The Washington herald., 1914-06-07

lights in the place were dim. the floor Of
uncovered stone. At the sound OF his
footsteps the priest rose slowly to his
feet.
IT am sorry" he said pleasantly. II
thought that the last of my friends had
gone. Tell me. what can do for you?''
The two had drawn a little nearer to-
gether. The priest stopped short. The
gentle smile faded from his lips; his face
was suddenly still and waxen. He rec
| ognized Knox so you have found me
OUT" he exclaimed softly.
IT have found you out" Knox echoed.
wondering in his heart at the absence of
any fear or CONSERVATION in the others
tone.
The priest stood. for a moment. motion
less. His head was upturned; his eyes
seemed to be looking through the ceiling
of the room, UP into some far-distant
world. His lips moved as though In
prayer.
WELL" he said at last, IT am here.
You have business with me? Perhaps.
even. you have brought a policeman into
my sanctuary. I cannot complain am
ready"
Knox shook his head. Il came here by
accident" he explained. 'I came-in
truth, followed Miss Louise"
Nevertheless" the priest insisted.
you are here to accuse me- Is it not
so7"
Knox inclined his head. TT is not I
who accuse you," he replied. yet you
are the man who murdered William Be-
hal-why. I cannot imagine"
For what I did," the preacher de-
clared. i am willing to pay. But let me
try. first. to tighten your understanding.
1 will make your task easy. I will con-
fess to you, as I am willing to confess to
the world, that it was who killed that
man"
'You-a clergyman" Knox murmured
What have you to do with the taking
of life?'
The priest bowed his head. He made
the sign OF the cross upon his surplice.
The Lord 1 serve" he said, is the Lord
Of forgiveness and mercy. So is the doc
trine preach. But there are times when
sin Is so black that 1t cries aloud to
heaven. The man slew took one of the
children from my fold. 1t was not the
first time. He was an evil-ifving man. a
man OF appetites and passions which he
never resisted. And when she came to
me. the child who had been one of my
flock, and sobbed out the truth. there
was only one thing in my mind. meant
to rid the world of him, as would set
my heel upon poisonous reptile. There
is no difference. II is no sin to kill those
who. filled with their own licentiousness
and lust, crawl about the earth always
following the evil ways. I. a Christian.
tell you that"
But, you know, that's all very WELL"
Knox objected. but there are laws"
There are human laws, II is true" the
preacher assented. whose penalty am
prepared to pay. Go and fetch the police
officers my friend, or, II you will. I will
go with you as I am. Another can take
my place here well enough"
Knox remained motionless. He was
filled with an unreasonfns doubt A
strange bewfderment confused his brain
He thought Of that great, bare church.
filled with its crowd OF pale-faced. earn
est worshipers. He was puzzled, confused
by q sense Of conflicting issues. This
man was a murderer. The law demand
ed. and Justly demanded. its victim. And
then his thoughts slipped away again. He
saw that long stream Of people silently
leaving the church. going back to their
daily life with that curious warmth in
their hearts. that something which shone
from their faces. something. which, how,
ever IL might have been kindled. was GER
tainly spiritual Was this mans place
upon the gallows? He tried to speak, but
he felt almost tongue-tied
Look here. you KNOW" he said at last.
you must realize. after all, that however
great a blackguard the fellow may have
been. nothing could Justify you in taking
the law into your own hands. Besides.
It was stretching 1t a bit, wasn't it?' he
added awkwardly.
Tt was the life of a man for the soul
of a woman" was the calm reply. ITO
ne, 1t seemed like that at the time In a
sense It must always seem so. And yet
believe me, / do not finch
rom my punishment for one moment-to
you I will admit. as I daily do to my
Master. that I was wrong The power
vas not mine"
1t came to Knox then like a fash of
light that, after all, his way was clear
he spoke with greater firmness. If
lad not come tonight" he asked, tell
ne what your course would have BEEN"
Il do penance night and day." the priest
eplied, "and IL YOU had not come should
lave done It night and day for the rest
Il my life. But for the sake OF those
'thers. as well as for my own, J should
AVE kept silent"
Knox moved a step forward. There
vas a sob in his throat. Something
Eeer seemed to have taken possession Of
i'm. Scarcely knowing what he did. he
eld out his hand and felt it gripped by
ne man long nngerS-
Sir he said, this is no matter which
can judge, but your face to me now is
nd forever will be the face of a stran-
er."
Half an hour later Knox resigned his
oat and hat to the smiling vestiarie and
rossed the threshold OF the Milan grill.
Dom. The usual crowd was there-young
ldies from every musical comedy in Lon
on. very much behatted. very seductive.
cry happy. There were a score or more
cheerful supper parties and many
mailer ones where the heads nearly met
y the side OF the carefully-shaded lights.
he laughter. even II restrained, was in
stent, mingled with the popping of
hampagne corks, the greetings Of
lends from table to table Knox stood.
,r a moment, quite still upon the thres-
old. The sight of these things passed
lddenly away from him. He saw again
lat bare, vault-like church, with its
reary, empty spaces only family reached
y the crude gas Jets. He saw the faces
leir last Amen" the roll of the organ
Your friends are all here, ST.. at your
sual table"
Knox came to himself with a little
art. Before him was the bowelg maitre
hotel He followed him slowly down
lie room and was received with half
,zen chatting greetings.
What on earth are you moonstruck
bout. Algy?' Sammy Forie demanded.
We We're all watching Won You sfocd