, 1916-03-23


eERTHA left, and in a few mt
I'D ments Gerald Trask, finan
I'd cier, wealthy man in his own
SH8eaI right, the friend of Robert
Strickland who had lifted him out of
his financial difficulties and had made
it possible for him TO cov after he
had made u disastrous failure of his
recent business undertakings. entered
the room.
Enemies of Trask said hal he could
conceal more cold b~loodedness and
ruthless purpose beneath a mask of
cordially thar any other man in New
York; even such few friends rs he had
found him %old. 1t required no keen
student OF p~hysiognomy to see that
this man was conferred in self; that the
very keynote of his character was self
ishness; that he would pursue his own
ends over any obstacle, whether those
ends We're business or personal.
Yet Gerald Trask could conceal evil
purposes beneath a smiling exterior
when necessary. 1t had been remark
ed of him in the street that he could
meet with II financial opponent at a d.
rectors' table and profess friendship
within a few minutes after planning
that opponents utter ruin.
Men marveled at the friendship,
seemingly real, true and firm. which
existed between Gerald Trask and Rob
ert Strickland. The former was the
cunning, ferocious financial wolf, avid
of gain Ii pleasure and ruthless in
his nnthn1C nf nItFGrIinn hi nnIs rI,,
latter was frankly domestic and as
open OF countenance as he was direct
and straightforward in his ways. Any
thing hidden or t~reacherous was alien
to his nature. He acted. frequently to
his detriment, on impulse. and no man
could say that Robert Strickland ever
deliberately planned to harm him. His
nature was that of the trustful soul
who will cleaye to a friend until that
friend proves himself false beyond
question. When occasion came he coulG
strike. and strike hard, but 1t took
much to rouse hin to the point OF an
ger.
Men instinctively liked Strickland
just as they naturally disliked and
mistrusted Trask. Often attempts had
been made TO warn the former against
the latter. but he had bridled at the
first suggestion Of such a thing. saying
that Trask had proved his friendship
II that he, Strickland, would listen
to no word against his friend.
And Trask? Until the very end 1t
was a mystery why he maintained his
cordiality toward Strickland. He had
nothing to gain from him in n financial
way, because S~trickland's dealings In
recent times had not panned out well,
and he had had to call upon Trask for
assistance. Socially Trask's position
was as high as Strickland's. SO the
motive of social advancement was lack
ing. Perhaps Trask recognized In
Strickland the possession of qualities
lacking in his W character and was
attracted thereby according to the law
of the attraction OF opposites. Per
haps there was another reason.
On the night of June "a Trask enter.
ed the living o of the Stricklands
with n CHEEKY Hello, Bobr''
Hello. Jerry. How are your" And
the two men clasped hands.
"Fine!' said Trask. Just get back?'
Yes, about fifteen minutes ago. Ev-
erythtng is arranged. oh. by the way.
you haven't met Doris, have you?
Doris. shake hands with Mr.. Trask."
The little ceremony of introduction
over and Doris having shaken hands
shylX with Mr.. TraAk, the latter saw