Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-06-09

and the subjects know 1t not. Then
they try to make of themselves gods,
and the gods tell on them to the peo-
pie, and the people wake up and pull
down the rich men, and the rich men
rail- on the people, and all go smash
| together 1t will be funny to watch.
1t Is always amusing to live in the day
when men have rolled the stone al
most tc the top Of the hill where tha
gods live, and then, just as they begi,,
10 shout. There are no gods but our.
selves the unseen hand-and a push
and the stone goes hop, hop, hop to
the bottom Of TIE hill' Won larsen
helm cackled again. "And then the
langh from O1ympus-the light on the
top Of the hill, the darkness at the
bottom-and the remnant spawning in
the darkness for centuries, till they
are strong enough to begin to push
the stone to the top again. Abdul
Won Tarsenheim rubbed his hands to.
gether delightedly. But l think this
i dish is cooked" He looked into the
black mirror Eyes, they are quite
cooked, those scrambled eggs" He
turned off the switch, and the colored
lights died out in the vacuum tubes.
Yes, their auras are now we'll
tangled. 1t will take years to undo
them. 1t is very funny-two men with
/ their wires crossed, and Abdul lis
tening at the telephone. Poor old Alb.
dull, the heathen-the Dago-the
. fakir!''
He went to vandraken and took off
the collar Then he put his hand on
his head, and Vandraken rose from
cfn ~,
floor, and began stretching himself
and rubbing his eyes. what a
CHASTITY DREAM" he muttered. Then
he went to Won Tarsenheim and
touched him. Eyes, you are real. 1t
was only a dream, nightmare.
am awake! Say I am awake!"
"Of course you are awake Come
and see the other man. He is alseep.
leave him asleep little longer
He made pass over him, undid the
collar of sponges, and drew the cur
tain
Vandraken put on his collar and
looked at his watch.
"Why-Ive been here nearly two
hours!"
Won Tarsenheim went to the door,
opened it, and called out: ELSA!
Elsa! Bring some more wine,'
"All right" came the answer.
$50 will see the pretty maid
again? She's peach, that maid If
yours-a regular ripper-and innocent
as a child. You ought to throw her
in for the hundred thousand, Won Tar
senheim"
Abdul only smiled sardonically.
ooh. yes-the hundred thousand
Give it to me now
Cali right. I suppose you have done
what you promised, though I don't
see how I am to know"
well, you must try You must
do something that should make you
feel ashamed, and see-you will feel
no shame, no remorse. I should be
glad that you make the trial The
other man will have the shame, the re-
morse-at first very much, very keen;
but with use his conscience-no, not
his conscience, but your conscience
within him-will lose its edge, then
he will not feel SO much. Only on his
face will be the record. Yes, / should
like to see the first effect
My! but you are plausible, Won
| rsenheim-damned plausible! But
don't see much temptation to sin in
l LQlS room.
Elsa entered. still in her maids
apron, which showed the pretty curves
of her figure. She put down the bot
tie and looked anxiously about the
ROOM
Where" she began.
Before her lips could end the SEN
tence they were smothered by Van
draken's hot kisses. She felt herself
whirled from the floor into his arms.
swooning in a storm Of passion which
beat down her res stance. Strange,
unknown thrills ran through her. She
felt the stain on her maidenhood, and
revolving from his touch like some
wild thing, put forth one great effort
and freed herself from his embrace,
threw herself down on chair BY
the table and sobbed wildly. Her tears
which would have moved most men
to shameful contrition, left Van
draken untouched. He looked more
as though he were about to embrace
her again than apologize
There was cry of anguish from
behind the curtain, cry which car
ried composite notes of horror, shame
and anguish. Then Fabian burst
through the curtains. pale, collarless,
and trembling with excitement
Vandraken hastily put on his motor
mask, but Dare had not seen him. He
had eyes for Elsa only, and by her
he threw himself on his knees.
Elisa, forgive me. Elsa, I did not
mean to! 1t is impossible! 1t is sac
rilege! don't understand it! What
have l done? Say you forgive me!
shall kill myself! must have been
mad!"
Abdul Won Tarsenheim looked at
Vandraken triumphantly, the spirit
successful invention incarnate swamp
ing any paternal instinct he ever had.
Vandraken took bundle of notes of
large denomination from his pocket.
"You will find few thousand over,
| think. You're great, Won larsen
heim-simply great"
There was loud knocking at the
outside door.
"The detectives I'd better go down
to them. Goodbye. You ought to let
me have the maid, though
"She was my daughter
your daughter" Vandraken whis.
tied, and went out, Won Tarsenheim
l F<11 -