The Washington herald., 1908-06-12
CHAPTER XXVIII-Continued.

CHAPTER XXVIII-Continued.
Il suppose somebody has been telllag
you things about my past" said Van
draken sulkily. Il never pretended 10 be
a saint, but whatever my life has been
It has left no mark on me. It's a phase
which has passed-unless you throw me
over. What are women for" he pleaded
good women-if II is not 20 drag men
up? II is the good in you which appeals
10 me. I want you a thousand times
more than anything else I have ever
wanted. Something in me, which never
wanted anything before. wants you.
Why you have actually made me believe
there Is something beyond this world.
You have given me back my conscience.
and l don't mind having II any more
can't say ! Ike the idea OF another
world. but you have made me see The
possibility OF II. Well. II you drop me
now I will fall very hard. 1t wort take
me long 10 get rid OF my budding soIl
The man who won't go near another man
because he Is toe near a precipice llay
save himself alive but there VIII be
nights when the other mans shrek VIII
ring IN his ears. II my life had left any
mark on me. I could understand. II
looked like that parsOn chap. Dare
You do" The words were wrung out
Of the girl IN a whisper "Oh. I don't un-
derstand it, she walled "Of course
your face can't have really changed but
my idea Of it has changed" she added
rs the young man rushed. agitatediy. 20
the nearest mirror.
How absurd" he laughed, IN a rellev-
ed voice. 1t is some delusion. some
dream-it VIII pass" He tried 70 take
her hands. but she shrank away from his
touch.
The delusion IS there" she insisted
Perhaps. as you say, Il will pass You
must go away-I can't break our engage
ment now. / can see it would be cow
ardly in every way. will try to con-
quer this deluslon You must help me
by encouraging what you call your bud
ding soul" she added. with a wan smile.
Il suppose that the power to ideallze
which women have. TO think Of man as
perfect, sometimes forces them to see the
DETACHMENT OF perfection. II is all very
hard on both OF US. No doubt. a doctor
would say I was hysterical. You can
think that way. II you like, Standish; but
till 1 get over II, keep away from me.
Meanwhile, our engagement is still a
secret, and on trial for its life"
She left the room without looking back
at the man. who could still feel the gaze
OF eyes which are not eyes, piercing the
borrowed barriers OF the flesh. and be-
gan to realize that all Won Tarsenhein' s
powers might not avail against a wom-
ans intuitIons.
Vandraken almost felt grateful to Mr.
Bulpitt during the next few weeks. the
excitement of the financial war which he
waged with that gentleman SO complete
ly took his mind of the suspense and the
feeling of catastrophe suspended like a
cloud over his head.
The sensational exploit OF Dashmore
and Vandraken in Morocco smoothed the
way for the former when he started 10
enlist u syndicate Of gilded youths in
New York to oppose the plans Of the
Industrial Corporation Presidents. He
showed them that the security OF their
own luxurious lives was threatened by
the Unsuitable money hunger Of the finan-
cial giants, "and even II It was not" he
argued, 1T will be no end Of fun to have
q go at the old boys" So during a few
weeks, groups OF amateur financiers
might have been observed trying 20 look
very wise as they whispered together in
the clubs.
vandraken had no trouble in getting
all the financial assistance he wanted in
London, and his inherited business in
stincts responded to the sudden call on
them in that wonderful way which in
herited instincts DO. He bought options,
and he bought stock, at first very secret
ly; but when he had taken so much OF
ba oeF rlgaf that ka
confident that the bear was in the trap,
he bought sensationally, and filed the
papers with the true story OF the fall in
metal securities The thing which
couldn't have occurred" the stock which
was too big to be cOrnered. was cornered,
and Vandraken showed no mercy to the
enemy; but with the silly sheep who had
got mixed UP IN the battle he settled on
terms which stamped him as a financial
philanthroplst.
Interviewed by a great paper on what
he meant TO do with his wealth. he re-
iterated his threat to Mr.. Bulpitt: L
mean to return to America and buy it
back for the American people
The million dollars which Dashmore ac-
cepted as his share of the spolls removed
all obstacles to his marriage with Miss
Sidcombe: though what a happy-go-
lucky chap like Dashmore could see in
the severe beauty of that young lady was
still a matter OF silent wonder to Van
draken, as most marriages are TO every
one but tho two who understand, and
to wise old Nature, who knows that the
average must be struck If the type is
to endure.
Lady Kitty and her mother were in
Paris, where Lady Donoyle had taken her
daughter TO do some shopping, confident
In her materialistlc wisdom that a really
good trousseau could put the weirdest
fancies to fight; and II seemed as
though events would prove her to be
right, for as soon as Lady Kitty was
removed from contact with the two men