Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-01-04

the entrance across the way. instinct
ive,y / paused in the shadow to watch
il
Its door swung open and ont onto
tie pavement there stepped a great
man with massive bulldog shaped
head and neck, and mustaches that
/ flowed from his lips like yellow foun-
tGins- By the gaslight I could see the
bear-Hke power OF his arm as he
thrust out his hand TO some one yet
within the car, and a cold premonition
Of something wretched to come swept
over me. To NY ears there came a
short. peculiar cough, and from this
mannerism Of which I had heard, as
well as from pictures which / had
seen in the newspapers, I instantly
recognized him. The dragon had ar
rived in his juggernaut Richard
Mackay, the Infamous. the moral lep-
er, who, corrupt of soul and body, had
long reigned as autocrat of the under
world and prince of spoilsmen, doomed
| across the way Fearless and able,
powerful yet subtle, always a domi-
! nant force for evil, he was one from
whom any man might recoil with Sc
cret fear.
And an instant later the wretched
thing came to pass. From out of the
car and into his grasp there stepped
the woman whom I loved with all my
/ soul, and my heart seemed to stop.
| With his arm saround her waist. bra
Zenly Indifferent as to who might wit
ness he passed across the walk by
her side and threw the door wide by
| a sweep Of his free hand For some
reasOn-I learned later it was because
of weakened spring-the door failed
to close promptly, and distinctly saw
them in the subdued light of the in
terror as they stood close together
| awaiting the descent of the elevator
car. 1t was but a feeting glimpse,
yet had it lasted longer 1 believe
should have cried outright in my ag-
ony. For as plainly as I ever saw
anything in my life I saw him draw
her close to him as impetuously as
had done in my outburst as he lifted
her face and half buried it beneath
his sweeping mustache. Then the
door mercifulIy closed, shutting out
the sight and leaving me with horror
filing my breast and the GOODNESS of
death creeping over me. For an in
slant I was incapable of movement,
then regaining partial control of my
self, lurched away Benumbed of
brain, my knees turned to water, and
with jealousy tearing at my vitals
like vulture, I staggered homeward.
Upon the night of horror that fol-
lowed l do not care to dwell. Like
one in fever I tossed through the
hours sleepIess save for the fitfuI
dream moments when I wandered far
into the evil haunts of the nightmare
Morning creeping grayIy into my
room found me with head splitting
and set eyes that stared at the ceiling
As one who is crippled with rheuma-
tism in every joint. arose stiff1y,
bathed myself and craWled out into
the air. 1t was Sunday morning, and
already the chime of distant bells mel
lowed in my ears. 1t was all plain to
me now, her deceit and treachery;
and had been sentenced over night
to the gibbet I could not have been
more wTetched. In the miserableness
Of it I stood soul sick before the utter
hollowness of all things. There could
be but one explanation of it, The
hideous innuendoes that had haunted
my ears like the whisperings Of a sea
shell had been less than the truth,
and l had been used as the false light
to mislead the world; as a dummy,
the fool. Oh, the treachery and the
wickedness and the black shame of
it! And that this woman for whom I
would have given my hearts blood
could be guilty Of such cruelty to me!
Broken-heartedly, I sobbed beneath
the oaks like child
Plainly there was but one thing I
could do. l must renounce her I'M
qualifedIy even though it weil-nigh
killed me, for I could never share
her with anybody-as well might
man be asked to cut his heart in