The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-10-09
(Conunued.)

most sharply. Paul. it's only fair to you to tell you that-that Bob and Mrs Gilbert She stopped as ab- ruptly as she had begun.
 He made no answer, and after awhile she continued gently:
 ''ls there any reason why they shouldn't be happy-as men and wo- men want to be happy. Paul?'
 Again it was a long time before he answered in a voice that was very tired: There is no reason. All that is dead. It has no right to live. Kath- leen."
 In her heart she was crying jealous ly to her secret. Its the last thing can do for him. Aloud she said:
 You must tell him that too"
 He did not notice that her voice was sharp and constrained. He was watching the fires of a real suffering burning out the last vestige of the self that had been Paul Remington. When Bob came home the two men met quietly. What was said then. need not be set down here. but new footing was established. Thereafter many things were ignored by them. Paul went on the staf of Bob's news paper. The Bugle's editorials are often quoted in other newspapers of note.
 Many have often tried to initiate them in vain. perhaps because they breathe a spirit that cannot be simu- lated convincingly. He is no longer public figure in the Steel City. Few now remember his sensational dis avowa1 of McAdoo. fewer still his equally sensational amende Some times there have been struggles with a burning appetite. At such times he has lied to Kathleen He tells her it is she who has conquered.
 Both Kathleen and Paul are happy. At least they have achieved content
 The train that whirled Paul toward the Steel City was passed by another bearing Mayor McAdoo to the death bed of a man who had come very close to him.
 Bob saw much of Murchell during fhe two years following the Steel City mayorality election. He came to feel a mighty admiration and affection for the great general who had created new political era, who had shackled a nation to the service of vast, vora- cious system. who had lifted at least one nonentity to the presidents chair and who in the last years of his life was struggling to undo the work of his prime
 When man reaches his threescore >~H <nv. v H~~~han o.{a << hlv~, one day. 'she has learned that the evil or good a man does concerns himself least of all. The balance must remain heavily against me. l must strive not to atone. but to make the way ready for other men who will undo what I have done"
 MurcheIl's lofty self Ignoring gave him an example that he strove to emu late.
 Many other things of less abstract kind he learned from the master. Murchell revealed to him the secret intricate inner workings of the vast machine that gripped the state as in wise. It was not all pretty. More than once he saw rebellious bosses en- tCk l4C RHCSCnCS Ol lllC u1dStCE tO IGdvO shaking. stunned by the knowledge that they were inextricably in the power of a man who seemed to know everything. Many things Murchell and Bob did of which they said naught to the gentle Dunmeade that they might save his heart from burning.
 Gradually Bob came to understand, too. why the secrets and sources of Murchell's power were revealed to him. He. was being prepared to take Murcheil's place. Upon him. not upon Dunmeade. the masters mantle was to fall
 And now Murchell was dying.
 Bob knew as the train bore him swiftly to the east that be was going to assume that mantle.
 Years before '1 will be master of the state before dier' ambition had cried.
 Now he said. ''I am not yet forty. and am master of the state"
 Master of the staM. He had dream ed of power. Now power, tremendous, farreaching. almost unlimited power. would be his if he could retain what Murchell would very soon place in his hands.
 "I can! willm His teeth clinched, his muscles tie hfened in the stress of his determination. "I will be true to my trust. I will use my power for the good of this people. So help me Godr'
 His words were prayer. not an e.atb. There was no exultation in his heart. neither was there humility. Self was forgotten. His task loomed large before him. self obIiterating, filling his horizon as he hurried toward the gov ernor's mansion. In the library some one was playing the plano very softly. the gentle, soothing chords lingering in the air. Thither the servant show ed Bob.
 On the threshold Bob halted sharp Iy. Death. power. battle. were in an Instant swept from hia mind His heas. leGped convulsiveIy.
 The players back was toward him. She did not notice his entrance. He did not move. lest he might disturb her. Then her voice rose. full and clear and pIaintive in a song that not all the street pianos in the world can rob of it's appeal. Bob listened in rapt attention Once before he had heard ho~ cine thof coosy on fho ni0f1f when