Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-09
XXII-Continued.

Il can't" he said. stubbornly. Your
condition reverses your decision II am
to fight with any hope of winning after
what has transpired today Mr.. Co!brith
will have to be elimina ed
He had pulled the broncos down to
walk. There was soft tlluddins of
hoofs on the yielding earth of the grade
behind. but neither OF them ,,eard.
You are disappointing me-" she pro-
tested. aud now the hesitation was all
gone. "A few minutes ago. before this
rnisera BILE thing happened. you were tell
ing me of your ideal = woman
may have an ideal too. Mr.. Ford
"Yes?" he said, eagerly.
MY ideal Is he knight without fear
and without reproach-and also without
limitations. IIe will never say cannot
He Will say ! will and not for my sake.
but because his own sense of justice and
mercy and loving kindness will go hand
in hand with his ambition"
''One word" he broke in. passionately.
and now the soft thudding Of hoofs had
drawn so near that the presence Of the
overtaking horseman might have been
felt. My little allegory didn't deceive
YOU YOU are the one woman. Alicia dear.
didn't mean to tell you yet. though
think YOU have known 1t all along: had
an idea that I wanted to do something
worth while-before I spoke. But you
have given me leave: don't say you
haven't given me leave
You have taken it she said, softly.
likes. 1 think. But you mustn't spoil my
ideal. Stuart-indeed, you mustn't. You
are young. strong. invincble. as my
knight should be. But when you strike
you must also spare. You say there is
no way save the one you have indicated:
you must find a way
He smiled ruefully.
You give the cup of water only to take
it. away again. I'd rather build ten rail-
roads than to attempt to smash North
You see. I'm frightfully handicapped
right at the start--with this mine bust
ness hanging over me. But If you say IL
has to be done, it shall be. III win Mr..
happened. and he shall fire North and
the MacMorroghs first and prosecute
them afterward. I've said it,"
1: was Just here that the broncos SHE'D
the slack reins and Miss Adair looked up
and gave little shrek. Noiselessly and
so close upon the blackboard that he
might have touched either of its occu-
pants with his rawhide auirt, rode the
Mexican. When they discovered him he
was leaning forward, his half-Closed eyes
mere Sits with pin points of black fire
to mark them. and his repulsive face a
stolid mask. Ford's hand went instinc-
lively to the whip: it was the only avail
able weapon. But the Mexican merely
touched his flapping sombrero and rode
on at he shutting fox trot.
THAT man again." shivered Alicia.
when the portent Of evil had passed out
of sight around the next curve in the
grade.
But F'ords concern was deeper than her
passing thrill of repulsion.
Did you notice his horses hoofs as he
No she said.
Il did. He dismounted somewhere be-
hind us and covered them with sacking."
What for?' she asked. shivering again
with the nameless dread.
You recall what l was saying when
the broncos SHE'D: his object was to creep
up behind us and listen. He has done
it more than once since we left the end OF
track. and this time
"Yes?
This time he heard wha; he wanted to
hear
Beyond the curve which had hidden the
Mexican the wagon road left the grade.
descending abruptly upon the town. Ford
locked back from the turn and saw that
the other stwo vehicles were not yet in
sight
.'Shall we wait for your aunt and the
others?' he asked.
Her smile was sufficient reward FOR
the bit of tactful forethought.
I'm sure We have left the conventions
far enough behind not to he unduly terri
fed by them. | am not afraid to go in
uncl,a pcroned. Resides. I heard Uncle
Sidney telling DR. Van Bruce that our
rooms at the hotel had been engaged for
U.s.
Ford drove carefully down the steep
side street which was The approach TO
the hotel. An excited throng blocked the
sidewalk and the lobby seemed to be
miniature stock exchange. Single eyed.
Ford fought passage through the
crowd with Alicia on his arm. needing
nothing until he had seen her safely
above stairs and in the sitting room of
he presidents reservation. with cheer
full fire in the big sheet-iro1 stove for her
comforting. Then he went down and
elbowed his way through the clamorous
lobby to the clerks desk.
Suppose you take a minute or two oft
and tell me whal this town has gone
crazy about. HiIdreth.' he said. with a
backward nod toward the lobby pande-
monium.
..Why. Great Scott. Mr. Ford-have you
got this far into 1t without finding out?''
was the as:Onished rejorder. It's a
gold strike on Cow ,nountain-t.,e biggest
since Cripple Creek. We've doubled our
population since I o'clock this morning.
ard by this time tomorrow Say. Mr..
Ford for heavens sake get your rail-
read in here: Well all so hungry within
another twenty-four hours-can't get
supplies for love or money!.
Fore. turned away and looked out upon
the stock-selling pandemonium with un-
hour that strikes only once in Il lifetime
COR tie builders of empirc-had come:
and lie was only waiting fer the arrival
of the president t" find himself rudely
thrust aside from The helm of events.