The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-04-17

RObcrtS. do eltner OF you IeliOWs
know two men in this town who are
able to subscribe to fifty thousand
dollars worth right of the reel
without Il cramping them any flnan-
cially7"
Corwin and Roberts exchanged
glances. and both Redeemed.
81 see you do" grinned Miller, ma
liciously.
II was Corwin who answered.
you've changed your tune a little,
since last week." he said. 1T was
only last week that heard you say
you thought the Government was go
ing too far"
well, I'm waking upl" declared NIL
Ter; I'm beginning to see that I've
been too narrow minded and tight. |
got to thinking that I spend hundreds
Of dollars every year for things | could
do without. ! got to thinking that
maybe | was too selfish about this
thing make my money here. and
the Government has made II possible
for me to make it-by protecting me,
by giving me opportunities to make
I II. get my money out of the country
out of the land and its products:
and think I owe il to my country to
come across when the Government
needs the money. And last night
subscribed to fifty thousand dollars
worth"
Miller had raised his voice. There
/ had been an exultant note in TIT
sounded like the voice Of man who
has triumphed over some base passion
that has threatened him; he was
hooking II, laughing at IL.
None Of the men had heard a step
on the stairs-two. in fact-a heavy,
uncertain dumping. and lighter
step. But the three turned stimuli
taneously when they heard a hearty
voice from the direction Of the door
way. II ssid:
81 want to shake hands with the
man who said that"
When Corwin's gaze went to the
door he got up quickly and stood. lean
ing a little forward, his body rigid,
his eyes wide with establishment, his
face slowly whitening.
For on the threshold, his arms
spread wide against the jambs to
steady himself. broad. genial smile
on his face, was Ben King.
Corwin saw Molly standing behind
her brother. Both her hands were on
Ben's shoulders; her face was pale and
in her eyes was mingled pride and
pity. For Ben was blind, his forehead
was SCARED, and his sightless eyes
were rowing from point to point in the
room as he endeavored 10 locate the
owner of the voice which he had
heard as he had been about to enter
the room.
CHAPTER TX
ICORWIN was in the grip Of an emo
- ton that sent icy thrills over him
with Gary Miller. He heard Ben and
Miller talking, but paid little attention
to their words, for he was watching
Molly. The girl stood behind Ber
until Miller placed him gently in 9
chair; and then she drew another
chair near the young man-close Il
him. so that she reached out and pat
ted one of his hands as it lay on the
arm OF the chair-and she watched
him. worshipfully. with a sad. plying
half-smile which meant that she wa:
glad to have him back even though
he would never see her again. And
Corwn saw the tears that she coulC
not check slowly trucking down he
cheeks.
Ben was in uniform. He was big
strong-a magnetic figure; a force
that could never more move withou
direction, but nevertheless a force.
Instinctively, Ben dominated. Hi
presence seemed to fill the room-th,
atmosphere grew formal. military
Unconsciously Roberts and Mile
Strengthened; Corwin felt as though
some power within him was urginl
J him to salute. Something about Ben
} his erect carriage. his squared shoul
! ders. the set of his head. the uniform
: he wore-everything about him con
} handed interest and attention. Be
brought a breath Of far-off France int
the room with him-a suggestion @
force, of battle and Of death. He syn
bolized indomitability. cohesive powe
he was a visible unit embodying a
I atom of national spirit; he was par
of that great arm Of government
, which expresses itself in force.
i And unconsciously. involuntaril!
! the three men in the room with hiI
. paid tribute-the tribute OF silence. {
e attention and respect.
Corwin peered intenuy at Bel
I searching his face for signs. for ind
5 cations that Ben harbored resentmer
l against his Government for the los
of his sight. He watched closely fo
g the slightest expression which woul
a tell him that Ben regretted his exp
0 rience. But he saw no such sign
e Ben's face. despite the sightless eye
, had undergone transformation. o
:, the night Corwin had seen him figh
J. ing the agitators there had been
a the mans face something malignar
I. and savage and passionate. He ha
:. been a fighting animal, enraged an
; yearning TO punish the defamers
9 his country.
j There was a different expression o