The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-04-19

we don't want any panics, at least be-
fore We are hurt. Personally speak
ing, / believe | can make my peace
as we'll when l am mingling with my
friends as | could alone in a garret
and upon my knees, and imagine you
can do the same Therefore | wish
you to come also. Doris will vel
come you, and l have no doubt but
that the timid ones will regard you
something in the light of protector
and be more at ease. Will you Gomez"
They paused in front of the hotel
for which Desmond had been bound
and he ran his eyes over the face and
figure of his friend as he debated as
to accepting the invitation, mentally
commenting for a moment on the Wig
orous strength and strong, handsome
face of this young civil engineer who
was so rapidly winning fame and for
tune by his skillfulness and level
headed judgment And as for Miss
Doris-he had often thought her to
be the prettiest girl he had ever met,
Doris of the hazel eyes and wavy
chestnut hair, and he really did want
to see her again. And while at any
other time he would have accepted
with alacrity, now with his threat
hanging so heavily over them he was
uncertain as to whether he could
with propriety place himself in their
midst. Also, there would be those
whom friendly manner to be sure
yet who as rank skeptics would be
certain to poke ridicule at him. at
last until the premonitory disturb
ances which must to certainty usher
in so momentous an event began. Yet
on the other hand to sit alone in some
obscure room with four blank walls
surrounding him, retreating like an
animal to his cave, upon this night
which he believed would he the most
eventful of any since the dawn of
the earth's history, or to wander at
( random amongst strangers and be
pointed out on every side by vulgar
fingers and be compelled to run the
gauntlet of their derision and abuse
seemed still more undesirable. He
cleared his throat, still uncertain as
I to what he should say.
while | thank you, / cannot prom
ise now as I am uncertain as to just
what my movements will be during
the next few hours. But l still bear
f; 1t In mind and if I decide to come
! l win make my appearance some
! where between eight and nine. In
I any event, convey my best wishes to
/ the company-espec to Miss Full
] ton-and tell them all that | sincerely
hope that | have suddenly become en-
tirely irresponsible for my sayings
/ AS for you personally, l hope to see
! you in the near future, whenever and
wherever that future may be-" He
I grasped Alan's hand. pressed it for
i a moment and then walked quickly
! away, leaving the other gazing after
him with meditative eyes. Then with
a shrug of his shoulders which might
have indicated either doubt or resig-
nation to the inevitable March went
his way
Scarcely had Desmond taken his
seat in the dining room of the hotel
than he became uncomfortably aware
that he was the center of interest of
all eyes. a hush fell, several walters
crowded about him and stood staring
of disgust he motioned all save one
away. From nearby tables ladies and
gentlemen laid down their table Inn
plements and gazed at him with little
better manners and full as much in
science as had the menials who served
them. From several quarters little
ripples of laughter arose, half toler,
ant, half taunting, and he felt the
blood rush to his cheeks in full tide
as he lowered his eyes to the menu
Anger began to arise within him, not
at the servants but at these ignorant
though we'll dressed vulgarians who
stared at him so insolently or Knocked
him to his very teeth, and for the first
time in his life he knew how it felt
, to be one man against a world And
well he knew how unforgiving, how
merciiess, how cruel they would De
forever afterwards should his dire
/, warning go the way of all similar ones
in the past. And in that moment he
, felt resentfulness arise within him
such as he had never felt before-a
resentfuI hope that the prophecy
would come true regardless of consa
, quences; that these giants Of space
, should meet like two battering ram:
: in a crash which would echo to tht
stars the accuracy of his Judgment
the fulfillment of his prophecy. the
: | verifcation of his sanity. True, thou
sands and perhaps millions of live
would be destroyed in the colossa
grind. but what of it? They mus
soon die anyway in the natural orde
of things, and if the master of spac'
had sent this special thunderbol
: against them, that in itself was proc
good enough that it vas time for then
to perish. else the bolt would not hay
!. been sent Then quickly following
: this came a great flush of shame tina
: colored his cheeks to even a deepe
scarlet. and he felt like fiaying him
: self with a lash of scorpions as a per
Il ance for his fash OF saYagery. Il
= grasped the menu card, and scarcel
= ! looking at il began to order almOs
at random. Half way through it
:. messenger boy burst upon him wit
a score of kilograms, and forgetfu
of his dinner he tore them open an
- began TO read. They we're from a
parts of the city the country. ia
= state-even the United States. The
= we're from friends and acquaintance
They were from men and women {
whose very existence he had neye
heard. Tlley were from piebeiaas an
tt rrfTlfonafres. frcm ministers an
. g-ataeuen from LAWYERS. doctors sc