La Junta tribune., 1908-11-21
ri~ res. ''rhss man Ii the very et.lis,d.
: n.n: " tie spirit fnsterssl by this

excrtlon Of those muscles for which hc
II no more responsible than thompson
there for his red iitir he brings down
on his richly un,i.scrving head ,b..
frenzied cheers Of a sport cr.ized
crowd. He sends man l,ss fortunate
" endowed phystt-,iiy than himself
into few moments OF unilippy obiIy-
ion and then ..r'ns NJ yon wi,h crass
satisfaction w,.nn you cheer him-not
for himself or b..canse his name means
anything. bot simply FOR what lac has
done.
This Babbington comes out OF no
WHERE" Dcrbro continued. IA grace-
less, cuur~e fiercd cIosi. with giants
strength and the broad ideas Of goat.
hungry for no,oriesy Of the sort his
great muscles can command. aud you
pamper his cheap cravings with unc
ton. You sit IN the stands aud shout
yourselves hoarse while be II hattering
some poor fellow In the arena. and you
will go further. You viii desire the
capture OF this athletic lion In spite Of
the fact that he II IA social iinpossi-
bliIty. and you VIII bc crowdin: around
trying TO put your fratcrnIt, pins on
his coat. Bah.
II talked with the man, looked into
his great. oxifkc eyes-dead. devoid Of
the spark OF real iife"-
The unfinished sentence broke abrupt
ly. and every eye In the room followed
pcshro's startled glance 10 the door
way. where. turning his caue In his
hands and staring nj the speaker with
nn expression wholly indescribable.
stood Babbington. For moment there
was the dead silence OF utter elnbar'
rassmcnt; then one by one tho men
turned TO the tables, while Babbinston
cleared his throat and spoke.
II came TO see II possibly I hadn't
misunderstood you.' he said. turning
TO Desbro That name 700 mention
I'd was Morton, wasn't !tf'
Dcsbro. ratlder than sny man had
c9er seen him. nodded without speak.
IN:
Il thought possibly hadn't under
stood" Babbiugtop explained. backing
awk war,liy out OF the door. "and did
know "A man named Horton"
4 few moments later Desbro passed
the door OF the billiard room. wearing
the rainroat and slouch hat which he
invnriabiy wore on the evening walks
which were ny much part nf his eS-
lstence as his meals
No man pretended 10 know the object
OF these nightly walks OF Desbro's, To
NIL inquiries he responded that they
gn,c him chance TO think without In
tcrruption."
At the gate Desbro paused to light
cigarette. and the fare OF the match
rs he shielded II from the snappy Oc-
toi,cr wind brought his thin features
Into prominence against the darkness.
Babbington. standing under tree not
dozen yards away, turned ~ the sui
pfiur suffered aud saw. His great
hand clinched Instinctivciy into fist.
and he had already taken step for
ward when Desbro turned and started
quickly down the street.
Babhington waited few moments.
then stepped lightly on to the sidewalk
aud followed. quietly nj first and then
without caution as D.sbro paid no at
ienison To the footballs behind him. lie
glanced now aud then at the recciing
lights ana then increased the length OF
his strides NJ Dc~bro's phrases throb-
bed through his mind
Social impo-s,lhiiliy be innttcred,
sritlins his tcrth over the phrase. III
teach the little shcip.r'
His eycs ue,ter left tit.. ilttle spark
which u,agk,,. the otlicr's position. but
every time he started to close the .np
between them something checked him.
Ills thoughts refused to- rim 10 amy but
n given point--a fierce desire to get his
hands upon the man who Ind held his
ignorance up 10 Il rooIufuI Of men
while Ii. stood aud listened iicipicssly
AZ he had stood under the tree Ia front
of the house he had felt only sense
Of iui,otency, of shame, a gulpiug feel
In. of disappointment which was not
easy to understand u sickcniuc rcaiiza-
iiou thar some Of Desbro's words had
rung true.
Block after block the man ia front
walked. turning NOW to the right and
now 10 the left, sometimes walking
rapidly and again idline along at q
suali.s pace. They passed through the
business. streets, lonely and deserted
under the. harsh glare OF the are lights.
Here Besbro paused 10 talk with II po-
liccinan with whom he scened to be
on excellent terms, and. turnc,l sudden
ly cold AT the sight of the patrpiinan.
/, BabiIngiou crossed the street and
nearly lost his man who wheeled
abruptly into dark side street.
darlington WAS conscious that a
struggle had commenced within him
ami that the first heat of anger was
passing. He grew ashamed OF his
growing ealmness. fearful lest the cool
Ing influence OF the walk rob him Of
the mcri,ed retaliation which he knew
his massive arms could administer.
D..shro stopped abruptly to light an
other cigarette, and his pursuer halted