The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-06-16

lfcfty. And publicity would be enough. The Master Mind would be at pains to secure the widest notoriety for the re- ports most likely to do his enemy harm. His work would be eagerly aid ed by Wainwright's political foes, who were many and powerful. The victim object of contempt. He could no long CT command following of loyalty de voted followers.
 It mattered not at all whether the re- ports concerning hin should be the truth or gafb1ed distortions. Either would be fatal to his high ambitions. The public could never again respect as their chief man who had been so hoodwinked as to consort intimately with notorious criminals, to receive them into his household, to accept them as his closest. relations, to make one of them his wife, whom, but. for. timely exposure, he would have made mistress of the executive mansion of 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 extricate the captive of his plotting. Wainwright had only the option of at1- 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. Of course he would resist to the utmost, but the ultimate effect of all resistance could avail naught. Even at this momentg doubtless, he was employing every resource 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 It would only make the game more di- verting, the end no less certain. The struggles of this hapiess fly within the meshes of the web gave greater zest to the glee of the reznorseless, gloating g 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 that had 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 sensibilfty. 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- 1 ed in the same period On the con- trary, it had increased even, never los | ing aught of it's virulence, rather add ing always to it. Still Andrew pug zled over this startling problem. It was inconceivable that in the moment of conquest the very motive itself of all his struggles to this end should show weakening. It was incon- ceivable, indeed-nevertheles it was true. The Master Mind felt a sickness 1 of heart as he searched himself anew i for some clew to an understanding of the thing that had come to pass, for he 1 knew that somehow his own soul had I betrayed him.
 The thoughts of the Master Mind turned presently to Lucene. The sub- l 5ect was strangely distastefuI to him 1 now, yet he held to it, as if it's fasci- nation were superior to a will hitherto indomitabIe. He recalled his first pur- poses concerning this girl, the project 1 of making her available as a weapon l against his enemy. He had never fal- tered in that purpose. His first plan had been accomplished in it's 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 ere ator of, a radiant personality where had been only very pretty, iIliterate waif. He had caused the delicate fash ioning 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 di- 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 was able by some singa- lar quirk of intelligence to take full satisfaction for himself in all his fa- 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 own guilt toward her where the very develop