Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1914-01-10

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 sayagery, Weakened some sudden
kindred sayagery in young Halsey's
soul. In a fash the spark rose be-
tween steel and flint The accumu-
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.
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 curl" half sobbed
Rawn. His daughter stood, tense, ST
lent. unnOticed at his elbow.
Thank you, Now. I'll tell you.
dismantled every motor. and I'm never
going to build them again for you. /
meant every word of what l 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 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-
BUSINESS. He was the older mans mas
ter
Sit down." he painted. Il 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 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
He had met a man stronger than him
SELVES. 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. prosperous he,
John Rawn beaten ubdued-it could
not bel Heaven never would permit
that.
They all remained tense. silent. mo-
tionless. for just half an Instant; it
seemed to them long time. Halsey
at lens.A Strengthened and turned
toward the door
I'm going. said he duly Good
by. Grace
Rawn turned. confused. distracted.
HC cared for no more of the physical
testing of this difference. But he saw
Success passing in the reviIed figure
or his son-fn-law. NO. MOI" he cried
Jennie-he fouled me-but don't
let him go-he'u ruin US. do you
hear2"
Halsey was within the tall glass
doors and passing toward the front
entry He heard the rustic of skirts
back OF him and felt light hand upon
his shoulder.
Wei" he began; and turning, faced
young Mrs. Rawn!
I'm sorry" he stammered its dis
graceful beg your pardon with all
my heart But I couldn't help IL He
struck me first with what he said He
threatened me. Let me go. III 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
he'll"
But you mustn't 80 away like this.
I'm sorry. TOO. Wait"
Suddenly moved by some swift. ire
sistible impulse, perhaps born OF this
~ - 49, 49,. ~
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