Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1918-09-06
The Web
of Destiny
BY J. U. oIEsY 4 J. q. SMITH
Authors of Semi-Dual Stories
Copyright. I
The Frank A. Munsey Co.
The Frank A. Munsey Co.

evidently had work of his own pecu-
liar nature to attend to as he evinced
a desire to be alone, and Lucille re-
tired to the parlor at the rear Of the
train and read a book.
We met again at dinner, and after
II was ended | suggested to her that
we go out on .the rear platform and
have a chat.
,.2he assented readily enough In her
fNlnk, almost boyish way. with the re-
suit that we presently found ourselves
ensconced in couple OF chairs look
ing back along the twilight-blurr
track
For some time the conversation was
inconsequentialo- spoke of the vast
stretch of sage grown, barren country
across which we were flying, and
Lucille compared II to the desolation
of blighted life.
The remark brought me up stand
ing SO to speak and ! shot her a
swift glimpse under cover of the
dusk. She was staring straight ahead
of her along the duskshrouded rails.
Even a desolated life may become
full" l suggested.
"Yes?" She did not turn her
head
Take Dual. for instance. Would
you believe that he has known what
ii is to suffer-"
IT certainly would" her answer
surprised me. "He is too kind not to
have suffered and learned how to
sympathize with others, Mr.. Glace. He
Is the strangest, most magnetic man
/ ever met. Have you known him
long?"
"A long time" said l.
Tell me-" she begged. TELL me
about him. l want to know az ieas, a,
little. He isn't like men of to-day
there Is Notwithstanding can't
express-different from the rest OF
mankind have met.
"He battles me. Mr. Glace-makes
me feel like child in his presence,
instead of a worldly-wise woman.
~hen he looks at me feel as
though he could read my very soul.
felt that the first time ever met him
and he made that peculiar remark
about my being. able to sympathize.
Does he read minds?"
l smiled at the question. had
known the same sensation she men,
toned, myself as though Semi were
looking clear through my head and
tearing my thoughts from their beds.
"He certainly does" l made an
swer. 1--WE felt at times as IL my
head were glass, when he fastened his
eyes upon me-"
mo, but really. l am serious now,
Mr.. Glace." She met me fully with
her eyes, and no vestige of a smile
lurked in them.
"And / am serious, Miss Foote," l
responded. Dual actually does read
peoples thoughts. Not only when he
is with them, but when at distance"
For a time she made no comment,
but sat silent while the wheels ratified
and rang beneath us, then:
"Telepathy," she said.
Eyes. Miss Foote, what would you
think If l were to tell you that he
knew Colonel Sheldon wanted him In
Goldfield and told both my wife and
myself as much, before we received
any message to that effect? l assure
you it is So"
Il would say I believe you, strange
as the thing seems" she declared.
"Mr. Dual impresses me as monster
mind in a body, and 1t seems to me
that that mind sees and knows things
which are hidden to such as myself
Tell me: Can he do these things at
VII. or merely on occasion?"
-NsAtwill, Miss Foote."
-1he moon now in its full had come
up and was flooding all the country
with its mellow light The girl beside
me shivered slightly ere she spoke.
what a power-to look into the
human mind and read what IL Is
thinking-to sense the thought waves
it throws off. Mr.. Glace, just what
is your friend-a reincarnation OF one
of the olden Magi?"
"Do you believe in reincarnation?"
queried.
81 don't know" she said softly.
why not? Millions OF people do
Wouldn't 1t after all be a sort Of d.
vine Justice. Should We be utterly
condemned or rewarded on just one
trial Aohe life?
IL don't know. Why shouldn't
some of those old people who did b.
ljeye in it--some OF those ancients
upon whom this same moon mas
shone, thousands OF years ago. have
had a perception Of the truth as well
~ we OF today
81 think should like to believe In
i'll think / should like to live again
and see IL couldn't make something
better out of life.
II don't know much of religion OF
God, Mr.. Glace, beyond what I feel
within myself. but take the case of
this girl we hope to rescue. Suppose
we should fail.
xrCan you imagine God who
-<Fould condemn her eternally for some
GATE thrust upon her without her Volt
ton? Yet this life of hers must. IL
the worst comes upon her, be utterly