The Red Cloud chief., 1914-08-13

where the Feelings OF strong auen wer,
deeply stirred.
Good Lord!" said Singleton.
Oswald turned with a start as II NJ
had been aroused from sleep. The
newspaper man stood at his elbow
with a look of blank establishment In
his eyes.
What's back of all that?" he asked.
II a understand that Merry wrote
the play. I've known Enoch Went.
worth for years, and I was never 30
staggered In my life as the first night
when ] saw The House Of Ester.
brook went to the office afterwards
to write my stun and I sat for ten
minutes-dumb. stupid-trying 10 fig.
ure out how Wentworth. the Enoch
Wentworth ] knew. could have writ.
ten 1t. How long have you known
this?"
Il have known IT," answered Os.
valid quietly. lust as long as you
have"
Then I'm right" cried Singleton.
Il knew Merry vas lying when he
stood there on the stage giving US
that BLUM about Wentworth carrying
the secret for him. Merry wrote 1t all
right. ! might have guessed 1t long
ago. say. do you know there's q
devil of a big story back Of all that?"
0swald's face grew stern.
You see I know both Of the men
SO WELL" went on Singleton eagerly.
why, they were a regular David and
Jonathan pair ever since l met them
first. Enoch was forever setting Merry
on his pins. The actor would go OF,
Heaven knows where. throw over q
part, and drop of the edge Of the
world. / don't believe he d~issipated
exactly; he simply tossed his money
away and went downhill. Wentworth
would hunt him up and drag him back
where he belonged. He Strengthened
up suddenly when he began TO play
John E~sterbrook.' You can't even
pull him into a poker game now. !
guess | took the winnings at the last
game he stood in for. That night I
had a great mind to hand the money
back to him. We said 'Good.by' about
daylight. He looked pessimistic and
glum. No. he wasn't glum either:
Merry never gets glum. He had q
d~own-and-out. don't.give-a-damn ex.
preston that morning. I a see him
yet. Suddenly he disappeared again.
When he came back Wentworth and
he cut each other dead. That Paget
woman affair began. then Wentworth
saved Merry's life. Why. it's q ire
mendous story"
Oswald turned abruptly. Something
In his quiet gaze made Singleton shift
his eyes with a start OF guilt. Il a
to say a word to you" the English.
mans voice was stern. and I want
you to repeat what l say to every man
In your fraternity. There may be a
big story somewhere behind this-I
cannot tell. II there is, II an enmity
or a misunderstanding did exist, II
there was a wrong done. or II anything
lies behind these two men which we
do not comprehend. leave It to them.
They have buried II. Don't turn
ghoul." he pleaded. land dig 1t up.
simply to make a curious. heartless
world buy your paper for q day or
two. l am told there Is a bond be-
tween newspaper men, like a warm.
hearted brotherhood. Wentworth be-
longed to that brotherhood: he does
yet-remember that"
Singleton stretched out his hand
with an impulsive gesture. Thank
you, Mr.. Oswald. You're a good deal
Of q man. l never knew you before.
We all need a jog on the elbow once
In a while. A newspaper man grows
a buzzard when a story Is in the air.
He forgets how the other fellow feels.
Ill pass the word around. ! can prom,
ise you that not q nan among us will
do anything but take Merry's word for
II. His confession Is q big story In
ITSELF"
Thank you" said Oswald with a
cordially which few men had seen
in the dignifed Englishman.
He stood talking with a group who
gathered about him at the close Of
the play. eager as Singleton had been
to discuss Merry's dramatic comics.
sion. when an usher interrupted them.
Mr.. Oswald. you're wanted back OF
the scenes" said the boy.
Under the white glare of electricity
q little group stood on the half-dis.
mantled stage. The people In the cast
were there-property men,. the call
boy, electricians, ushers. and the
humblest employee of the house. The
actors still wore their stage garb and
makeup. Dorcas' hand was linked In
her brothers arm. Fol a moment Os.
valid stood watching her. Her face
was flushed, her eyes shone. she
seemed transtigured by happiness.
Merry stretched out o welcoming
hand to Oswald. We've been waiting
for you. Oswald. to round out our
circle" he cried gaily. Il had a Scotch
grandmother. When she reached the
western wilderness and built q home,
she made her husband carve over the
chimney.piece: We're a. sibb tae ane
octothor horo' 0nCe. when waa n