New-York tribune., 1911-03-19

succumbed 20 just Such sudden, cruel inn,ls AYE
stopped and set his lips on hers. ''S'-he
That moist fevercd mouth clung TO his-bo,
were about him like bindweed. Then she had a ans
back her head and was gazing at him with blazno s
ously possessing eyes. "Oh. You're bad 10 H. go!'
ike hatl And I'm bad to let you.' She threw "r ne
her head still farther "But I'm glad tool I'm gaj YS
I'm glad.'
IJUSH," said Inncs suddenly He pushed ber 8.
IL him and sprang back. John Rhodes was co,na nm
along the other side Of the fence, not ten yards ig
them. He was looking down, and Nick ,rotted >, IN G
heels.
@Eyenn." he said quietly as he came up and n.,..,
on his wav I'm goin' to help with the ieedn' Te,'a
,,o,,r ma II the Mill House. Better hurry ups wv
And he went into the twigh wood. steadily. s,u,a
;lv The. lead leaves cracking and rustling under -
tread and giving forth the FAINT sad odor that L,,y
had noticed awhile since, which he noticed now.
at smells Of graves he thought. H. was sick viii
the poison Of rank, suddenly precipitaed pasSor'
Though nc walked steadily, he though that he ~
staggering. He had seen Inncs and hi, wife kiss es
other
one ipnoble desire TO ask Lefty, "Do you think he s
u.s." Shame and pride kept him silent. He gaDJ
after Rhodes vanishing figure and thought that ,is
sight Of that broad, Sturdy retrcating lack was I,
hateful as something in nightmare
$50 home, he said presently to Lefty IN dry voice
"Go home"
t
hand before ne could stop her. and held nstan, =
her check "I'm-Im sorry for him, She said sbg,
/ lovc-you, | didn't know
Her voice was very innocent and loving She vas
no, at al the type of primitive iemp're mat lnne
bruised elf respect would have liked to think her
And then she went away through the twilight wool a,
Rhode had gone. and left what lnneS ID though,
himself 70 be staring suddenly on what hc vas.
TIIE night OF that day was hot and still sometime,
in September. Indian summer had come late tia,
year and the dull saffron colorcd quartern seemed
10 be scorchng the tent OF sky against ". b it hung
browni,h purple haze trimmed it round J. aSt Sultry
shadows rs Of perverted sunlight. lnnc' d 10 draw
one Of his bed curtains TO shut ont rs M lSh gaze
And still he tossed and stifed, though all l window;
stood open.
II misery knows strange bcdellows, sic, onscence
knows even stranger. The accident ward in ch such
MANNED things lie tossing piles numbers straight
cot How many sickly egostS were in Ike with
himself that heavy night! Innes wond,ri HoS
many fools OF self had given Just such craven kisses
where no love was, save the side Of lc c,Snc,S'
Then appallingly clear and simple and kneyed
though not outworn, came back to him Oh. tory d
Nathan and David-the story Of the rich n.u and Q!
the poor mans eve lamb.
Self disgust i'll sleeping draft. i not until
long after midnight that InncS fell into sort II doze
He was reused by that unmistakabe sense Of mother
human presence. His hand shot ont mechan lly tc
his pistol which lay small table close by. zen he
saw darl. shape against the window and heard The
voice Of John Rhode, SAYING:
"Don't move, Mr.. Mayo! I've got YOU covered
lines felt a sudden scalding surge Of his blood up
ward and sharp taste aS Of copper in his mouth q
am afrid." he thought curiously. Then he SAID in
qriicr voice, All right, John. What is it?'
"You needn't be afraid Of no violence, answered
Rhodes rs quietly possessing himself OF he her. pis-
tol and pocketing his own; but you and d. has go' TO
have a talk"
To his surprise. Inncs felt suddenly as IA as ice
Hi heart. which seemed to have stopped bea Violently
Then ~ suddenly. he felt calm again. He thought. y
am not afraid now; but the danger isn't oyer.
"Vcrv well. he said aloud. "Shall 'rk, hg.r'
"Yc-: it'll be better" said RhodeN.