Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-02

With a soft rush the big curtain came
down in a silence that could be felt
The dszed crowd walked from the spell
and poured into the aisles. while Stu-
art stin sat gripping the arms OF mis-
seat with strangling emotion.
At last he said to himself with cnok-
ing emphasis:
He was cruel, inhuman, unjust
refuse to believe it! She has a soul!
She has a soulr'
Next day Stuart went to his ONCE
with his mind keyed to higher pitcn
Of power. He felt that he was on MS
mettle. The fight was not yet won.
but this morning he was winning. He
plunged into his work with tireless
zeal Everything he touched seemed
illumined with a new light.
At the close Of the days work he was
still conscious Of an exhaustless pity
which had found no adequate express
sion IN his labor on his clients cases.
millions into whose world the doctor
had led him that night-millions who
have no voice in courts because they
have no money to sustain a fight 70,
the enforcement Of justice. He had
never thought about these people be
! fore. They were calling now for his
! help. why7 Because he had been en-
| dowed with powers Of head and heart
which they did not possess. The pos
session Of these gifts carried respon-
| sibility.
On reaching his club in Gramercy
| park he saw that the Primrose house
was closed Mans mother had gone
( with the bridal party on Bivens' big
yacht for a cruise which would last
! through the summer. Somehow, for
oil his brave talk he didn't feel equal
to the task Of seeing that window o.
Mans old home from his club. He was
about to beat a retreat when he stop
ped abruptly and the lines Of his mouth
frightened.
what's the use of being a coward
I've got to get used TO it. I'd as vel
begin at once"
He deliberately took his seat on the
little pillared balcony Of the clubhouse
and watched the darkened window
through the gathering twilight. Fol
the moment he gave up the fght-tht
devil had him by the throat he LEI
the tears come without protest. He
was alone and the shadows wert
friendly
He stepped inside, touched a bell anC
ordered cocktail. He placed the glass
on the little table by his side anC
] IonEa1 OF "a or
pouring of poison into the stomach t
cure malady of the soul. He smiled
cynically and suddenly recalled some
thing the doctor was fond of repeating
MY boy, I'm rich so long as Their
are millions Of people in the worlc
poorer than l am"
Perhaps there was an antidote bet
ter than this poison. II he could lif
the curtain for a single moment In an
other life more hopeless and wretcheC
than his? 1t was worth trying.
He rose. left the liquor untoucheo
and in a few minutes was treading hi
way through the throngs Of the lowe
east side. When he reached the hous
on Washington square he found Har
riet reading in the library.
"Oh, Jim, dear! Where on cart
have you been for nearly two days?
she cried. II haven't seen you sine
the wedding
Wont you sing for me?" he broke in
"All right She paused and sud
denly clapped her hands III get m
mandolin. You've never heard m
play that, have you? I've learne
Way Down on the Swannee Ribbel
on 1t. l know you'll like it,
Stuart listened to her. entranced
He had heard that old song of tn