The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-06-22
CHAPTER VIII (Continued)
The Four Men Meet Aoain.

said Sprague, with sneer. 81
hear he has adopted quite a 5iffer-
ent tone in his speeches. We shall
see him addressing mothers meet
ings yet"
Still Leicester kept himself un
der control, although Sprague tried
! him sorely.
Come, Leicester" went on
Sprague, If you are converted, you
ought to give up this unworthy
business; if you are not, then you
have no right to ruin woman's
life"
Il think l can mind my own bus.
/ mess said Leicester.
But the question is, are you con
yerted from the error of your ways
Have you turned moral reformer,
temperance lecturer, and the rest OF
it?"
And if l have?'
r1Oh nothing only | think it
ought to be duly reported in the re
ligious papers
Leicester still kept himself under
control nevertheless Sprague's
sneers were telling on him.
Besides went on his tormentor,
you've hardly played the game,
Leicester The understanding was
that you were to win her as an
atheist, hard drinker, and a cynic,
whereas you've turned moral re-
, former. You've been wearing a
mask"
We'll, that's none of your bust
ness"
Il think it is. Anyhow, you admit
that this engagement is grim
joke"
81 repeat that that is none of
your business" said Leicester; ''ii
| send a cheQue to the hospital,
that matter is done with, as far as
you are concerned"
And you really mean to say that
you are a reformed character?
sincerely congratulate you"
IF you mean by that that | be-
lieve in your profession or your
drawing room meetings, no. regard
them as | always did"
'sThan I,ou hava baar e;n,nI,, ,,Ioy
ing a part with Miss Castlemaine?"
And if ! have, what is that to
you?"
He was scarcely master OF him
self now, or he would not have al
lowed the conversation to drift in.
to such a channel. But the man an.
gered him almost beyond words, all
the more 50 because he was mixed
up in the affair of which he felt
ashamed.
You admit it, then. All this tee
totalism, this tone of moral earn.
estness which you have introduced
into your speeches-it's all to win
your wager
And if it is" he cried. Have |
ever pretended to believe in any of
the whining sentimentality of the
world? Have | not all along insist
Cd that everything is a matter of
price,
He hai meant to have said ex-
actly the opposite of this when he
saw these men. but they had, in
spite of himself, aroused him to
kind of unreasoning anger.
Il think Miss Castlemaine ought
to know" said Sprague
Perhaps you mean TO tell her."
he asked.
Then let me tell you this, fell
lows" he said, IF ever you do.
I'll crush you, as | would crush an
empty egg-shell. I'll make life
hell for you. l mean it. have no
fear of Winfield. He makes 70 pro-
fession of religion, and therefore
will act squarely; but | say this to
you two fellows-you, Sprague and
Purvis-if ever Miss Castlemaine
hears of it, | know it will come
from one of you two. No on else
knows OF it, and | shall quickly find
out which of you two has told her.
Well, / tell you this. no lost soul
in the hell about which you preach
to sinners shall suffer as you shall
suffer"
He had taken the wrong line and
he knew it. yet he dill not think.
at that time, of a way in which he
could make them feel what ne felt.