Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-28

portrait in group lest should forget your face.
Yet | passed you just now! Great God! l
passed you'll!
A ferocity glared from Bowers eyes that
might well have daunted Stampa. For an in
slant he glanced toward Spenser. whose clear
cut profile silhouetted against back
ground of white-blue ice now cleaning in con-
slant f1utter of lightning Stampa was not yet
aware of the true cause of Bowers frenzy. He
thought that terror was squirting him to self de-
Tense. An insane impulse to KILL to fight with
the nails and teeth. almost mastered him; but
that must not be yet.
1t is useless, Marcus Bower" he said, with
calmness SO horribly unreal that its deadly in
tent was all the more manifest. Il am the
avenger. not you. can tear you to pieces with
my hands when l will 1t would be here and
now, if it was not for the presence of the Eng
liSh Signorina who saved me from death 1t is
not meet that she should witness your expia-
ton. That is to he settled between you and me
alone"
Bower made one last effort to assert himself
You are talking in riddles man, he said. If
you believe you have some long forgotten griev-
ance against one of my name, come and see me
tomorrow at the hotel. Perhaps
Yes, l will see you tomorrow Do not
dream that you can escape me! Now that |
know you live, l would search the wide world
for you! Blessed Mother How you must have
feared me all these years!'
Stampa was using the Romansh dialect of
the Italian Alps. Bower spoke in German.
Spenser heard them indistinctly. He marveled
that they should discuss, as he imagined, the
HELLO. Christian!" he cried. 1.-The clouds are
- lifting somewhat. Where is your promised
snow?'
twisted leg had reduced his own unusual height
by many inches ''To-morrowi" he whispered
"At ten o'clock-outside the hotel. Then we
have settlement Is it sou
There was no answer, Bower was wrestling
with mad desire to grapple with him and
fling him down among the black rocks Stampa
crept nearer. A CHASTITY smile lit his rugged
features, and his pfekel clattered to the broken
single at his feet
Il offer you tomorrow" he said. Il am in
no hurry. Have l not waited sixteen years!
But it may he that YOU are tortured by devil,
Marcus Bower. Shall it be nowf"
The clean souled peasant believed that the
millionaire had a conscience Not yet did he
understand that baked desire is stronger than
any conscience. 1t really seemed that nothing
could withhold these two from mortal struggle
then and there. Spenser was regarding them
curiously: but they paid no heed to him. Bow
er's tongue was darting in and out between his
teeth The red blood surged to his temples.
Stampa was still smiling. His lips moved in the
strangest prayer that ever came from a mans
heart He was actually thanking the Madonna
mother of the great Peacemaker-for having
brought his enemy within reach
door of the cabin. why don't you join us!
And you. Mr.. Spenser? Stampa, come here and
eat at oncei"
Tomorrow at ten! Or now?" the old man
whispered again.
To morrow-cursc youi"
STAMPA twisted himself round. II am not
- hungry, frdnlein" he cried II ate choco-
late all the way up the glacier. But do you be
speedy. We have lost too much time already
Bower brushed past, and the guide stopped
to recover his ice Spenser. though troubled
sufficiently by his own disturbing fantasies, did
not fail to notice their peculiar behavior But
he answered Helen with pleasant disclaimer
"Christian kept his hoard secret, Miss Wynn
ton l too have lost my appetite" said he
Once We start We shall hardly be able to un-
pack the hamper again." said Helen.
The American was trying her temper. She
suspected that he carried his hostility to the
absurd pitch of refusing to partake of any food
provided by Bower 1t was queer coincidence
that Spenser harbored the same notion with re.
gard to Stampa and wondered at it.
81 will starve willingly" he said 1T will be
a just punishment for declining the good things
that did not tempt me when they were avail
able p"
Bower poured out a quantity of wine and
drank it at a gup He reflled the glass and
nearly empticdi it second time But he touched
not a morsel of meat or bread. Helen, fortu-
nately, attributed the conduct of the men to
spleen She ate a sandwich. and found that she