The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1913-07-26

OF choosing the To nmTrTees on Organ.
ization and Platform. This much hav.
Ing been done. q convention took
, the usual recess. leaving the commit
tees 10 80 into session in separate
rooms back OF the stage.
The delegates filed out. the men
from Wills and Natawan angry and
/ silent in their shamed defeat those
! from the six victorious counties crow
. ing exuberant glee az their easy ti-
umph.
The adjournment announced. Give
4 slipped out OF the Convention Hall by
rear entrance. and went across TO
his private Office az the League rooms.
+ lie wanted TO be alone-away from
\ even the staunehest friends In this
black hour Against all counsel and
/ experience. against hope itself, he had
/ hoped 20 the last. His bulldog pluck.
/ his faith in his mission. had upheld
4 MIN above other. colder. saner reason.
I Even the repeated warnings OF Ansel
had left him unconyinced Up TO the
/ very moment Conover's final success
] full move was made Standish had
hoped. And now hope was dead.
lie was beaten Hopelessly. utter
/ ~, starkly beaten From the outset
| Conover had played with him and his
4 plans as a giant might play with a
! child IL had been no question OF
open battle. with the weaker antag-
onist battered to earth by the greater.
i the whole campaign bad been futile
struggle OF an enmeshed captive 20
/ break through web too mighty for
! his puny efforts while his conqueror
had sat calmly by awaiting victory
that was sure as the rise Of the sun.
Standish knew that in few min
utes he would be able TO pun himself
together and face the world as man
should In the interim, with the hurt
animals instinct, he wanted to be
/ alone
Save for a clerk in the antecham.
/ Der. the Leagues rooms were de
serted. Everyone was at the conven-
ton The clerk rose at Gives en-
trance and would have spoken, but the
defeated candidate passed unheeding
/ into his own office, closing the door be
hind him.
Then. stopping short, his back 10
| the closed door. he stared, unbelieying,
at someone who rose at his entrance
and hurried forward, hands out
stretched, to greet him.
IL knew you would come here!" said
Anice Lanier. Il felt you would. SO
! hurried over as soon az they ad.
journed Aren't YOU glad TO see mer
lie stil stared. speeches.. dumb
founded. She had caught his unrespon.
| sive hands, and was looking up into
his tired hopeless eyes with a wealth
| OF pity and sympathy that broke
! through the mask OF blank misery on
his face and softened the hard lines Of
mouth and Jaw into a shadow OF a
smile.
1T was good of you to come" he
said at last II thought | couldn't
bear 10 see anyone just now But
It's so different with you, I"
lie ceased speaking. His oyerstrung
nerves were battling against childish
longing 20 bury his hot face in those
cool little white hands whose lightest
touch SO thrilled him and to tell this
gentle infinitely tender girl all about
his sorrows, his broken hopes, his
crushed sef-esteem. in spirit he
could feel her arms about his aching
head, drawing Il TO her breast; could
hear her whispered words OF soothing
and encouragement.
Then. on the moment, the babyish
impulse passed and he was himself
again, self-controlled, outwardly stol.
i'd, realizing as never before that the
price OF strength is loneliness.
II am beaten" he went on but
think we made as good fight as we
could. Perhaps another time"
She withdrew her hands from his
Into her big eyes had crept something
almost akin TO scorn.
You are giving up" she asked in.
credulously. You viii make no fur.
ther effort to"
What more is 10 be done? The
! Committee on Credentials"
81 know. / was there. It's all been
wretched mistake from the very be
ginning Oh Why were you so foolish
about those letters"
Letters? What lettcrs?"
"The letters sent you with news OF
/ Mr.. Conoyer's plans for -"
Those anonymous letters got?
What do you know"
! Il wrote them" said Anice Lanier.
a. CHAPTER XIV.
Anice Intervenes. ~