The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1911-03-03

Furthermore, since you've in
truded your opposition, expect
you to withdraw 1t, finally and alb
lsolutely. Otherwise" His pause
twas ominous.
That's hardly necessary
You're not minor, nor am l your
guardian, that my consent Is nee
essary. You will be able to per-
suade Mrs. Gilbert to take that
view view ;. ! think7and threats do nc
Bob made an effort to smile
1t was not a smile you would care
to see more than once, the smile
lof a strong man trying to conceal
lbitterest suffering and humilia.
ton. By a trick of fancy Paul's
langry, handsome face seemed to
fade away and in its stead Boil
saw the face Of stricken woman
Modern invention had
lifted them far above the noises
of the street. The two men were
alone in the midst of a heavy, op-
|pressive silence. Both knew that
they had come to the parting OF
the ways. In time to come a new
footing might be established, but
the old intimate relation could
never be resumed. Words had
been spoken that neither could
forget.
l think that even then Paul
would have retracted his words,
had Bob offered him an opening
He had not planned the CONVEX
sation, but when it was begun
Bob's composure had goaded him
to reckless lengths. Now he be-
gan dimly to perceive how deeply
he had struck. He broke the 81
lence with what was almost an
appeal.
"Have you anything to say?"
Bob shook his head slowly. mo,
there's nothing more to be said
now. They were counting on you
to make a speech to the execu-
tive committee this afternoon. /
suppose you will not be there?"
Paul shrugged his shoulders
helplessly. "No, have an ap-
pointment with my manicure. ]
have weakness for clean hands,
you know"
He caught up his hat and coat
and walked out of the office.
AS the door closed, the mask of
Bob's composure fell from him.
The smile disappeared. His Shout
ders, dropped and his head fell
forward.
Paul" he whispered. PAUL"
How he got through the rest of
the day Bob hardly knew. In the
evening there was the final rally,
to which .flocked thousands and
from which hundreds more were
turned away for lack of room. Bob
made a speech, but his recollection
of that effort Is hay. When he
rose to speak, the waves of ap-
plause came to his ears as the far
away thunder of the sea. He was
conscious of mild surprise when
his words were broken in upon by
his audience; he himself felt nc
interest in what he was saying.
When his speech was concluded
and the last outburst of enthusi-
asm had died away, he quietly left
the meeting and went home.
The Finn family was gathered
in the library. At the sound OF
the closing door they rushed out
to meet him, eager for tidings OF
the rally; even Patrick, whom
rheumatism had converted into. q
profanely protesting stay-at-home
hobbling painfully out to the hall
But when they saw Bob, they for.
got all about the meeting. Kath.
leen put her hand to his forehead
Bob, you are ILL.," she said anx
iously.
tits tn docthor he'll be havin
tn night, won't We, Bob?" Moral
pleaded.
can a glass av whisky t.
wanst," added Patrick. "Norah
run away an"
mo. I want nothing" Boil
said, In tone that was not to b,
gainsaid, and passed up to hi
room.
Let him alone for a while
mother" Kathleen said. "W,
can't help him" And she turne,
away to hide her tears, tears tina
she could not share the sorrow o
a man who had crushed the 70
nance out of her life.
In his room Bob threw himsel
YEARLY into a chair by his desl
and brooded hopelessly. He wen
over and over the events of tn
past few weeks, listening agail
and again to Paul's bitter word
of the afternoon. He relentlessl
tore at his wounds until the,
gaped, taking kind of savage jo
in his self-castigation.
CONTINUED Tomorrow