The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1916-04-21

the denial.
Brouillard's laugh was barshly de.
risive.
Il thought you'd say that. No Qualifi-
cations asked for. no judicial weighing
of the pros and cons-tbe evil of the
evil. or the goodness of the good
just plain, bigoted No."
The young missionary left his chair
and began to walk back and forth on
his side Of the office desk.
"Ycu want counsel and you are not
willing to buy 1t with the coin of con.
fidence." he said at length. adding:
1T is just as well. perhaps. I doubt
very much If am the person to give
1t to you"
"Why dc you doubt it? Isn't It a
part of your JOLT"
Net always. l am not your con.
science keeper. Brouillard. Don't mis-.
understand me. l may have lived a
year longer than you have. but you
have lived more-a great deal rcore.
That fact might be set aside. but there
is another: In the life of every man
there is some one person who knows.
who understands. whose word for that
man is the one only fitting word CT In
SEPARATION. That is what | mean when
say that l am not your Conscience
keeper. Do make it clear?"
"Granting your premises-yes. Go
on"
q will. Wen paste that leaf down
and turn another. Though / can't
counsel you, can still be your faithful
accuser. You have committed a great
sin. Brouillard. and you are still COM
hitting 1t. II you haven't been the
leader in the mad scramble for riches
here in this abandoned city, you have
been only step behind the leaders.
And you were the one man who should
have been like Caesars wife. the one
whose example counted for most"
Brouillard got up and thrust out his
hand across the desk.
You are a man. Castner-and that
is better than being a priest" he as.
serted soberly. TN take back all the
spiteful things I've been saying. I'm
down under the hoofs of the horses.
and it's only human nature to want to
pull somebody else down. You are one
of the few men in Mirapolis whose
presence has been a blessing instead
of a curse-who hasn't had a purely
selfish greed to satisfy"
Again Cashier shook his head
There hasn't been much that could
do. Brouillard. 1t is simply dreadful
the hard, reckless. half-demoniac spirit
OF this place! There is nothing to ap-
peal to; there is no room or time for
anything but the mad money chase Or
the still madden dissipation In which
the poor wretches seek to forget /
can only try here and there &c drag
some poor soul out Of the fire at the
last moment, and 1t makes me sick
sick at hearth"
You mustn't look at 1t that way"
said Brouillard. suddenly turning corn
forter. You have been doing good
work and a lot Of it-more than any
three ordinary men could stand up un-
der. haven't got beyond seeing and
appreciating. Cashier: truly l have
not And I'll say this: III had only
half your courage but it's no
use. I'm in too deep. can't see any
farther ahead than a man born blind
There is one end for which have been
striving from the very first. and II Is
still unattained. I'm past help now. ]
have reached point at which I'D pull
the whole world down in ruins to see
that end accomplished"
The young missionary took another
turn up and down the room and then
came back to the desk for his hat At
the leave-taking he said the only help
full word he could think Of
go to your confessor, Brouillard-
your real confessor-and go all the
more readily IL that one happens to be
good woman-whom you love and
trust. They often see more clearly
than we do-the good women. Try It.;
and let me help where a man can
help"
For a long hour after Cashier went
away Brouillard sat at his desk. fight
ing as those fight who see the cause
lost. and who know they only make
the ruin more complete by struggling
on.
Cortwright's guess had found It's
mark. He was loaded tn break with
front feet" and options and corners"
In the least speculative period he had
bought and mortgaged and bought
again. plunging recklessly with the
sole object OF wringng another hun
dred thousand out of drying sponge
against the time when David Massin-
gale should need It, At first the under
taking seemed easily possible. But
with the drying OF the speculative
sponge 1t became increasingly diff
cult More and more he had Deen com
PEELED to buy and hold, until now the
bare attempt to unload would have
started the panic which was only walt