The Irish standard., 1910-07-09

Bartelmy saw that he had played
his last card. 1t was his highest
trump, but it had failed to win. What
Judith could not do he surely, under
the existing circumstances, could not
do. Nolan, the only man who could
save him if he would. had gone, he
knew not where.
| And it was now press time. All was
over. Bartelmy took single step to-
ward his daughter.
Brand. that story is my obituary."
he said in low tones
ooh, no." was the response in sad
dened voice. Men like you don't fin
! ish that way. You'll have about six
! hours. judge, before that story is read
| by the public
Judith, too. was ready to admit that
| her last and eliminating effort had
been in vain. Wearied and unstrung.
she raised herself from the fatal form
that was to besmirch the name and
| the father that had been her source Of
pride. She crossed over toward her
father, who stood silent and despair
I ingly in the shadow Of one Of the limo
! type machines.
"Goodby, Wheeler. l am going out
of your life forever. am sorry it had
! to end like this-all our plans, all our
hopes
The thought of the happy moments
that she had spent with Wheeler.
+! building air castles for their future
when they would be man and wife.
came over her 1t swept down the
wall OF reserve and determination with
which she had deemed it necessary to
surround herself. She halted and
gazed steadfastly into her fathers
face. Slowl. she raised her hands and
/, pressed then against her cheeks as
though horror stricken. Then she
turned. ruf''ed impulsively back to
| Wheeler Brand. and. bending tensely
toward him. she searched his strong
young face as best her tear dimmed
eyes would let her. He returned her
gaze unlinchingly.
Judge Rartelmy saw the girls strug.
gle to decide between the father who
had dishonored her name and the
lover who meant life OF happiness,
purity. success and inspiration. He
was wise enough in the ways of tho
world to know that again was Brand
to prove a victor over him.
The girl stood immovable a moment.
Then she extended her arm toward
her lover. Judith Bartclmy had made
her choice.
The Judges features showed but lit
tic Of the storm into which his emo
tons had been plunged. His years Of
| practiced self control had come to
| his aid and enabled him to face the
! ruin of his career and his life and his
name without the frcnzied demonstra-
! ton in which most men in his posi-
ton would have indulged 10 the
last he was the cool, polished, suave
hypocrite that he had been in the be-
ginning, when those who sought to
loot the public for private gain found
him Il willing tool.
"He is right" Eartelmy said to Ju-
dith. "Hc has told you the truth to-
night-the absolute truth" He looked
at his watch. "Six hours, did you say.
Mr. Brandt he asked.
Brand had gathered Judith in his
arms. She sighed contentedly az she
laid her head upon his shoulder.
"Yes," he answered the judge.
Judge Bartelmy stood watching the
united couple for moment before he
turned and walked away, muttcring
rs he went: "Six hours. One may
travel far in these days in that time"
The great ship hcavcd and lunged
through the giant seas that swept over
| her bows, out of the freezing night. out
of the cold northeast The captain and
the first officer dashed to opposite
ends of the lofty bridge. choked in tho
! flying spume of wind riven midocean.
Somewhere Il deep toned bell told Of
the hour in the sailors accustomed
fashion. From somewhere out Of the
depths Of the vast grooming fabric
tumbled the men of the watch who
were now to go on duty to relieve
their storm beaten fellows.
And somewhere down In the shiv-
cring. rearing hull Il ga,lnt faced, hol-
low eyed man lay OH the saffron hued
velvet cushions of Il narrow couch ut
the side Of Il luxurious staterOom. He
was fully dressed In spite of the late
ness OF the hour and Of the fact that
he was slccping-just as he had been
the night before. He tossed uneasily.
Sometimes he thrust his hands out
convusively as though to ward off a
threatening danger. lie began to talk
incoherently. The ship rolled. and Il
tray containing dishes and an evening
meal that had gone untouched crashed
to the floor "The press-the printing
prcss--has started" he muttered dis
jolntedly as the sound of the breaking.
dishes penetrated into his wearied
brain. His hand instinctively crept
under one of the cushions. 1t grasped
and for Il moment fumbled with blue
steel object. which it drew weakly
fortII-a revolver The shock Of the
cold steel reused the sleeper. He