Evening star., 1920-02-29

from. my STOPPING posture. Physical
weakness combined with fear had
sapped my strength TO such an extent
that / held on to the tables edge for
support. As soon as Dresslar recov-
cred his balance he leaped at me In a
fury, caught me by the throat, shook
me until my senses swan in a dark
sea, pitched me clean across the room
and rushed to the phone which was
in a corner by the open window.
He was about to call up the police.
II staggered TO my feet feeling hor-
ribly sick and faint. My one thought
was escape. To reach the open window
l must pass Dresslar. He let got the
phone receiver to intercept me. He
was frightfully white and his eyes
blazed
"'Stand back. you dog" he snarled,
Il thought he was going to murder
me.
The pianist overhead was commenc-
ing that wonderful climax Of the bal
lade, which is one rush OF vehement
passion. ! fell upon my knees.
"'For God Almighty's sake have
mercy, Mr.. Dresslar" I besought him.
I am starving. I swear to YOU ! am
no common thief. Don't call in the
police! Don't, Mr.. Dresslar. DON'T"
Again Standish paused for again his
emotion had borne him of his feet.
He took out his handkerchief and
wiped his palms. A slight movement
on the part of the new member stand
ing alone by the Corinthian pillar at
tracted my gaze toward him for the
fraction Of second. He was evident
ly as keenly interested as deeply
moved. as the rest of us.
Standish himself was much agitated.
He looked at us in a nervous sort of
fashion as if trying to read our opin-
lon of him in our faces. What he saw
was only reassuring however, and he
soon continued
Il am afraid I presented rather
pltiable kind Of object to Dresslar,
and God knows how many more en-
treaties for pity l poured out. Sud-
denly ] saw change come over his
face. His pallid fury altered to an
correctly, believe. He had let himself
get out of contro. He had permitted
himself to find in the incident of my
intrusion vent for the storm Of his
passion which was wholly unworthy
OF him. His agony on account Of the
ruin which had been inflicted on him
by the machina tions Of his rivals he
had a. in u 10 h,t
OF rage upon my wretched self. Sud
denly he perceived this. perceived it
with scorn. and was master of his
mood again.
Get outside" said he, abruptly
calm. He swung round on his heel
and crossed over to the fireplace
looking down into the flames with
eyes suddenly exhausted with the,ex
haustion Of utter weariness.>
II made for the open window. I
felt the relief which a man feels
when pair Of strangling hands are
removed from his windpipe. was
Just about to vanish when Dresslar
looked up, swapping his fingers to
claim my attention. From his breast
~ Nv" II 'SdtHeT case, ana
from this he jerked a Yreenback
which he crumpled slightly and flung
at me.
And be damned" he added,
completing his command
"One minute later was on the
public road. My wits We're scattered
The arctic wind freezing my sweat
Ing forehead hardly seemed real.
examined what was clenched in NV
palm: it was a twenty-dollar bill"
The narrator paused while his ewes
gathered all our attention. then he
added, with dramatic emphasis:
That money, gentlemen, flung in
contemptuous pity to a starving man,
was Walter Minshull Dressar's last
speculation"
youthful and excited listener
LET cheer escape him. Standish
wiped his hot forehead. Presumably
his story was over. 1t had been as
frank as it WAS telling. Not every
man would care to relate an episode
like that out of his own life, even
IL 1t had happened years and years
before. But StandIsh was now a man
OF fortune. which wrapped the cpl
sode In golden mist.
His last speculation echoed one
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