The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-06-16

ment of her nature which he had wrought would make her final grief most dreadful, an anguish infinitely be yond the capabilities of torment pos sessed by Maggie Flint. have said that he failed utterly. That is not quite true. He failed, indeed, but not utterly. Sometimes an instinct to- ward the truth flashed on him, but he shut his mental eyes to such illunina tfon. He preferred the darkness rath- CT than the light-that chiefest sin and the might of his will gave to him as he chose.
 But tonight the Master Mind found it difficult to hold his eyes shut. Since he had seen the wife in her agony over what had come to pass through his nachinations he was unable to ignore as before this wretchedness of his making for her. He could not escape realization of what all this must mean so her.
 In his perception now he learned, too, as never yet in the years of asso- citation with her, how dear she was become to him. He a1tgred no whit in his resolve of vengeance on the man whom he held responsible for his brothers death, but at least he was forced to admit the torment it must lnf1fct on her and as well the distress to himself that her suffering must cause.
 In his novel appreciation of the i'll she must undergo he suddenly saw his own feeling for Lucene in new light. For long he had known that she was dear, that he cherished her fondly, that she was, in truth, more to him than any other person in the world. But not until tonight had he grasped in full degree the intensity of his re- gard. He understood now that he had for her a pure passion-that Of father, | mother, friend, lover. Tn a second of illumination the Master Mind knew why his love flor the dead brother burned less -k6tly in this hour. It was because the flames of his heart were all blazing at the shrine of this girl, Lucene A new love had put out the old. There was left only hate of that first love.
 And was hate itself left in all it's former savagery? The Master Mind shrank appalled, from that question, ] which offered to make 8 mock of all ] his toll He thrust: 1t from him, shud- dering. He jumped up and strode to 1 and fro in a revolt against all things.
 Then presently he recollected his en- ergies, set firm control over his emo tton and determined to go forward un- deviatingly as if none of these strange things had entered at the eleventh hour to turn the apples of vengeance to Dead sea fruit. So, with a curious listIessness that was foreign to him, but with no least weakening of, his purpose, he descended the stairs, went to the library door, opened it gently and stood on the threshold, smiling tol- -erantly on the assembly before him.
 It was Wainwright whom Andrew first addressed, speaking in accents of I cynical amusement.
 I sAh, I seel You are engaged in that 1 occupation so familiar to those of your profession, tampering with the wit nesses. It must seem to you quite like old times, I fancy. You can almost fancy yourself district attorney again. g Then his gaze went to the three crimi- aals, who refused steadfastly to en- counter his eyes.
 1 1t was Blount who afforded an un- expected diversion. He stood up and faced the Master Mind angrily.
 You've got no kick comin','' he snarled. You ain't been on the level
 with us. SeeY'
 Andrew assumed a manner of pa
 tience.
 How sop he inquired.
 Walter broke into the conversation.
 'Huh-youv' he calculated, wrath fully. And with a Pinkerton right
 here in the house every day.''
 Andrew, however, received the triple accusation with equanimity.
 (To Be Continued.)