Mountain advocate. (Barbourville, Ky.) 1904-1935, 1919-04-18

Advertisements began to appear In
the Observer - pointed paragraphs
we're there, appealing to the patriot
ISM Of Falltown's citizens. And on
the morning when the loan campaign
was launched, Corwin drove to his
Office in his closed car, dreading to be
accosted by the workers that thronged
the streets.
Corwin had got down early. and
after he opened his desk he sat be
fore It for long time. thinking Of the
young man who had sneered at the
speaker some nights before.
The young mans face had made q
deep impression on him; he could zee
the fellow plainly-grinniDg his con
tempt of the orator eH& BIC 1iends
There had been no INDIGESTION In the
young mans manner; he had exhibited
a savage eagerness to punish the agi-
tator who had tried to spread the doc
trine OF treason.
The young man was q force, sym
Dol Of Americanism: he was exactly
the type of man that had long been
Corwin's ideal-a fighter taking no
thought Of consequences.
In a day before the poison Of dis
trust had got into Corwin's veins he
would have applauded the young man
for what he had done; but now he saw
in the fellow nothing but a superb
animalism-a man with a magnificent
body who blindly and unthinkingly
fought. because, forsooth, a man In
Washington had arbitrarily declared
| fighting to be necessary. He's the
sort Of fellow that makes II possible
for US to wage war;" unused Corwin;
hes cannon.fodder-or willing to DO.
Capital knows that-and Capital will
use him and his kind. No brain-just
fighting animal"
And yet, somehow, Corwin envied
the young man, even while condemn
| ing him. His action in attacking the
crowd of agitators made Corwin fee.
inferior; and even now, reviewing the
incident, a pulse of something shame
full and stealthy ran over him.
When Molly King came in she did
not look at Corwin. She removed her
hat, placed it in a locker and went
directly to her desk, where she sat,
her hands folded in her lap, looking
out of a window.
Corwin watched her covertly. OF
late, Corwin had been aware of a
deep interest in Molly. When she had
first come to work for him he had re-
garded her with the impersonal inter
est of the employer. But Of late he
had discovered that he liked to have
her near him; she made an alluring
picture at her desk-her face in pro-
file, the wavy mass Of golden brown
hair browning her head and curving
In bullying folds near the nape Of her
neck. And several times, watching
her when she had not been aware Of
his gaze, he had drawn mental pic
lures of her in his house, gracing his
table and his drawingroom.
For several days Corwin had noticed
in Molly's manner signs of mental per
turbation. She had been strangely ST.
lent, and several times Corwin had OBJ
served an expression of worry and
haunting anxiety in her eyes.
He was thinking of her a few min
utes later when he heard her chair
creak as she left it and approached
him, standing close, her face q little
pale, a slight embarrassment in her
manner.
"Mr Corwin," she said; Il wonder if
you could help mel wonder if you
will help mel"
Looking quickly at her, Corwin saw
that her lips were quivering, and that
there was suspicious moisture in her
eyes.
why, Molly" He was out of his
chair in an instant, astonished. A
quick, sincere sympathy had gripped
him. Help you'll" he said, earnestly;
that's the surest thing, you know"
She laughed quaveringly; and he
OWNED from the leaping relief in her
eyes that she had doubted him.
you thought l wouldn't-you were
reluctant to speak to me about-about
your trouble. Why, Molly!"
well, you see, was rude to you
the other day-when We talked about
America going to war. And | was
afraid had no right to ask you. Per
haps | haven't, anyway. But Ben is in
trouble. and know of no one else who
would"
Benz" Corwin interrupted, with
keen glance at her.
my brother" Her face grew very
red, though her eyes weres clear and
slightly defiant as they met Corwin's
"a few nights ago Ben got into a fight
with some anti-war agitators. Ben is
thoroughly American, and he couldn't
stand hearing them say mean things
about the country and the President
and the men who are running the war.
So he knocked several of them down.
And when a policeman tried to stop
him he knocked the policeman down.
too. And now they threat to SEN
tence him to Jail for attacking an off,
GER. And I've been wondering II you
couldn't do something"
Corwin laughingly assured the girl
that he would do Something" He
went out OF the Office a few minutes
later with Molly's thanks ringing in
his ears, feeling unaccountably small