, 1915-08-19

~ VIC ~ ~
Andrews ~complacency waxed us he
considered the fact hat 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 alb
dicating from his position of leader
ship quietly and without scandal. abdi-
eating absolutely for his lifetime or of
being forced out ANONYMOUSLY 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 moment. doubtless, he
was employing every resourc 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 di-
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 hat 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
,o.,atI.r- I.,1 pnfDnonf In hfG annn-
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 its 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, 1t had increased even. never los
ing aught of its v~irulence, rather add
ing always 10 II. Still. Andrew puz-
zled over this startling problem. 1t
was ~inconceivable that In the moment
of conquest the very motive itself OF
all his struggles to this n should
show n weakening. 1t was incon-
ceivable, Observation-Disclosures Ii was
true. The Master Mind felt a sickness
of heart as he searched himself anew
for some clew to an understanding of
the thing that had come to pass, for he
knew that somehow his own 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. as 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 fall
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 thu achiev-
ed, there mad been SO much more-oh.
vastly more! He had become the ere
ator of a radiant personality where
had been only a very pretty. illiterate
waif. He had caused the delicate fash
Joining 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 beer 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 IL his game of hate. On the
contrary, he was able by some singu-
lar quirk OF intelligence to take full
satisfaction for himself in all his ia
yors 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
ment of her nature which he had
wrought would make her final grief
most dreadful. an anguish infinitely be-
You'd the capabilities Of torment pos
sessed by Maggie Flint l 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 lllumina-