Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-14

toward and working steadily Colonel Viii
1alon, spot of home, youth, and the past in the
center of this new and unfamiliar world. l wished
he might turn and | had inclination to
call, and nothing save convention restrained me-
Then suddenly as looked something happened that
made me lean far toward him and grip the window
sashes with hard tense hands.
and closed, and the light shone strongly that
this distance could distinguish his visitor.
1t was Demar Something, know not what flashed
to the gulf the of deadly enmity that
pervaded the office of Villalon. There was pan
tomne before which l watched with indrawn
breath and straining eyes.
Recognizing him, apparently, Demar started back
for instant, and then came forward slowly and
halted. Vialon to his feet with his head thrown
Abruptly Delmars head drew down between his
shoulders and he sprang toward his enemy Villalon.
nothing loath, leaped to the contact and they
tore at each other as wild beasts in insensate
rage weaving backward and forward till they
to halt by the open window.
l witnessed this deadly strife like in a night
mare staring into kinetoscope and unable to
stop its revolutions. Time and again tried to
to them; but my throat restricted and could
not utter sound My helplessness to interfere was
overwhelming. Though only few yards removed,
they as far from me as though oceans inter
vened Time stood still as they wrestled to and fro,
and heartbeats marked years The hum of the
became cruel diapaSon jeerng monster and
rdicuing my distress. And always they fought!
Selling my hat, rushed out of the Office past the
pressed as l afterward recalled the wrong button
and to my despair after car passed without stop
ping Finally one upward bound halted, and its
runner opened the door. | shouted my desire to 60
down at once but he slammed the lattice in my face
and told me to press the lower button. did and
the that took me went distractingy slow, stop
ping at each floor in spite of my frenzy of haste
And again when we had reached the ground floor my
anxiety baked my purpose; for took the wrong
turn and came out through an unfamiliar entrance
that was forced to retrace my steps to get my
bearings. Once in the right street, looked up but
could see nothing the ensign of France, gaiy
tluttering against the sky.
NV agility returned and dived beneath horses
heads despite the shouts of their drivers, barely
leaped aside in time to escape automobile, and
plunged into the hallway of the desired building.
caught a which fortunately went upward az dy
l leaped out into the hallway and raced lis length
until came to Vilalons door, threw it open and
sprang inside.
A MAN was sitting with his head bowed over the
desk, painting and sobbing andnalone! L
locked the door behind and ran to the window.
Others leaning from the windows across the
street The cornce, hanging wide, baked me; but
what portion of the far flung pavements was visible
suficed.
strange and pervading hush had for the moment
fallen the abyss beneath and l can yet recall
how clearly the mellow, sorrowful clang of
bulance gong sounded as its chauffeur drove to the
scene. | drew back with my fingers clasped across
my eyes. With trembling hands drew down the
great window, and the room still .e..e for the
hard drawn breath of the man at the desk. l went
and touched him on his shoulder. The haggard
bruised face that looked up at me with slow start
and the tragic eyes that met mine were Vllalons
Delmar's the crumpled shell outside and far
below.
"Jean!" l said "Jean!"
He bereft of sense and stared at me
without recognition for long, trying age and then
by nperceptible degrees, he came back to himself
and me.
II killed him!'' he whispered. II killed Delmar
killed Michele Delmar-our old conhrade-a friend
of the Captains Three!"
He sprang to his feet wildly that his chair was
overturned and his hands held to his side and