The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-05-08
The Ambition of
Mark Truitt
By
Henry Russell Miller
Copyright 1913.
The bs-Merrtll Co

that limited ever less than her man
ner an inner excitement Il thought
IL was Piotr Your step sounds like
his"
They might have been daily famil-
lars
yes" he flushed Il am somewhat
in his case"
He almost missed the swift glance
she cast toward his cane But he was
grateful that she had no comment for
his injury. In the presence OF her
splendid projections his own physical
shortcomings seemed almost cause
for shame
How do YOU do, Kazie?" he said
grayely. IL didn't expect TO find you
here"
tie held out an uncertain hand. She
took 1t. neither hastily nor reluctantly
for a brief meaningless clasp.
Il am here sometimes VIII you
come in2"
She stood aside and he entered try.
ing to overcome his limp. IL was the
kitchen, which in Rose Alley-as ne
remembered--had 10 serve as living
room as well. IL was clean, but bare;
pitifully bare. he thought, calling TO
mind the plain but comfortable abode
In which a staggering young soldier OF
fortune had found refuge. To the OLD
soldier had come fortune and with II
the philosophy OF the fortunate that
DEGREES what a man has, TO be the
measure OF his worth. But ere that
philosophy failed, could not silence a
sudden accusing voice that cried,
Cruel, unjust"
BY the stove stood little faded
woman. much stopped. her hair white
and thin. her pale, lack-luster eyes Tor
the moment frightened by a startled
question. He went over TO her and
took her hand She shrank away from
him.
1T is Mark Truitt, Matka, said IA
zia in Polish. Don't you remember?
Hanka said something in the same
tongue.
She says" Kazia, inteiAfeted -"they
tfASge never forgotten -
Their efes met agaid E<fa
away quickly and wentto the OTHER
occupant or the room. lie sat in the
only armchair, huge mass OF inert
flesh, head slouched forward and tin
gers playing aimlessly with the long,
unkempt beard that reached halfway
to the bullying waist. Marx laid
hand on his shoulder. Roman looked
up But Roman saw as the newborn
babe sees.
The grasp on his shoulder frightened.
Roman. don't you know me? I'm
Mark-Mark Truitt, you remember"
The shoulder stirred a little under
the tight grasp Romans head SLOUGH
ed forward again and he began once
more his aimless twisting OF the long
beard;
How long" Marks voice had be-
come sharp, has be been this way?
almost three years
And here?''
"A year longer"
Kazia's eyes said, What is that TO
you?"
A heavy silence fell. broken only
by the confused clamor OF the mills
1t was a painful, embarrassing silence
to the intruder, who found a stranger
difficulty In explaining the impulse
that had brought him. He himself
did not understand that impulse or
the even stranger emotion that strug
gled awkwardly within him for recog-
milton, stopping speech.
why" he demanded, didn't you
let me know about it,"
She smiled -contemptuously, as IT
seemed to him.
I'VE must get them out OF here,
he went on hastily
1--WE can't Piotr won't let Us"
"He must" Mark declared CURLY.
"He will not" she repeated.
IL saw him today. He's crazy"
"He is. He's good compositor and
could make enough TO keep them at
least decently But he prefers TO
work for the Outcry-for little or
Generally it's nothing. he
says it's for the cause"
"But that's no reason why he
shouldn't let me help them
She shrugged her shoulders. ITO
Piotr 1t is. know, because I've
tried"
Then he said "well take them
away and settle with Piotr afterward.'
He said it crisply, with the assured
air of fortunes darlings who, having
made their resolve. take its consum-
nation for granted. Her faint smile
showed again.
ut isn't so simple as that. They
won't GO
They won't CO." He stared "Why
not?"
For one thing" she returned quiet