Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-05


to the home Of Philip Wilder. where he
lay overnight Philip Wilder was not
q monarch. to be sure but he was q
prince OF the blood. and be ruled over
province Of street railways. Many
things did this princely gentleman de-
sire. and for them he was willing to
pay-the least price that must be paid.
He. Ike Miss Roberta and Watkins.
was asiounded when he beheld. not q
shutting. harmless shadow. but man
tering. yet was clear minded. hale and
hearty, who had not forgotten how to
drive a close bargain. who knew ex-
actiy what be wanted and who got It.
So pleased was he by his discovery
that the next morning. breaking q SOL
emn promise TO Murchell. he reported
II to Sackett Richard" he declar.
ed. lis himself again"
But by that time Murchell was well
on his way back TO the capital
A rumor that the once great poll
tician was on the train quickly spread
among the passengers. and many Of
them found occasion TO stroll past his
seat But there was no visible ripple
of emotion to betray to their curious
eyes the swelling sense of triumph
within him.
When. his energy sapped up by the
sickness. the seriousness Of which he
did not yet realize. be had confronted
Sackett and declared bis purpose to
quit. be had spoken in all truth: but.
the operation over and strength creep
ing back into the body whose tissues
austere living had never devitaIized.
the hunger. the need for action reas-
serted itself.
Hence he planned. not consciously
to reseek bis old power and RESPONSE
billy. but from his castle In the forest
to make sudden. unexpected forays to
harass those who had deprived him Of
his glory. Then came the opportunity
70 wreak the sweetest Of all reTenges,
to save those who had thrown him
over, to torture his enemy with tho
sense of inferiority and obligation.
perhaps--the warrior soul leaped-to
make Of revenge also lever to open
the gates In the road back to su-
preinacy.
Under the stimulus Of sharp. sue
cessful action he felt almost the
strength Of bis prime. Whirring
wheel struck from rail an iron song Of,
triumph in which his soul joined-the
mad. exuitant shout Of the viking re-
turning victorious.
But he found a.Sherrod who had had
time to think. to measure the situation.
who bad recovered bis nerve. And Of
Sherrod this may be written: be was
great fighter. cunning and daring.
ronscienceless. proud. disloyal-yes-
but even his treacheries were ac-
compiished with certain reckless
grace and decision that gave them
the seeming Of the born masters In
stinctise strafeky. And he bad what
MurchelI had not. q personal magnet
Ism that often won faith even where
interest failed: though be lacked what
made MurcheiI great, in6exibllity and
self control. Coward be was not Al
most any man. beaten by. the same
knowledge OF crime and imminent dis
covery. with so much to lose. would
have suffered q, lapse from courage.
But the houg Of cringing and weak
ness was past.
Murcbell found him In the same hotel
room. through the open windows Of
whichsa biting wind had swept the last
trace Of the fetid fumes Of tobacco
and whisky. Murchell carefully closed
and locked the door and. without
speaking. sat down across the table
from him. Sherrod's eyes. cool. not
defiant. but aggressive. menacing al
most locked with Murchell's steady
ones.
.welly The voice was cool
IL went to Wilder" said Mnrchell,
almost in n whisper. HE Is selling
your securities today at the market
He will lend you the balance. To.
morrow a man VIII come with the
cash"
-And In return?" sherrod knew the
prince
.He wants some charters In Adelphia
and some traction legislation. He win
explain in detail when you see him. /
have promised him what he wants.
You will see that he gets It"
.Yes. The. balance-you say It Is q
loan. How am to repayr'
"That Is for you to say" Murchell
paused. then added. 81 understand
banks are still paying for the privilege
Of state deposits"
"How much do Paine and Watkins
know"
AS much as / guessed"
II can keep their mouths shut"
Again silence. broken first by Sher-
rod. His lips twisted In faint sneer.
Are you waiting for my gratitudef
have none. I'm sick still. but I'm
not afraid. as I was yesterday. and |
understand the situation. You haven't