when Dcsbro turned ana started
quickly down the street
Burlington waited Il few moments,
then stepped lightly on to the sidewalk
and followed, quietly at first and then
without caution as Dcsbro paid no at
tention to the footballs behind him. He
glanced now and then at the recedinc
lights and then increased the length OF
his strides as DeSbro's phrases throb-
bed through his mind.
Social impossibilityw he muttered,
gritting his teeth over the phrase. "Ill
teach the little whelp"
His cvns nover loft tbc LITTLE snarl,
which marked tho others positjon but
every time he started TO close the gap
betwccn tbom something checked him
His thorghts refused 70 RIM ia any but
given pont-a fierce desire to get his
hands unon thn man who had hold his
ignorance M 10 roomful of men
while he stood and listened hclDlcssIv,
! As he had stood under the tree in front
of the house he had felt only a sense
of impotcncv. of shame. a gulping feel.
ing Of disappointment which was not
easy to understand. sickcning rcaliZa.
! ton that some Of Dc>hro's words had
rung true.
Block after block the man in front
walked turning now to thc RIGHT and
| now to tho left sometimes walking
! ranidIv and again idlinr along at q
| snairs pace They passcd through the
! busincss streets lonely and deserted
| under fine harsh glare of the arc LIGHTS
! Here Desbro naused TO talk with n no
! lIceman with whom he seemed TO he
on excellent terms, and turned sudden
! " cold ot thc sight of the patrolman
| Rabhinntou crossed thn stroat onf