The Washington times., 1911-01-08
he had gained a foothold. he would be-

4 he hau gained toothold' ne Wouo pe
\ gin.
At length came the day of his liberia
| tion, and he found himself back in New
York, $40, his prison savings in his
pocket, the exhaustion OF prison life IN
| his flesh, and in his heart a determine
tion to conquer the world. He knew
| well but one part of New Eork-the
neighborhood of st. Christopher's Mis-
| sion-and that part drew him because
of his interest in 1t, and also because
he must live cheaply, and there life was
| on cheap scale. :,
| He hesitated to settle in the immedi-
| ate neighborhood; but he could camp
| just without its edge. where he might
look on, and perhaps pass unnouceo. On
the fifth floor of a dingy tenement, seven
or eight blocks from the mission, ne
| found room. There was chalr'
bed, a promise of weekly change OF
hundred or more windows across the
Uttered back yard. Five years before
| such a place would have ben unbeaf-
| able; now it was luxury. for 1t was
After paying the first months rent of
| IS, and buying a few dishes, little
J gas stove, and small supply or gro
| ceries, he had 81 left with which TO
face the world and make 1t give MN a
place. If he spent for food 20 cents
| day-the allowance he made himself
| and not a cent for other purposes, ne
could eat for six weeks. But before
then rent would again be due. Four
| weeks he could hold out-no longer; Dy
then he must have won a foothold.
| Well, he would do 1t.
His dinner over and his dishes washed.
he sat down at his window that looked
| over into the privacy of two-score
homes, and his mind, instead of filling
with what he should do, tioated away
| to Miss Chambers. The question that
had asked itself ten thousand times re.
| peated itself again: Was she married? .?
Il fYfa ta1l nlIiptlV
was none Of his affair, could make no
difference to him: but the suspense or
four years was not to be strangled
The desire to know the truth, 10 see
her, became a fire within him.
| And another question also came to
him: Was the mission still power
for good? And this also reused his
desire to know the truth. He left his
room. and walked toward ST. Chris
tophers, wondering If he would be
recognized. But he was known by
sight to few, and he reached the mis-
sion without anyone giving him
second look.
shadow of a tenement entrance, and
stared chokingly over at the club
house and at the chapel, with its spire
rising into the darkening night
Everything seemed just the same;
his five years been squandered?-o
spent to glorious purpose? He trem-
bled, his lips grew dry-then he slip
ped across the street and looked eau
tiously into the chapel, from whose
open door a faint light reached forth.
| He saw no one but gray-haired
man, with a strong and kindly face,
| who Immediately came toward him.
David guessed him to be Morton N $
man said. with a smile of welcome.
holding out his hand.
David strove for casual manner
but prison had made him to worn, too
nervous, to act a part requiring so
much control. "I was just-going by"
he stammered, taking the hand. Il
used to know the mission-years ago
when Mr.. Morton was here. So
came in" go
''Ah, you knew Mr.. Morton, then"'
said the man warmly.
IA little"
Even to know him a little was a
great privilege. He was a wonderful
man,
two great questions of his last four
years. Does the neighborhood still re-
member him?'
Just as though ne were still here"
the man answered, with the enthusiasm
an unjealous older brother may feel for
family genius. He has left an infiu-
ence that amounts to a living, inspiring
presence. That influence, more than
anything have done, has kept the peo-
pie just as earnest Tor tTuer uldnnoou
and womanhood as when he left them.
7 feel that I am only the assistant. He
is still the real head"
David slipped out as soon as he could,
a mighty quivering warmth within him.
On the other side of the street he gave
a parting glance over his shoulder at
the chapel He stopped short and
stared. While they had talked the head
of the mission had turned on the lights,
among which had been an arc light be-
fore the great stained-glass window at