Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1912-02-22
THE Man
HIGHER UP
By HENRY RUSSELL
MILLER
cepysieht. 1910. by Bobbs Mes.
riIl Co.
"You gel this from sanger?,,

II see" Bob nodded thoughtfully
"Some of Malassey's work. suspect"
"You mean to say it isn't true?" Paul
demanded quickly.
"No. The delegates were bribed. all
right Sanger through his agents had
already bribed them the other way.
supposed you knew that"
But Paul, rather heavily let down
though he was by this phase of the
matter. was too far gone in his mood
to retreat
"No," he said surlily. II don't know
it. What's to hinder me from saving
my reputation by disclosing the whole
transaction TO the public? can do it
now you've confessed your guilt
Nothing in the world to hinder"
Bob replied Only the fall Of his CT.
gar bitten through indicated any feel
ing. rs there anything more?" He
carefully flicked the ashes from his
coat.
"Yesp Paul went on impetuously.
his mood gathering momentum
There's one thing more. Tit con-
Germs Mrs. Gilbert | confided to you
my regard for her. You took it upon
yourself to object to 1t. You even went
so far as to call upon her.
II did,"
sand you gave her to understand.
how directly can only imagine. that
you opposed our intimacy%
EYES,"
"You carried your interference so far
that Mrs. Gilbert has refused to mar
~ me unless you withdraw your OPP
position. l wish you to understand
that consider your action an un-
warranted intrusion into my private
affairs. don't propose to endure your
meddling. You understand" his voice
rose. 81 won't stand It,"
tYou make yourself entirely clear.
think" Bob said evenly.
Furthermore. since you've intruded
your opposition. expect you to with
draw it finally and absolutely. Other
wise His pause was ominous.
'Thats hardly necessary. You're
not minor, nor am your guardian.
that my consent is necessary. You
will be able to persuade Mrs. Gilbert
to take that view. think, and threats
do no good"
Bob made an effort to smile. It was
not smile you wouH care to see
more than once, the sIhile of strong
man trying to conceal bitterest suffer
lag and humiliation. By a trick of
fancy Paups angry, handsome face
seemed to fade away and in Its stead
Bob saw the face of stricken woman.
Both knew that they had come to the
parting Of the ways. Words had been
spoken that neither could forget.
think that even then Paul would
have retracted his words had Bob Of
fered him an opening. He had not
planned the conversation. but when
1t was begun Bobs composure had
goaded him to reckless lengths. He
broke the silence with what was al
most 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
q speech to the executive committee
this afternoon. suppose you will not
be thereY'
Paul shrugged his shoulders help
lessly. "No; l have an appointment
with my manicure. l have a weak
ness 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 shoulders dropped,
and his head fell forward.
'Paulr he whispered. "Paulr'
How be got through the rest Of the
day Bob hardly knew. In the even
ing there was the final rally, to which
focked thousands and from which
hundreds more were turned away for
lack of room. Bob made speech, but
his recollection of that effort is hazy.
When he rose to speak the waves of
applause came to his ears as the far
away thunder of the sea. When his
speech was concluded and the last
outburst of enthusiasm had died away
he quietly left the meeting and went
home.
In his room Bob threw himself
YEARLY into a chair by bis desk and
brooded hopelessly. He went over
and over the events Of the past few
weeks. listening again and again to
Paurs bitter words Of the afternoon.
He relentlessly tore at his wounds un-
til they gaped. taking kind of saw
age joy In bis self castigation.
"Just one thing more is needed" he
said to himself bitterly. IT will get
out Of his way-out of her way
He seized a pen and began painfully
to write.
Then his eyes fell upon the telephone
at his elbow. He dropped the pen and
opened the directory.
At last he reused himself and saw
agely jerked the receiver from its
hook.
Highland thirty thirty. Yes. Is