The Washington times., 1914-01-09
THEHOUR OFCONFLICT
lcopyright. 1s1a. by Frank q. Munsey 60

Z II was no good.
| The dancing Specks in the sunbeam
became golden hair. and Marthe said
| Grossly, Her name is TOinette Guer-
| chard, and one day she will be like
| that"-and she made a gesture with
her hands to signify enormous fatness.
| One day! E~erard held up his face
to the sun. One day That was fin
ishcd. There could be no "one day"
now. Why what did it all mean?
Why die the sun shine for everyone
| else in the world except him: Why
! ,.--,t lac been picked out to be always
in the darkness: What had he done ?
Always it had been like that, always,
| and for no reason. AS a small boy he
| mad looked on at others who laughed
! and were jolly, while he was alone
outcast, a pariah At school ne had
had to fight his way through still in
| the shadoF. He had done nothing to
deserve that.
Why had he gone to France? Why
had he met Toinette? Why was he so
| made that he had climbed into her
room? Why was she so different from
cther girlS-frOm AnSy, for instance? ?
| why mad she besn so crushed? Why
/ didn't she understand things as the
| rest? 1t was not fair.
| l. was as if he had been singled out
| for punishment for a crime that ne
4
| finally by that punishment into COM
mttting crime. And now the pun
| ishmcnt was reduubled.
He shot out a bitter laugh. kicked
| away his chair. and began pacing up
and down, his hands deep in his pocl
| cts. He was tired of il all. He wished
he had never been born.
, There was only one hideOus thing
against him in all his twenty -four years,
and for that he would never cease to be
sorry; but why should he be hunted
night and day without ceasing: Why
should his days be tainted with the re-
membranes of this thing; his nights
made times Of dread and terror? He
was only twenty four, and if there was
J a God, why didn't He take his youth
into consideration?
The Able Guerchard had talked q lot
about God and His goodness and mercy.
! Why didn't He show some of it nov:
| Why did He stamp on man when he
was down? Even human judges were
lenient toward first offenders.
He stopped in his pacing and very
There was a curious look in his eyes as
he took up his hat and put it on and
! reached out for his stick and gloves.
Yes" he said, that's the answer.
That's what it means"
He pulled out the money in his pOCk
cts. One, two, three sOVereigns and
some change. More than enough, lac
said, and went out. closed the bedroom
door behind him quietly, and made his
way downstairs and out into the street.
When a cab brought him into the
Haymarket he leaned forward, watching
the ships, and then suddenly tapped at
the glass behind the chauffeur. lie
stopped with a jerk.
EveTard got out, paid, and walked
EtO the shop in front Of which he had
stopped the automobile. At the farther
end a well-dressed man was choosing
sporting rifles. Everard leaned on his
stick and noticed that he had silver
ring on his left little finger, shaped oda-
ly, like the mouth of a Goldfish.
Good morning. sir
He turned and found a shop assistant
ready to attend to him. Show me some
revOlvers, will yOu?'' he said.
ANY particular make, sir?"
The clerks nails were long and point
ed Everard dsiked him more md
more. No" he said. I've no particular
choice. l want TO pay about ) sovc-
reigns."
The clerk produced a tray containing
about a dozen reVOlvers, some shiny, |
with stubby little handles, some blue |
black, with square butts. He picked up
shiny one and held it out by tnesDar-
rel to Everard.
He would pick out the kind don't
like" thought EveraHd. No" ne said. !
What about this He took up a short |
but businesslike looking thing. How 90 !
you work it, load and so On?'
You open the chamber like this, sir, |
said the man. showing him.
Il See" said Everard. VERY simple !
and quick. How mUch?"
Two pound ten"
Eyerard took il and held il silctly for |
moment, clicking the trigger. Then he |
laid it on the counter. ''Thanks," he |
said. I'll have that one. Give me a box |
Of cartridges, too"
The shOpman took up the tray and re-
placed II under the glass Of the coun- !
ter Fifty or a hundred, sir?'
oh, a hundred"
The man busted himself with paper |
and string. Shall ! send it. SIR
Eyerard laid sovereigns Oh ;ne lass |
NO, thanks, I'll take it,"
He tucked the parcel under one arm,
gathered up his change, and walked |
quietly out OF the shop.
A Continuation of This Story Will |
BE Found In Tomorrow
Issue of The Times.