The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-01-27

then: You must We been having n
mighty particular customer-to get
so many Of 'em out"
1T was Mr.. Griswoid. Mr.. Ed Ray.
mer's new partner said the clerk.
And he was pretty particular; wouldn't
have anything but these new.fash.
Toned automatics. Said he wanted
something that would be quick and
sure, and | guess he's got 1T sold
him two OF EN-"
Broiiin played with the stock long
enough to convince the clerk that he
was only a counter %lounger with no In.
tention Of buying. Took two of 'em,
did he?-for fear one might make him
sick, reckon" he said, with the half.
humorous grin still lurking under the
dropping mustaches. Automatic thirty.
twos, Ell? Well. | amt goin' TO try to
hold your Mr.-Griscom, did you call
him?-up none after this. He might
git me"
Whereupo-. having found out what
he wanted to know, he lounged out
again and went back to the hotel to
smoke another OF the reflective cigars
in the porch chair which had come to
be his by right of frequent and long.
continued occupancy.
Griswold had left the Mereside
library considerably shaken, not In his
convictions, to be sure. but in his con.
hdence in his own powers OF imagi.
native analysis. For this cause It re.
quired a longer after.dinner stay at
the Farnham's than he had been allow.
ing himself, to re.establish the norm
OF self.assurance. Charlotte Farnham
was never enthusiastic; that. perhaps.
would be asking too much OF an ideal,
but what she lacked In warmth was
made up in cool sanity, backed by a
moral sense that seemed never to wa.
yer, Unerringly she placed her finger
upon the human weaknesses In his
book people. and unfalteringly she
bade him reform them.
For his Fidelia. as he described her,
she exhibited n gentle affection. tenn.
pered by a compassionate pity for her
weaknesses and waverings: an atti.
tude. he fatuously told himself. forced
upon her because her " standards
were so much higher than any he
could delineate or conceive. For Joan
there was also compassion, but II was
mildly contemptuous.
III ! did not know that you are in.
capable OF doing such n thing, | might
wonder II you are not drawing your
Joan from life, Mr.. Griswold." she said.
n lttle coldly. on this same evening Of
rehabilitations. Since such characters
are TO be found In real life. | suppose
they may have a place in Il book. But
you must not commit the objectionable
sin OF making your readers condone
the evil in her for the sake OF the good.
Please forget what ! have said about
your Fidelia and-and your Joan. You
are trying to make them human. and
that is as II should be-"
Griswold could scarcely believe the
evidence OF his enses He told him.
self fercely that he would never be.
lleve, without the confinement OF
! lhNNt NlhA Aht lAfhl NOllu oNtD uON "
from It's pedestal.
You are meaning 10 be kind 10 me
now, AT the expense of your convic'
lions, Miss Charlotte" he protested
warmly.
NO she denied gravely. Listen,
and YOU shall Judge. Once. only a
short time ago. | Was brought face "a
face with one OF these terrible com,
promises. In II single instant, and by
no fault Of my own, the dreadful shears
Of fate were thrust into my hands, and
conscIence-what | have been taught
TO call the Christian conscience-told
me that with them | must snip the
thread OF n mans life. And then chance
threw US together. A new world was
opened 10 me in those few moments.
had thought that there could be nc
possible question between simple right
and wrong, but almost In his first word
the man convinced me thar. whatever
! might think or the world might say
his conscience had fully and freely &c
Quilted him. And he proved It: proved
It so that ! can never doubt It as Ions
"a ! live. lie made me do what my
conscience had been telling me ! ought
TO do-just as your Fleming makes
Fidelia DO"
And ne was TAKEN" he said, and NJ
strove desperately 10 make the saying
completely colorless.
HE was; but he made his escap,
again. almost at once, He is still {
free man"
Instantly the primitive instinct o
self. preservation, the instinct OF tn,
hunted fugitive. sprang alert In thu
listener,
How can YOU be sure OF that" h,
asked, and In his own ears his vote,
sounded like the clang OF an alarm
bell.
Again n silence fell, sprcharged, thi
ono. with all the old frighttul posi-
bilities. Once more the loathsom,
fever quickened the pulses OF the maj
at bay, and the curious needlelik,
prickling OF the skin came to sigma
the return OF the homicidal fear.frenzy