The Detroit times., 1913-07-11
The Fortunes of the LandrayS
n, Kocho~ Of Pro-
q the

~ Vaughan Kester

I ization that Virginia would never
know why he had wronged her. she
would probably go on to the END OF
her days. firm in the conviction that
the money itself had been his sole Cd
| ject. He reverted more and more 10
the days OF has generous love. In the
! light OF his awakened memory, the
present bore less and less upoh hi!n
lie had yielded up a life-time's deyo-
ton and had lost yerything-love IL
self, reputation, the approval OF his
own CunLe4ence; ana now ne was 20
he exposed. In the end he would
stand amidst the wreck of every pLf-
/ pose and rope.
He had even lost stephen. Tha~uoy
| had developed character and deer
mination where be had least expected
| him TO display these qualities. he
1 had desired him TO be merely = gen
tleman He smiled cynically. lie had
| trained him better than he knew.
But If he carried his head high, ana
gave no sign OF fear or shame or re-
/, morse, he was yet living under ter
| rible strain.
Gibbs Noticed that his shaver
cheeks were growing hollow. and tfat
while on he street or where he felt
that he was being observed, he WaS
SIS erect and active as ever, when
they were alone together his shoul-
ders dropped the vigor seemed to
leave him, and he moved slowly and
YEARLY He scarcely allowed Gibbs
out of his sight Each day he took
him home to dine with him. These
IL
son was invariably silent and absorb
ed in his own thoughts. and the gen.
eral was permitted to drug himself
with old port: and his usually careful
host did not seem to be aware of the
advantage he was taking of the situa-
ton.
Three weeks had now elapsed, and
Gibbs, befuddled but faithful and de-
voted. was spending the evening with
his friend They were sitting in the
library over their wine and cigars. At
last Benson glanced at the clock on
the mantel, and rose slowly from his
chair. 80
You'd better go home, Gibbs" he
said IT'S late, and | don't think Jul
liza likes your being kept out at all
hours"
How do you feel, )ake?" asked
Gibbs, rising too.
How should | feel?" demanded the
lawyer sharply. Then his manner
softened. IT'S very good of you 10
take care of me as you do. Gibbs. The ]
evenings would be very lonely without
you" He rested his hand affecticnate.
ly on the generals arm.
In 20 no n
tears, he was so stirred by the others
gentleness and kindness.
II am afraid | bore you more than
do anything else, Jake he said
brusquely. IT'S only your goodness
that allows you to see how damn fond
am OF you, and let that make amends
for the multitude of my shortcom-
ings."
They had moved into the hall as he
spoke, but Benson still rested his hand
Oh his arm.
You're a better fellow than you'll
ever know, Gibbs" he said.
Il guess not" said Gibbs chokingly.
Benson so rarely spoke out of keep
ing with his habitual reserve that his
words seemed weighted with the sol
emnity of some final utterance.
Andrew Will be around presently to
put out the lights and close the house.
You need not call him. 1t will be all
right; goodnight" and he moved to-
ward the stairway.
Goodnight, Jake" and with his
hand on the door-knob Gibss turned to
look after him. He noticed the droop
to his shoulders, that he walked with
a tagging step. and his heart swelled
with pity for this patient, stricken
friend
Jake" he called in a voice shaken
by emotion. He wanted TO say some
thing, 10 let him know that he suffer
ed, too, that he did not belNve one
word OF all that had been said; that
he could not and never had.
Benson turned quickly, and his foot
seemed to catch in the fringe of the
rug at the foot of the stairs. The rug
slipped treacherously across the pol
ished floor. and the lawyer fell with
startled cry.
Gibbs, his old knees knocking to-
gether in his terror, hurried to his
side, and bent over the PROSTATE man.
Jake, are you hurt?' he cried. But
Benson did not answer him. Kneeling
uOWIl, NE SlIONt W Tdlot Ills TIC
jerked away his hand with startled
cry Of dismay. There was blood upon
1t; for as he fell. Benson's head had
come in contact with the sharp edge
of the bottom step.
Gibbs glanced about him helplessly.
He had not strength sufficient to lift
him. Then he thought of Andrew,
who must be somewhere about, and he
shouted his name; but his voice echoed !
emptily through the silent house. He
was not answered. He glanced again
at Benson, and then leaving him, ran
down the hall and through the dining |
room to the back of the house. In
the kitchen he found Andrew asleep |
in his chair. He shook him roughly by |
the arm.
Come. wake up" he cried. Mr..
Benson's had q fall"
The man stirred sleepily and open
ed his eyes.
What's that you say, sir?" he ask
ed.
"Jake's stumbled on the stairs, you