The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1909-06-17

blank from MS pocket ana lhsCIlDee
thereon several words In cipher code
Translated. literally, from Pulkerson';
thoughts at this moment, these would
lave read; 'asskins b DRiled to tbs
Ho8"
The last named gentleman, as thi:
message was speeding over the wire
entered a cosy parlor in the suburbs
Of the capital. II was dangerous, hs
knew, to mix sentiment with politics
But, on the brink OF his first diverg
, ence from that stern and robust recti
tude which, with him. was a distasts
for evil, rather than q victory over
, temptation, he felt imbued with sud
den subjective recklessness that knew
| no law.
In the soft light OF Q woman's eyes
he forgot, temporarily, the vicissitudes
| Of career" II seemed very far
away-the other life-as he held both
her hands for a moment and then
sank. In comfortable WEAKNESS, into
an easy chair at her side.
Margaret Haslage had been some
thing vaguely between friend and
sweetheart to James Haskins for
, many years, Once. In the Long Ago
II seemed long ago, because he had
lived rapidly since then-he had want
ed her solely in the latter capacity.
Failing in this. he had grown almost
used TO accepting her In the former,
but, though he did not realize 1t him.
self, he had never ceased to hope.
There was an atmosphere Of sane.
tity In the little room, into which
thoughts Of the political and moral
maelstrom from which he had fed for
a momentary respite, could not enter.
Margaret's eyes were troubled as
she looked at him. Hers was that
rarer intuition which blends sympathy
with understanding and merges both
In practical helpfulness. Beyond the
commonplace of greeting neither had
spoken.
rs your campaign going wrong,
Jim?" she questioned, presently.
Aren't you going to VIM"
Manlike he misconstrued. Was he
going TO VIM She wanted him to,
and she was disappointed by the pres.
age of defeat which must, somehow,
have come into his face. The features
of Pulkerson looked before him. II
recalled the opening scene Of Faust"
Marguerite and Margaret! Almost
identical names! That seemed odd.
But he wasn't going to win her. II
that were the stake. there would be
no hesitation, he decided However,
he would hesitate no longer.
Yes" he said, slowly, and with in.
creasing emphasis on each succeeding
word. "I-am-going-to-win."
Margaret regarded him curiously.
You say that. as though you were
sorry" she smiled.
Haskins turned away. "You don't
understand these things, little WON
an" he replied. when one gets any
thing-one pays"
She arose and, leaning over the
back of his chair placed her hands
lightly upon his bowed shoulders.
jim she cried anxiously, unbe.
lievingly. "Jim-you don't mean that
that
I've sold myself?" he finished
harshly. "No-not yet"
You mustn't" she cried out, start.
ing backward. "Oh, Jim! You would
not do that"
The reproach In her tone stung him
He arose and stood before her. de-
FAINT
It's hard to give up everything" he
said with bitter meaning. Every hard
You don't know. You're a woman"
Margaret's eyes blazed with a quick
scorn. III you do this thing she
said with deliberate distinctness, 81
shall never speak to you again."
Haskins' teeth met with a snap. He
knew II was not an idle threat and
also, he knew what this would mean
to him. But he was not used to be-
Ing dictated to. and this night he had
been the shuttlecock of conflicting
purposes. The woman's ultimatum
acted like q goad.
very WE'LL" he answered. coldlv
It's part Of the price, l suppose
Goodnight"
In another moment he would have
gone. But suddenly. the spark Of an
ger died from Margaret's eyes and
something else replaced 1t. With an
impulsive movement she hurried aft
er him and flung both arms about bis
neck.
"Jim!" she cried. IN q last appeal
DO you want to break my hearty Dc
you! Do you? Jim won't you let II
so-and be satisfied with met"
with you" he repeated wonder
ingly. a strange light in his eyes
with you! Why-you-said--
She hid her face on his shoulder
7 said that I didn't love you-once .
she sobbed out Butt can't let you
DO this thing. You WON'T JIM VIII
your Promise me you won't"
With . quick, hungry force Haskins
srms EMBODIED her. All life seemed
present and new to him. There vas
no past. no complication, now