Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-01-19


content to remain a boy so far as the
muddles OF life are concerned, con.
tinuing with youthful cheerfulness to
translate de profundis clamavi into
Out of the depths I have CLANS eh.
Craven Just as l did when held the
fort at the foot Of the lowest form in
Latin"
You're too pigheadedly brazen in
your play with public opinion, that's
what you are. my boy" cried Craven
hotly. Public opinion has already
convicted you"
"SoY said Temple serenely. lifting
his eyebrows in that quizzical way Of
bis. Public opinion is very absurd.
I protest against It Take one thor.
oughly ignorant man. Who regards his
opinion or considers his judgments as
vital? Put together ali the thoroughly
ignorant men in the republic. and we
are told that the sum of their stupid
ity Is to be reverenced. regarded with
ave.
1.-THE voice of the people," broke in
Craven. 'is'-
''Diabolir' finished his client 1.-THE
public Of today has gone mad with a
muckrake in its hands; it's too ir.
nationally ready to believe that those
In high places
"Are ink dyed scoundrels-don't !
knOw?" broke in Craven. "And that's
what they're labelling you. one Of the
kid glove grafters. one of the mahog-
any table thieves"
Temples eye had caught the portrait
Of his mother over the mantel. His
mood suddenly veered to downright
seriousness.
"Craven, I offered Crane $4,000 to
get some tangible proof from Brady's
Office. But I'd give a million. I'd
give every cent I've got to stand clear
and be recognized as honest. Why,
tell you, it's hell! tell you I've
worked. worked all my life, worked
hard to build up my career on honest.
clean lines. You know 1t. I've turned
my back to crooked ways when they
were easily accessible. and now-I'm
accused Of being a thief. the dirtiest
sort of thief. the man who shoulders
his crime on another" The muscles
Of his mouth twitched bit; he felt his
control slipping away. so he turned
abruptly on his heel and averted his
face.
The grim lawyer crossed over to lay
his hand with almost woman's ten.
derness on the big shoulder Of bis
friend. and his voice broke with sus-
picion Of huskiness as he muttered:
STEADY, old man. steady. Wei
kick clear of 1t all yet"
When Temple spoke again 1t was In
his customary even tone:
Craven. it seems to me that Il
Granger certified that check he didn't
do 1t for mere love. Must have 70.
ceived something in return. ehT'
Something in returnY said the law.
yer dryly. "Sure. and big some
thing at that. 1t was worth It,"
what do you suppose he did II
with. theny'
The lawyer shrugged his shoulders.
The papers said he had a wife,
remember. Ever see herY
."Never did," said Craven laconically.
Suppose she's extravaganza
"Superfuous question:" grunted era
ven. 'They all are" Craven waa
sixty and bachelor by instinct. one
might even soy by heredity. for his
father had succeeded In escaping mat
rimony until close upon fifty-two.
Temple smiled indulgently and be.
gan celebrating his new idea. 1T has
occurred to me that If We could estab.
lish that Granger has been spending
or investing large sums OF. money late.
" It would help our cause. That's
why l mentioned his wife,"
Before he vouchsafed to reply the
cynical old lawyer walked across the
room and helped himself to a peg Of
brandy and soda.
'Your premise is all right, Temple.
he sneered, but your conclusion ID
sappy. asinine. Well try to find out
II he spent money, sure. But we
won't waste time in trying to find out
II he spent 1t on his wife. The great
trouble with you Is that you're roman
tic"
Temple nodded comprehensively. the
odd, quizzical, boyish uplift coming to
his eyebrows again Notwithstanding.
"Dare say you're right" said he sim.
ply.
"Of course It was a noble and high
minded superstition ON your part"
grinned the bachelor. land, having the
marriage germ in your system, 1t was
to be expected. You haven't a wife.
30 you naturally fancy the money
would be spent on one. Granger has
q wife. He naturally spends it on
somebody else. Each man turns to
the thing he doesn't possess"
Temple nodded again. well, when
you 60 into town on Monday. get the
still hunt started for the woman, will
you, old MANI"
Sure. you bet your life. But" he
called back over his shoulder, as he
was leaving the room. we won't hunt
Tor her in Westfeld. n. j.. where
Changers home is: Wen hunt for her
In West Forty-third street. New York"
And this wife of Grangers." muir.
INJURED Temple. left to himself. Il SUD.
pose she has faith in him; they all
have. I dare say it's she who's work.
ing behind this plan to get his pardon:
doubtless she's somewhere now, pray
Ing for him, waiting for him to come
back to her indicated, an honest
man. And I? Well. I'm fighting to
prove his conviction just. and there
you are! Queer little middle II ia.
after all. this play Of life. wonder
sometimes If the great Eye mustn't get
tired Of 1t and the great Ear wearied
Of it. I WONDER