The Washington herald., 1909-08-01
CHAPTER VI.


tied themselves into embroidered tracer
les on the carpet OF the library, beyond
the white head of the reeluse, who sat
with his back TO the window behind his
chess table, and lent final glow to the
calm white face of the marble Washing
ton. Facing him on the left sat Lester
and Holbrook. the former erect dignihed
and calm. Directly I'm front sat Tiger
Reilly, his frowning eyes travelling stead
lily from man to man around him. and
the lines OF his mouth set and severe
On the right, still resentful, sullen AMI
unrelenting, sat, In turn, Barnes, Pear
son and Rutherford Pearson alone
looked dazed and somnolent as If he hal
not fully recovered from the sleeping
potion with which Reilly had stupefed
him before leaving the car, because. as
he said Pearson was too much OF a
bulldog TO take chances with" With his
back against the door stood the young
giant who had taken such an active part
In both kldnappings an imperturbable
guard against egress.
The room was very still, for the re-
cluse was deliberately giving his unwllt
Ing guests time TO get over the surprise
they had exhibited when brought to face
one another and TO understand by pro-
Cesses of reason that neither one was
guilty Of violence toward the other In
producing this strange meeting That
all were fellows in misfortune was ap-
parent. The Pawn had the appearance
of a about to pass Judgment, AMI
was, I'm some mysterious manner, sur
rounded by an air OF overwhelming pow,
er. lie was as one aloof and above all
men and all things. stern judicial ana
compelling The very carriage of his
head conveyed a subtle sense Of mas.
terry Lester and HOlbrOok, who had
had time to think of their calamity until
the sense of personal anger and disgrace
was losing itself were merely despond-
ent; but Barnes and Rutherford were
still confused by the quick, remorseless
method of their taking.
"Gentlemen," the recluse began, IN
calm incisive tones. Il am about TO eX
plain why you are here, and shall ask
your patience and consideration-and
have suffered violence OF person because
there was no other way, but other men
have suffered greater violence when the
welfare of our common country was AT
stake. The unfortunate condition OF our
country has been, and Is, the issue. Right
or wrong, we men here in the room with
you have taken the only means at our
command to restore order, and-pardon
me-to bring you. the representative
leaders of your parties to reason"
Barnes held up his hand hotly and
started to speak, but was slenced with
a gesture. Lester frowned across at
him but said nothing
Men who are not in the world Of af-
fairs strong men who fight for princi-
pies, are sometimes blind to greater
become partisan without realizing IL.
They lose their idea of values. They
are no longer capable of reasoning when
buffeted again and again by an equally
determined opposition Both Of you men
are in that state of mind, and IL Is my
purpose to make you your mistakes,
them, and, II possible, TO make you re-
gret some of your personal actions"
Barnes and Lester looked at each other
, coldly the speaker passed, and then
stared back at him.
n believe now, and have believed
throughout all these threatening months
that you two are big enough 10 be
of more service TO your country than
any other two living; but each has been
mistaken, and in the growth Of preju
dice has lost sight Of the fact that both
of you are acting with sincerity"
II is voice took a softer tone, one
n mildly remonstrant, as he leaned for.
ward I'm a more relaxed attitude. and
went on.
Nothing but party prejudice could
pass, because you were friends. friends
of the kind that seldom known I'm
life. You were boys together and men
together. You fought for each other un-
fateringy, you trusted each other Inn
plicity you were glad when your chill
dren grew up 10 become betrothed, and
were elated over each others success 1
know because I've taken the pains 10
find out ] know that, down in your
hearts, at this minute you respect each
other as few men do, absolutely, know
each others honesty Of purpose. / know
that there have come times, I'm the night
perhaps, when the days bitterness had
slipped away into the mysterious Shad-
ows, when you each regretted the bar
rier being built against friendship
which had lasted for more than half a
century. The habits OF thought which
have lowered for fifty years, gentlemen,
cannot be uprooted in few days. weeks,
The vofca had bacorna n1ead ding If