The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-03-25
CHAPT Err II

SmulSki's hall was a vast, barnlike
structure Of one floor. Every inch OF
floor space was occupied by swelter-
ing humanity, and when Fltzhugh rose
TO make his address he faced an audi
ence of fully three thousand. lie
walked to the edge Of the platform
and stood looking out over that silent
sea OF upturned faces, with scarcely
an idea Of what he was 10 say. Yet
he felt q tingling thrill Of pleasure
that for a moment was as wine TO his
senses. He knew what he could do,
and he exulted In his gift. Many times
before he had moved men with 1t, but
never so large gathering as this.
At the back OF the platform, seated
among her comrades" Esther Strom
leaned forward In her chair, her lips
slightly parted. her dark eyes SPAR
king. From that moment until the
close Of his address her gaze never
left bis face.
Fitzhugh charged into his address.
His voice, very low at first, swelled
fuller and louder and clearer as he
spoke, until its resonant ring thun-
dered and echoed through the man.
moth hall. The crowd became as
single body with single mind, which
drank In his words thirstily. He
swayed and moved II this way and
that with the apparent ease Of the
wind swaylng a field of wheat. 1t was
not what he said. for he said nothing
great, but the way he said IL that so
stirred his auditors. Those who had
gone before spoke TO the mind. He
spoke to the heart.
There was moments calm before
the storm OF applause broke. II
roared In upon him, wave upon wave,
and he stood up, smiling and bowling,
TO meet II. He was Immediately sur
rounded by group Of men and wom-
en-, who. In their own way, showered
him with congratulations, heaped fat
tering eulogies upon him.
Turning to greet fresh delegation
who had just joined the group around
him, he saw Esther standing short
way off. AS their eyes met she beck
oned him and he went to her.
"You must let me have him now"
she said, smiling upon the admirers
who had followed him. "He Is my dis
covery. you know, and there are many
things ! want to say to him."
Bring him back soon, Esther"
called one OF the men-a bIotch-
skinned. yellow-haired giant called NJ
kolay. II want to give him literature"
She nodded brightly over her shoul-
der, and led her captive from the
stage and into an adjacent room. Once
alone with him she seized his hands
and raised her face. eager and radiant,
to his.
II knew you could do it-l knew II !
And there's something else know"
well, let's have It," he said trifie
brusquely. what else do you know
about me7"
II know that you can be a great
man." She had waxed suddenly very
earnest. "You have II In you. You
must take what Is yours You owe II
to yourself!"
"Give me your address," said he,
"and I'll come to you"
She hurriedly wrote something on q
slip Of paper and handed it to him.
"Come-any time," she told him,
and turned toward the door.
isn't there another way outr he
asked, detsining her. II don't care to
run the gantlet Of that hand-sha king
brigade again"
She unbolted door at the end of
the room and disclosed a rickety wood
en- staircase leading to q back alley.
He pressed her hand. murmured a
word about future meeting and was
gone.
-
On 4 nne spring day the finest prom.
enade In Chicago and the loneliest is
the Lake Shore drive. theoretically
II n the Champs Elysees Of the west.
ern metropolis; ordinarily 1t 10 an
silent. as deserted as an isolated coun.
try road. On this particular morning
II was very attractive and very desc
late. The only sign Of life In the m.
bobs' thoroughfare tif one excepts the
sparrows) vas penniless young man.
Under his arm he carried a newspaper
parcel. There was singular CLINT in
his eyes. q singular expression on his
face, az well there might be, for, In.
deed. It was preposterously reckless
thing he was contemplating. Subcon-
sciously his thoughts were of the dark
haired Russian woman and an early
sight of her: and II was this. no less
than his inordInate passion for the
theatrical and spectacular. that gave
birth to the extravagant notion that
occupied his mind.
''In any event." he told himself. 81
can 10 no worse tian l0se. And look