The Monte Vista journal., 1915-07-10

young mans hand. and with . firm
ness that was remarkable In one 80
near DEATH penned his name. In q
good, clear signature at the bottom OF
the confession.
And then a. II his wsaried spirit
had been released by the lifting Of 2
great burden, Peter West. smllingly
lay back and peacefully passed away.
Slowly. with that awe all feel In the
presence Of the great levelsr Of hui
man rank Clay, the precious confes-
sion safely slowed away in his inside
coat pocket, dptoed from the room.
and pausing only long enough to see
the last few immediate attentions rem
dered by the nurse. left the saddened
cottage and hurried away to md his
partner.
He did not know that Stone. peer
ing from the shadow Of neighborfng
building, had seen his departure. and
had gazed long and earnestly after
him as he strobe away. Anxiety and
hate were depicted on the attorneys
face as he shrugged his shoulders in
impotent rage and muttered to him
self:
II must And out what he knows"
~.
And now. impelled by the swift and
memorable fate that had been released
by Folly's hand, events were moving
swift and fast to q certain crisis.
Slowly the pattern in the wool OF
these peoples lives was being COM
pleted. Poor fools all, they had done
homage at Folly's court and were
about to pay the price.
Mrs. Clay was back at Cora Blake's,
playing heavily as was her wont. and
losing steadily Clay was back at his
partners Office showing him Vests
confession. and laying plans to benefit
by the knowledge that had SO strange
ly come to him. Stone was back At
his desk, busily scheming to fnd =
way to learn what Clay had found out.
Just at the time that Irwin and
Clay had decided that this confession
Of Vests would probably prove their
financial salvation Stone had remem.
bered. almost as an inspiration, that
this was the night Of the Van Linds'
ball, and that Clay would surely be
there. Just as the time that Irwin
and Clay determined that they would
have to be pleasant to Stone until
Monday morning, and not let him sus-
pect their knowledge. lest he skip
town. Stone had decided that Mrs.
Blake would have to get him an in.
vitation to the ball. so that he could
attend and pump Clay.
And thus 1t was that they met In
surroundings so foreign to business
and intrigue and crime-thus It was
that they met beneath the entwined
flags of many nations, and mumbled
commonplaces to the tune Of modern
dance music.
A partner claimed Irwin and laugh
ingly carried him off, Clay. true to
his arrangement with his senior part
ner was more than usually cordial to
Stone. was In fact almost feverishly
eloquent in his anxiety to make Q
good impression.
Lets see II we can find q drink"
he ventured more from force of habit
than because he cared to Join the oily
attorney in the cup that cheers.
A momentary CLEAN of satisfaction
phc"cu III olouc b eyes Ah u6 laugh.
ingly assented. They found a den and
sent servant for wine.
And now perhaps 1t would be best
to draw the curtain over the scene
that followed; would be best II IL
were possible to hide from the reader
the undoing of young Clay-spend-
thrift. bankrupt and disciple of folly.
Wine was to his inherited weakness
much as blood to the nostrils of the
hungry tiger And in Stone ne had 4
companion who played upon that
weakness.
TOO bad about old West" ven
tured Stone.
"Yesh he'sh dead. poor fellow" hio.
coughed Clay.
Had some peculiar notions" con-
tinued Stone. He always thought I
was robbing someone
We'll and weren't your" Clay re-
turned with all the solemn gravity of
man well In his cups.
Il never robbed a man in my life"
This latter from Stone. quick and
sharp, like the crack OF a whip.
Shorty old man, shorty to doubt
what you shay. but we got you've
got you right-confession you know"
Stone started as II struck. And a.
he gazed at the swaying. pitiful figure
before him. he realized that his worst
fears had been well founded.