The evening world., 1916-04-05

Dhd tnat ~ cannot be worse.
Tho final Jest Of fate was the sud
den and complete collapse OF the
Sterling Mines Company and with it
Forbcss $4,000. which, according 10
the amiaDle secretary treasurer, had
been as safe as an old women's
home" The plausible, sincere and
wholly llkablc Mr.. Green had quietly
folded his tent and stolen away in
the night, and when Forbes. follow
Ing the expose In the press, hurried
panic stricken TO tho ornate Offices In
lower broadway. 1t was 10 ind the
post office inspectors in charge and n
host OF clamorlng fellow victims. They
say there is one born every minute,
and though by far tho majority OF
the Sterling Company's investors
were from out OF town enough mot
ropolitan ones remained TO keep
Forbes from feeling lonely. From all
he could gather the mining company
had been little better than a rank
Hwindle and MIR. Green had left his
innocent and unsuspecting employees
TO pay tho piper.
Coming UP Broadway that evening
from the defunct mining company's
offices, Forbes suddenly came face TO
face. eve 20 eye with Dorothy Mars
land and her aunt. They out him
dead, looking through the top OF his
hat as II no were the most absolute
stranger.
This was the last straw. Dorothy's
memory had not been easy 20 effaoo
and now nt sight OF her nil his old
passion awoke: what did IL signify
that reason told him she was un-
worthy when his heart clamored for
herr Love IL not a matter OF reason.
That night Forbes deliberately
threw all his good resolutions into
the gutter. tippled until midnight In
a neighboring cafe. and took homo n
quart OF hts favoritc beverage. Ho
was tired trying to be good. What
was tho use? Nobody cared. and,
anyway, the result was tho same. IL
was all very we'll to preach Of manly
courage, the never-say-die spirit, and
similar inspiring platitudes. but they
were absolutely no good for practical
Ills such as a broken heart and empty
pocket; he had tried them TO the Bit
ter end. Like his mother. he was face
10 face with uncompromising facts,
not theory. And they had beaten
him: he had sense enough TO under
stand when the odds were hopeless.
Better enjoy himself while h" could,
for tho time would soon come whom
ne would not be able 10 afford n
bottle OF this comforter. There was
exactly three thousand dollars be-
tween him and the poorhouse: three
thousand that belonged rightly 10 the
Second National Bank OF Chicago.
II wns late afternoon of the follow
ing day when Forbes awoke: the bot
tie OF Scotch stood empty on the desk.
and the room was In disorder; at
some period after midnight he had
fallen out Of his chair and lain ever
ID 81 In
drunken stupor. a proceeding not call
culated 10 improve the neglected cold
that had been hanging on him for the
past two weeks.
The wintry twilight found him cow
ering IN the library. in the grip OF q
high fever and with his nerves shot
to pieces: ne was half poisoned. and
all the inevitable results attendant
upon alcoholic excess engulfed him.
Rcvulsion. selt-lonthing. were upon
him; he had reached the depths. the
lowest mental and spiritual level. and
the future arose before him black.
terrifying and horrible. Memory OF
tho preceding nights degrading de-
hauch was insupportable; he had lain
all night on the floor like the most
confirmed and shameless drunken
sot; he had finished a quart of
whiskey at one sitting. ne whose
twenty-fir birthday was but two
weeks past, The sweat broke out on
him and he covered further back In
the chair.
Latterly ne had been thinking
greatly OF his fathers tragic end. and
now as he sat there alone In the
twilight, the idea appealed to him
with curious fascination and, force.
Some nnmeless impulse appeared 90
be working within him, an impulse
he felt that, sooner or later, ne must
obey. After all. why not7 What did
life hold that he should wish 20 liver
HIS father had known whom 20 die.
An utter loneliness. a poignant long
ing to see his mother possessed him.
and he began 20 sob, weakly and
spRsmodlcally, like a sick child.
This passed, and after another
hours hroodinC young Forbes arose,
quite calm and almost happy De-
spite the singing in his ears, tho
throhbug 81 his temples, his palsied
hands, ana blurred vision, he set
about his preparations with a certain
method and precision. First hs
steeled hts shattered nerves 20 hold
and control pen, and with Infinite
labor wrote the onR-deterred letter
10 tho Chicago bank; he inclosed a
check for three thousand-his total
assets--and stated that he was sorry
y was the utmost ne could do toward
the settlement OF hts fathers theft
Next a short note to Messrs Part
ridge & stone, apologiZing for tho in
convenience attaching 20 his action.
For suicide does not help the reputa-
tion OF q house. The third and last
letter was TO Mr.. Graves, and he smiled
weaily as he thought that, OF all his
numerous friends" this neighbor,
whom ne had known for so brief a
time, was the only person 20 whom hs
felt Ike making the few simple re-
quests concerning burial, These let
ters no sealed, addressed and left on
the desk
Being the smallest room. the library
was the logical place for writing iinls,
and he pulled out the sofa. placed IL
under the large central chandelier, and
10 the latt"r attached tho tubing from
the small kitchen gas stove. He had
completed his preparations when the
front door bell rang
Forhcs paid no heed until It's sum
mons demanded his attention; then he
realized his elaborate plans might be
baked inadvertently at the last mo.
ment II this visitor were not attended
10 and sent about his business.
Reluctantly he opened the front door
ana discovered Mir Graves
.1' .'....fl