Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-28

go "a "a, - ~ go 90 a. ssS sssss..e .
ment. But no, it is too far from the
desert TO Leicester Square,
Il don't think want that book aft
er all Your friends might think 1
bagged it. But I'll buy this invention
Of yours for hundred thousand
pounds-that is, if you convince me
that it is not too dangerous
Dangerous! To the other man a
little, to you not at all. Oh, can CON
vince you of that. Then l will have a
hundred thousand pounds, and so
can finish the invention l tell you
about; and then some day you you,
who believe not in souls-will come
TO me with yours, and you will offer
me all your fortune if | will destroy
1t for you. Yes, you will come to me
as men come to the dentist, to have
killed the aching nerve in the hollow
tooth, and just as easy will l destroy
it and give you rest
rapt expression chased the
mock1ng smile from Won larsen
! heims face for moment the look
OF the religious enthusiast
If ever | become convinced that
have the article you mention. I'll
come to you, all right, Won larsen
helm. While | live l want to live and
when | die [ want to die; and as a
healthy minded agnostic, and a close
student of Darwin, I'm not worrying
about the future. Just fix me up so
can enjoy the present and I'll pay you
we'll. But how about the other man,
the man who has to stand for it all?
Have you got him on the string?"
No, | have not got him, but that
is easy-oh, very easy. For ten thous.
and pounds you can get many men. A
nice, strong, young man-that is what
we Want-but so desperate from pow
erty that he will lnot ask many ques-
lions But he must be of your star,
SO l do not find him in a minute. but
find him..
"Of course, I'd want him to know
what he was up against" said Van
draken. II wouldn't care to get him
under false pretences. hope you
understand that?"
ooh, but perfectly. l will look for
a desperate man who wants to earn
ten thousand pounds very quick.
When l find the right man l tell him
how he have to earn that money; he
will not believe it, he will laugh and
think us mad; but the money will be
good money and he will take it."
$50 you don't think he will believe
it? Why not? II l can
Because he will not wish to be-
lieve. it, but you do wish to believe
it-that is why. Some things we are
born to believe, some things we are
made to believe, but most things =
because we wish to believe"
well, we can't do more than tell
him. But suppose he gets tired of
having these second hand sprees? Is
there any way out of it for him?"
Yes answered Won Tarsenheim
refiectively. "He could kill you; then
he would have rest from you But
Ormuz wrote it down that to kill an
other man is an unwise thing to do,
for the soul of the slayer must then
bear responsibility for all the slain
has done. Thus, should the scapegoat
Stay you, he would have rest from
you for the future, but the past would
remain marked on his face forever.
For myself, I do not believe it; can
see no reason for it, Even the wise
} Ormuz was not free from supersti.
ton"
Suppose l killed the scapegoat %
asked Vandraken. "How did the sup
erstitious Ormuz figure that out?"
'Ormuz wrote it down that on the
face of the slayer would come all
the results of his acts, as though the
,, scapegoat had never been. But l be-
lieye it not. Only this l believe; that
when you die the scapegoat will be
released for the future and the past.
In death your face will have written
on it the record you escaped in life,
and the shadow will lift from the
face OF your scapegoat. For in death
your souls will become disentangled,
and as your soul is marked SO will
your face be Marked"
''But look here" said Vandrakeh
who had been rejecting, Il don't care
how | look when | am dead, but l
don't want to be dead First thing
you know, this chap will get tired of
his bargain, and want to kill me- He
won't know about Ormuzs supersti-
ton, and probably wouldn't believe it
if he did. 1t isn't good enough He
would be a sort of DOGGY man to the
end of my days. The hundred thous.
and | don't mind, but this is a differ
ent matter" He rose. you have had
your thousand, and l have had most
interesting conversation, well worth
the money. Good morning." He had
his hand on the door knob
For the first time during the inter.
view Won Tarsenheim exhibited eager
ness. He drew the curtain about the
glass cupboard, and came over to the
young man, putting his hand on his
arm Sit down again, my friend.
, will put your fears at rest"
Vandraken did not sit down, but he
turned away from the door. well, &C
ahead. I'm open to conviction
You have not ref1ected-this 9th
er man need never see your face OF
} know your name. You can be masked
he will never know, never. Come!
You will buy the invention yol
will have your years of joy, your jour
: ney to Venusberg, the joyous carouse
the arms and lips of houris, and moth
ing to pay on this earth but one hun
dred thousand pounds; and beyond
this earth you do not believe. Come