The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-01-29

upon the rear stage of the drama thee
in progress. But they saw no drama
The evening was beautiful. The spot
was n of great beauty. Apparently
all was peace and content. There was
no drama visible, only a stage set for
a scene of happiness.
Yet, two hundred yards from the
point of this belief. on the stage of
the dimly-lighted gallery facing the
lake, the comedy of life and ambition,
of success and sorrow, moved briskly;
moved, indeed. to it's appointed and
inevitable end.
Rawn'S voice, harsh. half animal in
it's savagery. wakened some sudden
kindred savagery in young Halsey's
soul. In a fash the spark rose be-
tween steel and flint. The cum
lated resentment OF many days made
finder enough for Halsey now.
"All right, Mr.. Rawn," said he, his
head dropping. his chin extended. GO
on with the killing now, If you like.
4 III oC'ho w NNi sod i5h htlV, bldt
sort of talk will do you no good. II
you kill me you kill my secret. 1t
isn't yours. and neither you nor any
other nan is apt to set 1t going
again"
You hound, you curl" half sobbed
Rawn. His daughter stood, tense, ST.
lent, unnoticed at his elbow.
s,1rbonly .yo,, No., I'I TN 10. 4
dismantled every motor, and I'm never
going TO build them again for you. I
meant every word of what | said. Also
| mean this!"
AS he spoke he rose and struck
Rawn 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 so heard.
An instant later, half roaring, John
Rawn closed with the younger man.
The women, plucking at their arms,
could do nothing to separate the two.
indeed were not noticed in the strug-
gle. AS to that, the whole matter was
over iii an instant. Ha!sey was far
the stronger'o the two. He caught
the right wrist OF Rawn as he smote
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
RawG's wrist. on his twisted arm.
Halsey was not go long from his col
lege athletics, where he had peel wei
come on several teams. He was
younger than Rawn, his body was
harder from hard work and abstemi-
BUSINESS. 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 a 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 a 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. IL was a moment Of horror for
him. He, John Rawn, master OF this
place, rich, happy. presperous-he,
John Rawn, Observation-Disclosures could
not bel Heaven never would permit
that!
They all remained tense, silent, mo-
tionless. for just half an instant; it
seemed to them a long time. Halsey
at length Strengthened and turned
toward the door.
I'm going" said he DULY. Good
by. Grace"
Rawn turned, confused, distracted.
He cared for no more of the physical
testing Of this difference. But he saw
Success passing in the reviled figure
of his son-in-law. mo, MOI" he cried
-"Jennie-he fouled me-but don't
let him go-he1l ruin us. do you
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 a light hand upon
his shoulder.
well" he began; and turning, faced
young Mrs, Rawn!
I'm sorry he stammered, tits dis
graceful. | beg your pardon with all
my heart. But | couldn't help 1t. He
struck me first with what he said. He
threatened me. Let me go. I'll never
come back again. I'm sorry-on your
account"
Charles" she said softly, Charley,
wait. Where are you going?"
ITO the divorce courts. and then to
hell"
But you mustn't go away like this.
I'm sorry, too. Waltz"
Suddenly moved by some swift, ire
sistible impulse, perhaps born Of this