The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1914-05-14

upon the rear stage Of the drama then
in progress But they sav no drama
The evening was beautiful. The spot
was one of great beauty. Appareutly
all was peace and content. Tier was
no drama visible. only y stage set for
q scene OF happiness.
Yet. tvO hundred yards from the
point Of this belief. ON the stage OF
the dimly-hghted gallery facing the
lake. the comedy Of life and An bi don.
OF success and sorrow. moved briskly !.
moved. indeed. to It's appointed and
inevitable end.
Rswn's voice. harsh. half animal in
its savasery. vakeneA some sudden
kindred savaSeU In young Hslseys
soul. In . aash tie spark rose bs
tween steel and Aint Ths accumu.
lated resentment Of many days made
tin1sr enough for Halssy nov.
All right. Mr.. Ravn.- said he. bis
head dropping. his ehia sxtsaded Go
On With the killing nov. Il you like.
In going to tell you rigAt here, that
sort Of talk will % yos 10 GOOD II
you kill ne you kin ny secret II
isn't yours. and neither you nor any
other man 10 APT 70 sst II going
asain."
You hound. you curl" half sobbed
Rawn- His daughter stood. tense, si.
lent. unnoticsd At his elbow.
Thank you. Nov. III tall you.
dismantled every motor. and I'm never
going to build them again for YOU.
meant every word Of what said Also
I mean this!"
A he spoke he rose and struck
Ravn full In the face with his half.
clenched hand. The sound of the
blow could have been heard the whole
length Of the gallery-was 10 heard,
An instant later. half roaring. John
Ravn closed with the younger man.
The women. plucking at their srms.
could do nothing to separate the two.
indeed were not noticed in the strus.
gle. Al to that. the whole matter was
over In an instant Halsey was far
the stronger Of the two. He caught
the right wrist Of Rawn a. he s,note
down clumsily. caught his other wrist
In the next instant. and then slowly,
by sheer strength. forced him back
and down until at last he crowded him
into the chair which Grace a moment
earlier had vacated. The bony fingers
Of his hand worked havoc on John
Rawn's wrist. on his twisted arm.
Halsey was not SO long from his COL
lege athletics. where he had been wei,
come on several teams. He was
younger than Rawn, his body was
harder from hard work and abstemi-
ousness. He was the older mans mas.
ter
Sit down." he painted. 81 don't
think you'll do this killing very soon!"
Rawn. for the first time in his life,
faced a situation which he could not
dominate by arrogance and buster.
For the first time in his life he had
met another man. body to body, in
actual physical encounter; and that
man was his master! All at once the
consciousness Of this flashed through
every fiber Of him. bodily and mental.
He had met man stronger than him.
self-yes. stronger both In body and In
mind. The consciousness Of that lat
ter truth also sank deep into his
heart. II was moment Of horror for
him. He. John Rawn. master of this
place. rich. happy presperous-he,
John Rawn, beaten-subdued-it could
not be! Heaven never would permit
that!
They all remained tense, silent, mo.
tionless. for Just half an instant: 1t
seemed to them long time. Halsey
at length Strengthened and turned
toward the door.
I'm going" said he DULY. Good
by, Grace"
Rawn turned. confused. distra cted.
He cared for no more of the physical
testing Of this difference. But he saw
Success passing in the revlled figure
OF his son-in-law. No. no." he cried
-"Jennie-he fouled me-but don't
let him go-he'll ruin us, do Won
hear?"
Halsey was within the tall glass
doors and passing toward the front
entry He heard the rustic of skirts
back Of him and felt light hand upon
his shoulder.
We'll. he began: and turning, faced
young Mrs. Rawn!
I'm SORRY" he stammered, ITS dis
graceful. beg your pardon with all
my heart. But couldn't help it. He
struck me first with what he said. He
threatened me. Let me 60, I'll never
come back again. I'm sorry-on your
account"
Charles" she said softly, Charley,
wait. Where are you going?"
To the divorce courts. and then to
hell"
But you mustn't go away like this.
I'm sorry, too. Wait!"
Suddenly moved by some swift, IRE
sistible impulse, perhaps born Of this
EsSsSaEsI lTXE
lE N Nj.