The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1914-04-25

| upon the rear stage OF the drama then
in progress. But they saw no drama
The evening was beautiful The spot
was one 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 Its appointed and
inevitable end.
Rawn's voice, harsh, half animal in
its savagery. wakened some sudden
kindred sayagery in young Halsey's
soul. In a flash the spark rose be-
tween steel and flint The accumu-
lated resentment of many days made
tinder enough for Halsey now
"All right. Mr.. Rawn." said he his
head dropping. his chin extended Go
on with the killing now. IL you like.
I'm going to tell you right here. that
sort OF talk will do you no good. II
you kill me you kin my secret 1t
isn't yours. and neither you nor any
other man Is apt to set it going
again"
You hound. you curt" half sobbed
Ra"n. His daughter stood. tense. ST.
lent. unnoticed at his elbow.
Thank you. Now. I'll tell you l
dismantled every motor. and I'm never
going to build them again for you
| 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,
I indeed were not noticed in the strug-
/ gle. AS 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 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
Rawn's wrist. on his twisted arm
Halsey was not SO long from his col
lege athletics. where he had been vel
come on several teams. He was
younger than Rawn, his body was
harder from hard work and abstemi-
oushess. He was the older mans mas
ter
Sit down." he painted. 81 dent
think youll 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
me: 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
4 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. 1t was moment OF horror for
him. He. John Rawn, master Of this
place. rich. happy. presperous-he.
John Rawn. ubdued--it could
not be! 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.
Pm 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 reyiled figure
o, his son-in-law. No. no." 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.
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 go. 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"
I'm sorry, too. Watt"
Suddenly moved by some swift. ire
sistibe impulse, perhaps born of this
| ESxAsSsL LxEl-@-