The evening world., 1916-04-05

tort an exchange of hot words fol-
lowed. and then a slur from Carker.
And then the designing room came
TO Its feet, for the long suffering
goat had suddenly turned, iinging
himself on Carker, and, big man
though the other was, pinning him
by the throat TO tho wall. A pair of
needle pointed, heavy compasses was
In Forbes's right hand, and. for a
breathless moment, IL looked as II
murder would be done. Then Forbes,
very white and shaking. slowly re-
leased the other and flung tho COM
passes on his desk.
Cerker. tugging az his rumpled coll
lar. swallowed once or twice, still
shaking over his narrow escape; he
tried 20 speak. then rushed from the
room.
A moment later word came that Mr..
Marsland wished 20 see Mr.. Forbes.
The latter obcyed mechanically: tho
swift going OF his passion had left
him weak and dazed.
Cnrkcr was IN the Presidents room
and Marsland was wearing his most
uncompromisinE formidable manner.
whats the meaning OF this, Mr..
Forbes7" he demanded curtly. What
have you To say"
Nothing" replied tho other apa-
thetically.
81 tell you, Mr.. Marsinnd. he would
have murdered met" burst out Carlter
,xcitedly. "IIe would have killed me,
and all because criticised some SLOW
emily work of his. | refuse to work
with n man like that: he's dangerous
The men are half afraid Of him and
his ugly temper. and | can't Keep dis
cipline when the least important
90 hA ut N
my authority and In such a way
Thi. isn't the fiTst time, and I've had
enough, It's got TO he either him or
me. for I won't stand II any longer.
IIe was almost In tears with fright
and rage.
Marslnnd turned To Forbes and made
curt gesture OF dismissal. Go to
tho cashier for your weeks salary
and then take your things and get
OUT" he said. with an almost studied
brutality.
Miss Wrloughby came in from the
outer office. took one look. and with
drew.
Tho blood came up under Forbes's
collar, and he glarcd at Mnrsland's
broad back: he seemed ns II about
10 speak and then, as N realizing the
utter futility. turned on his heel and
left
In tho hall, on tho way back 10
the designing room. he met Adolph
Bergstrom Since the little episode
at the Marslands' over a week had
passed and II was the first time Berg
strom had seen Forbes or been able
TO pay his customary strict attention
to business. A broad strip OF plaster
still decorated his nose, whioh had
suffered severely.
At sight OF his enemy Bergstrom
paled. clenched his hands and as
sumed n highly intimidating attitude,
hut Forbes passed In silence and as
II unseeing.
In tho designing room not an eve
met his: an exemplary silence ana
industry reigncd over all. They
sensed that the goat" had been DIS
charged. and wero ashamed OF them
selves, knowing the part they had
played, each man vaguely conscious
FOR perhaps tho first time OF what
he mad added to Forbes's burden. But
none spoke II word Of apology or
regret, and Forbes passed out amid
the mo silence
The rest OF the week was devoted
20 further attempts at finding another
position, but malign influence
seemed 10 pursue Arnold Forbes, and
promising beginnings ended In fall
ure. When he did succeed IN finding
a vacancy and IN passing the initial
Interview, the inevitable dialogue fol-
lowed; where were you last en-
pioyedT" "The Empire Construction
Company" why did you leave p
And It did not matter what answer
was made TO this: sometimes Forbes
tried TO explain the whole AFFAIR.
sometimes he said merely that he had
been dissatisfied The result. how
ever, was always tho same; he never
received the promised notification OF
employment,
lie began 10 realize the sinister sig
nifcancc. the almost hopeless handi-
cap imposed by his summary dis
charge. always the place Of ones last
employment is demanded, and always
Il is communicated with, The EN-
pirc Company had given him black
eve and was continuing 10 do 30
throughou, the trade. Whatever
prospective employers learned from u
concerning hts character was enough
10 deter them from employing him.
THIS he tclt just as ho felt that John
Narsland had become an active
enemy az once he had been his puta-
tive friend.
These were very black and bitter
daya for Arnold Forbes, this search
was absolutely alone, for his former
gay circle OF friends had dropped OF
when they found he could no longer
spend with careless hand. that he had
ceased 20 be good fellow" and was
now poor company Also that his
scintillatlug prospects had gone wal
lop," and that his father had been
nothing but a thieving cashier. In
short. he was on the skids booked for
long ride 20 the Down and out
Club, and therefore precisely the sort
OF person 20 cut away from. II would
not be long before he was borrowing
money, telling long, sad story, and
proving a general nuisance,
Those who might have proved true
friends had no opportunity OF devel-
Opng. for. after his dcscrtiou by the
false. Forbes Stunned his old hauuts
and associates, He had become NOR
hidiy sensitive about hi9 father, and
for this reason stecred clear OF even
Mr., Graves. That gentleman had SUI
fCrnd one ut his periodic absences.
hut, on hts return, Forbes showed no
disposition 20 ronow the intimacy
Forbes now thought he had reached
the end ~ his troubles ami that ne
had sampled the worst adversely couli
bcs'ow n things can get no worse.
then they mus become better; that
49,. ." I..". US ID certain grim
So. E'o".ur That nothing