The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1915-10-01
the greatest state OF the Union.

the greatest state OF the Union.
Andrews "complacency waxed as he
considered the fact that his enemy
could not escape Out of the tolls.
There could be no ingenuity sufficient
to e%xtricate the captive Of his plotting.
Wainwright had only the option of alb.
dicating from his position Of leader.
ship quietly and without scandal. abdi-
eating absolutely for his lifetime or of
being forced out ignOminiOusly by pub
lie scandal. or course he would resist
to the utmost. but the ultimate effect
Of all resistance could avail naught.
Even at this moment. doubtless, he
was employing every esource Of his
excellent brain power in contriving
some method of self defense. Andrew
smiled at the thought. Let the poor
prisoner of his wiles work his subtlest.
1t would only make the game more d.
verting, the end no less certain. The
struggles Of this hapless fly within the
meshes of the web gave greater zest
to the glee of the remorseless, gloating
spider, which watched and waited con-
tentedly for an end that was certain.
The Master Mind confirmed his sat.
isfaction in the triumph Of his schem
ing by reviewing the events tina; hid
led through sure stages to this cul
mination. His heart was again stirred
with the familiar, stabbing pain Of his
loss as he thought of the brother whom
he had so loved. unjustly done to
shameful death. Yet somehow. now
in the hour Of his victory, there was
something less poignant in his emo
ton than ever hitherto. Andrew mar
veled at this with a curious feeling of
alarm over his own lack of %sensibility.
He could not understand how the great
passion Of his life should be thus less
ened. True, there had been years in
.tervening since first death broke in on
love and turned it's vital forces into
hate against another. Yet the mere
passage Of time could not explain this
change, for his hate had not mOderat.
ed in the same period. On the con-
trary. it had increased even, new los
ing aught of it's virulence, rather add
ing always to it. Still. Andrew puz-
zled over this startling problem. It
vas uncomfortable that in the moment
of conquest the very motive itself of
all his struggles to this end should
show a weakening. 1t was incon-
ceivable, Observation-Disclosures it vas
true. The Master Mind felt a sickness
Of heart as he searched himself anew
for ONE clew to ar understanding of
the thing that had come to pass. for he
knew that somehow his W soul had
betrayed him.
The thoughts of the Master Mind
turned presently to Lucene. The sub
ject was strangely distasteful to him
now, yet he held to it, al If its fasci-
nation were superior to a will hitherto
indomitable. He recalled his first pur-
poses concerning this girl. the project
of making her available as a weapon
against his enemy. He had never fal-
tered in that purpose. His first plan
had been accomplished in its entirety
save the consummation, and that was
now at hand and sure beyond perad-
venture of doubt. But, while the
primal intention had been thus achiev-
ed, there had been so much. more-oh.
vastly more! He had become the Gre
ator of a radiant personality where
had been only a very pretty. illiterate
waif. He had caused the delicate fash
of a woman refined and beauti-
full far beyond the ordinary. He had
found delight in his responsibility to-
ward her. He had had pride in a re-
suit that had not been save for his d.
rection. The gratitude of the girl
warmed his heart. The warped ego
tism. of the man did not permit him
accurately to gauge the depths Of his
injustice toward her in making her life
a pawn in his game Of hate. On the
contrary, he vas able by some singu-
lar quirk Of intelligence to take full
satisfaction for himself in all his IA
vors to her and to disregard almost
completely the ultimate ruin Of her life
that must be his handiwork. He fail.
ed utterly to appreciate his wi guilt
toward her where the very develop
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 illumina-
ton. He preferred the darkness rath.
er 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
Vaccinations he was unable to ignore
as before this wretchedness Of his
making for her. He could not escape
realization Of what all this must mea
to her.
In his perception now he learned.
too, 40 never yet in the years Of asso-
citation with her, how dear she va