Evening star., 1909-03-14


means of guarding against repetition OF these
practices. You think that to require an affi-
dav1t would put stop to them!"
Very largely
That is all.
I SHOULD like to say few words" Mclean
appealed to Corwln, who nodded
'' have tried in all my business life to be
honorable and just in all my dealings sup
pose | did wrong in this matter, but believe
that the city got full value for that Nlnth-ave
bridge contract. The net profit on the job in
Guiding the payment to Mr.. Gibbs was less
than seven per cent. We consider seven per
cent. fair profit on such work. | have never
before or since gone into any such combinations
with anybody; and have always tried to give
the city full value in work done. One reason |
was so hard up at the time bid on that job was
that had done considerable work the year be-
fore for the city; and between the time when
l had bid and the time of doing the work the
cost of material had advanced as not only
to rob me of my profit, but even to force me to
do the work at considerable loss. | made no
complaint; didn't squeal And in the Ninth
ave. bridge job and in Others since l did not
try to recoup myself for those losses. l don't
know that have anything more to say"
He rose, stepped down from the platform,
and with his head bowed, looking neither to the
=, nor left, went heavily from the room.
TT was late when Mclean entered his house.
After leaving the room where he had suf-
fered the inquisition, he had walked for miles
out to the edge of the city and back, though
his legs had felt weak and his whole body tired.
Walking seemed to add nothing to his fatigue
and nothing to his thoughts.
Though it was midnight when he came home,
there was light in his bedroom. He entered.
to flnd his wife sitting up. in bed reading. She
turned her face toward him with smile; her
eyes looked up with the wide startled look that
he loved.
g But, Mary he sat down on the bed beside
her and caressed her reprovingly, stroking the
smooth brown braid that hung over her shoul-
der, you ought to be asleep With tomorrow
night ahead Of you'll
Il couldn't sleep. I've been feeling somehow
uneasy in my mind
Over WHAT"
- don't know 1 was thinking this evening
how happy we've been for so many years,
Richard; hardly a cloud on our happiness.
You've been so successful: and here is Vir-
ginia, charming and happy and successful
too. And suddenly it came to me, How near
are We to the end of our happiness? When will
up waiting for you to come and reassure me.
She snuggled her head against his shoulder
and held his hand, expecting the jovial out
burst that would make light of her forebodings.
Instead her husband was silent. In moment
she drew away and looked at him in dread.
Suppose, he said to her in somber voice,
" that we have about reached the end? l can't
reassure you, Mary"
Richard! What"
MY dear, once did dishonest thing l
confessed it tonight. 1t will be in all the news
papers tomorrow"
You dishonest, Richard?"
81 arranged with rival &c get city con-
tract, and then signed a statement declaring
that had entered into no arrangement with
anybody. !! acknowledged it all tonight at a
public hearing"
Il don't understand. Tell me the whole
story"
"Yes-but don't dra.. away from me, dear.
That-that hurts"
She laid her head against his shoulder at
once, and catching up his hand pressed it to
her lips. A tear fell on it. "Of course, Richard,
| hadn't meant to do that" she cried. {" was
just startled How could you think" She
Choked into silence, and he was silent too, with
a full throat, while he stroked her hair.
Then he told her.
PUT you didn't cheat anyone!" she cried,
when he had finished. You did honest
work; you even allowed yourself less profit
than you might have been expected to exact;
you didn't hurt or cheat anyone!'
Il lied"
But it was harmless lie: it didn't mean
fraud. l don't that you've done anything
so very bad Richard and even if you had. I'D
know it wasn't your real self, I'd know that you
were true"
THANK you, my dear. But yours is the le
T .fT.-x