Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-10-22
CHAPTER xv+contlnued.

Il was the less satisfying because he
foresaw the end OF a chapter. He had
spent himself: in body--he was no
longer capable Of long, intense appli.
cation, he had fallen back upon the
invalid's last resort, drugs: in mind
the creative faculty seemed dead, that
very morning young man in the mills
had announced an i'm ortant invention
that was to have been Truths mag
mum opus and upon which his sterile
brain had labored In vain; in soul
he could no longer dream. And for
reward he had--the dry fact of tri-
umph he could not sense and the pros
pect of an empty. useless, discontinued
future.
He was a critic, you see; but not
Of himself. The world was out of
joint. ~
Passers-by were diverted from their
own cares by the sight of we'll
dressed man stamping his cane on
the pavement and muttering aloud:
IAN evil fate pursues me. Other men
do as do. desire as desire and find
content Why can't be contented-
and happy?"
A thousand faces streamed past him,
unrecognized and unrecognizing. Then.
at corner where two currents
damned each other, appeared one
that seemed oddly familiar. 1t was Of
an undistingnished LONELINESS. pasty
pale, morose, matching well the gen.
eral shabbiness of Its owner. At first
Mark. confused by the dirty brown
beard, did not recognize him.
The man had no doubts. At sight
OF Mark an evil glitter sprang into
the sullen eyes.
'sYou!"
BY the hate that had lived through
fifteen years Mark placed him.
"Piotr Andzrejzskp
Peter Anderson" the man cor.
rected him.
That's good American name. I'd
forgotten you had a preference" Mark
smiled and held out a friendly hand.
How are you, Peter Anderson"
s The hand was ignored. When Peter
Anderson sneered, his LONELINESS be-
came almost grotesQne.
''Since you're so interested. ! man
age to keep alive"
How do you manage 1T"
I'm q compositor on the Outcry-
when there's any money for an ISSUE -
"The Outcryf'
you'll hear OF 1t yet It's the paper
OF our Cause"
Mark knew Of but one cause thai
employed the capital. Socialism,
suppose" He smiled indulgently. &c
hope IT'S In funds sufficiently often"
II look It. don't IY'
The answer was 80 obvious tina
Marx avoided It. How" he asked
hastily, sis RomanT
HE breathes and sleeps and eats
But he's dead"
is that Socialist parable? In
not Z Socialist, SO you'll have to ex
plain"
"His minds gone. It began to g.
soon after you stole his Job. But prob
ably you've forgotten that. too"
Il have no recollection" said Mari
Soidly. "of any such occurrence" Wit
. curt nod, he passed on
He had gone but few steps wheI
ne halted and looked back. Peter. un
mindful OF elbowing pedestrians. wa
still at the corner. glazing at him.
Ippulssvely he turned and retrace'
his steps.
see here, Piotr," he said Let u
not use hard names. There are goo
many things we'd never agree on. Blu
We can agree on this--you're hard uI
I've been luckier than you. What ca
do to help your"
Piotrs lips formed surly, Moth
ing" But the refusal did not fall. !
look OF transparent craft displace
malevolence.
do you mean that?' he asked sui
pioiously.
I'm not In the habit"
y don't care about your habits.
Piotr interrupted ungaciously. 81
you want TO do something, you ca
lend me hundred dollars"
Lend" evidently. was a eupheu
Ism.
What will you do-still. that's you
business. OF course. ! will. | wis
you'd asked me something harder
Come along to the bank"
The bank was few blocks away
Mark improved the time by asking tn
details Of Romans circumstances
Piotr, sullenness not lifted by tn
prospect OF money, answered shortly
It was a pitiable story of descent-c
tho gradual dissipation Of the saving
OF Romans active years and the swii
failure, through idleness and too niue
arooboI- of hia rnantal uoWerg leayiu