The Irish standard., 1916-02-19
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Alan Wayne had been away for a
year. He had not returned from Mont.
real but had gone one from there 10
work in South America and, later, to
Africa.
He had been in town for several
days when he met the Judge one after
noon in November on the avenue.
Judge" he said without preamble
"what's this hear about Gerry dis
appearing"
Its true" said the Judge and add
ed grimly. "he disappeared the day you
went to Montreal"
Alan colored and his face turned
grave. II am SORRY" he said. ~
didn't know it,
"Sorry for what?" asked the Judge,
but Alan refused the opening and the
judge hardly regretted it. They were
not in tune and he felt it. His heart
was heavy over Alan for his own sake.
He had broken what the judge had
| long rcverenced as II charmed circle.
should have been dearer to him than
his hearts desire. The judge won.
dered il he realized it. you're not
going out to Red Hill?'' he asked, try.
ing to make the question casual.
Alan glanced at him sharply. What
was the Judge after? NO" he said
after Il pause, II shall not break the
communal coma of Red Hill for some
time. I'm Off again. McDale & Nc.
Dale have loaned me to Ellins0l1's. I've
become sort of poohbah OH construc.
ton in Africa. They get premium
for lending me-"
Alan's speech habitually drawled ex.
cept for an occasional retort that came
like the crack of whip. The Judge
looked him over curiously. Alan's
dress was almost too refined. His per.
son was as we'll cared for as IL wOm-
ans. Every detail about him was Il
studied negation of work, utility. serv.
Ice. The judge thought Of Collinge.
ford's story and wondered.
They walked in silence for some
time and then Alan took his leave. The
judge followed his erect figure with
solemn eyes. Alan had dcterioratetl.
One cannot he the fly in the amber of
more than one w0man's memory with
out clouding ones own soul, and a
clouded soul has its peculiar circum-
ambiency which the clean can feel.
The Judge felt 1t IN Alan and WINGED.
II Alan did not go to the HILL the
Hill, In certain measure. came to Alan.
The next afternoon found the captain
once more established in his chair in
a window ut the club with Alan be-
side him. The captain had not changed.
His hair was in the same state Of
white insurgency, his eyes bulged in
the same old way. and he still puffcd
when he talked. His garb was identi.
cal and awakened the usual interest
in the passing gamin.
you'll never grow old, sir" said
Alan.
"Old" said the captain. "Huh. l
grew old before you were born" The
captain spoke with pride. He straight
ened his bullet head and poised n tot
Of whisky with steady hand. "What
did I tell your he said into space.
"How's that. sir?"
what did ! tell you," repeated the
captain swinging around his eyes,
about women?"
Alan flushed angrily. He had no re.
tort for the old man. He sat sullenly
silent
The captain colored too. '"That's
right" he said with surprising touch
Of choler. "Sulk. Every badly broken
colt sulks at the grip of the bit. What
you need. young man, is touch Of
the whip and you're going to get it."
And then the old man revealed q
surprising knowledge of words that
could lash. At first Alan was indif
ferent, then amazed, and finally recog
nized himself beaten at his own game
He came out of that Interview thor
oughly chastened and with an alto
gether new respect for the old captain
No one knew better than Alan that II
took a special brand Of courage tc
whip him with words but the captain
had not stopped to stuff his own ears
with cotton wool before engaging the
enemy. He had risked all in one
liquid. stinging, overwhelming volley
and he had won.
The captains code was peculiar. to
say the least, and held the passionate
pilgrim in ample regard but. as he
pointed out to Alan, it was code Of
honor. 1t played game within rules
He further remarked that the hawk
was bird of evil repute nut person.
ally he preferred him to the eagle that
fouls it's own nest. There were other
pregnant phrases that hung in Alan's
mind for some time and half awak.
ened him to realization of where he
stood. Many man, propped up by
the sustaining atmosphere Of n narrow
world, has passed merciless judgment
on such sins as Alan's-metal, un.
proved, sitting in judgment over the
bar that twists in the fame. But the
captain was not one Of the worlds
confident army of the INFESTED. He
had roamed the high seas OF pleasure
as well as the ocean wave. Alan would
have struck back at saint but he
took chastisement from the old sinner
with good grace.
Alan left the captain and presented
himself at the downtown offices Of ].
Y. Wayne & Co. They were expect
ing him and he was shown in to bis